Old Blue

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

A view from the "Stone Age"--------

Perhaps the downturn in the "Morals" of Rugby Union, started when it became a Professional Sport ?

What say you ?

[J.R.]

At least pro footy players restrict their 'blood-letting' to night clubs and bars !

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Surely (Don't call me ---- ) No blood was let on this occasion ?

[J.R.]

Exactly - One of those stage ''blood' capsules !

[Mid A 15]

"Bloodgate" was an absolute disgrace but at least the RFU appear to be threatening ,at least, a robust riposte

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... Union.html

Compare and contrast with the insipid response of the football authorities to West Ham's cheating re the Tevez affair and their fielding an ineligible player as a substitute in a league cup match some years ago although, to be fair, Bury and AFC Wimbledon were both punished for fielding ineligible players in similar circumstances.

Back to rugby: I agree with Neill. Professionalism has affected the game negatively in terms of ethics. However if the RFU make an example of 'Quins then they may succeed in nipping it in the bud.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Apropos Blood letting ------

I played my last game of Rugby in South Africa, at the age of 40.
although I could still run, pass and kick, I found that I couldn't take the knocks !
What used to be a rub with Wintergreen oil (Does that still exist ?) on Wednesday, and play again on Saturday --- became a month off !

I can also tell you that any blood-letting was genuine, and nobody stopped the game for that !!!

Oh Happy Days --- If somebody bit your ear in a loose scrum --- you got him wirth a grab in the unmentionables, in the next !

[Mid A 15]

Looks like Andrew Higgins has decided not to retire after all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/ma ... ins-exeter

[sejintenej]

Apropos Blood letting ------

I can also tell you that any blood-letting was genuine, and nobody stopped the game for that !!!

Oh Happy Days --- If somebody bit your ear in a loose scrum --- you got him wirth a grab in the unmentionables, in the next !

Our games were stopped regularly to get the bodies off the pitch. We had a Nº 8 of about 28 stone (I was a lock ) who went off in most matches and used to come on again. In one friendly he was off the pitch at the end with his third dislocation of the game. Wanderers seemed to average a fracture (normally clavicle) every two weeks and the amount of blood used to fertilise the grass ........ Hardly surprising when the patch was the consistency of a well used dry cricket pitch crease.

There was no biting that I remember but if someone had thought about trying something "ungentlemanly" we could wait until he was at full pult and tackle hem around the bootlaces; bl**dy arms, bl**dy face and possibly a bust collarbone/dislocated shoulder/broken arm as well. (Normally we would tackle at waist / chest level for safety sake.)

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

We have just returned from a 3 week Cruise up the Adriatic, which included Kotor, in Montenegro,
While we were ther, an assassination occurred in a Cafe (It is, after all, the Balkans !)
I also, being distracted, stumbled over a Bollard, on the Quay, and bled like a stuck pig, from my shin, which has been duly dressed and cared for, by TBA,
Calling for medical assistance on board, requires a Mortgage !!!
Why is it, that bleeding from shallow wounds (Eg. Scalp) results in floods ?
My right ear is missing a bit, due to a gentleman with a good left hook, which i was only able to get inside, and receive on the ear, rather than the chin !!
Blood was pouring from this, but was the fight stopped !-------- of course not, in those days, (1956), people regarded blood-letting in the Ring, as part of the entertainment !!
Of course, nowadays, the thought of HIV rears it's ugly head, which spoils the fun, a bit !

OK, Boxing is a stupid sport --- two men, with the avowed intention of beating each other into unconciousness !

But I enjoyed it ------ nothing weird about NTN !!!!

[Jo]

Ouch!! I hope it's healing well and there are no lasting effects, Neill!

[englishangel]

Shins are a b*gger, no flesh underneath and generally thin skin.

[Great Plum]

Looks like Andrew Higgins has decided not to retire after all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/ma ... ins-exeter

Interesting... will also be interesting to see how Exeter do next season... the rugby team are probably the most passionately followed team in the city...