Ex-Mod and Valuable Member
***Rugby news*** (19th - 25th May)
May 20 News
Got any rugby news to share?
Feel free to post and discuss it here, I will myself do a daily update.
So for example if it is May 20 here, then you can post any news that is from the current day, and you can discuss it in the thread. And there will be a new topic for each new day.
What do you guys think of this idea?
Moderator
Itīs interesting to share rugby news but I wouldīnt do it on a day to day basis. Rather a Rugby news discussion topic once a week.
Big news next week will be for instance Munsters winning the Heineken Cup for the 2nd time
New Member
I found it also interesting...But once a week should be enough as Chrizzzie proposed...
@Chrizzzie: I think Toulouse winning for the 4th time would be a bigger news...
Moderator
The first psychological warfare already started
Munster quiz ERC on jersey mystery
20/05/2008
TOULOUSE may have already claimed a psychological edge for Saturday’s Heineken Cup final by wearing their red jerseys — but whether they are entitled to do so is another matter. It would seem the Cup final mind games started early with Toulouse producing a red jersey as their ‘home’ strip for the Cardiff showdown — even though an official ERC guide indicates that their first choice gear is pink.
Munster rugby officials suspect a sleight of hand on the part of the French club and have sought an explanation on the matter from competition organisers ERC. The Millennium Stadium will be awash with fans in red — even though they’ll be supporting a team in blue.
The ERC deemed a toss was required to see which finalist would wear their ‘home’ red strip in the decider. Toulouse won that honour with Munster forced to revert to the blue strip with white shorts they wore in Gloucester for the quarter-finals.
However Munster have questioned whether Toulouse officially registered that red jersey at the start of the competition and have pointed out that the official tournament guide shows the French outfit to have pink and black kits.
It’s suspected that Toulouse wanted to wear red to gain a psychological edge in a stadium that will be awash with thousands of red-clad Munster fans.
Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald revealed that he has sought, and failed, to receive clarification on the matter, in an exclusive Heineken Cup final podcast, available to download later today from www.irishexaminer.com/rugby/podcast/.
Fitzgerald also revealed Munster are intending to sign ‘one or two’ new players and that a shortlist to replace coach Declan Kidney is being finalised.
Said Fitzgerald: “The Toulouse jerseys that were shown in the media guide were the ones we understood were the registered jerseys. ERC informed us in the lead-up to the final that there would be a toss to see who would wear their home jersey.
“On viewing the media guide it was plain to us that a toss was not necessary and we did not attend. Toulouse did not attend either. We were then informed Toulouse won the toss for the jersey and we won the toss for choice of changing room.
“We were then advised that Toulouse would wear their red jersey which was a bit of a surprise to us as we did not see it as being registered.”
He continued: “September 14th was the date for registering your jersey. Querying the ERC on this they informed us that they had to have at least two jerseys registered by that date and that Toulouse advised them that they would register two further jerseys after that date.
“I’ve sought clarification that they have registered the jersey they intend to wear in the final by September 14th and I am not clear that happened. We’ve had numerous communications on it but based on previous experience, I don’t think we are going to win this one.”
He admitted: “For the fans and everyone it would be lovely to play in red but I don’t think it will be the difference between winning and losing. We’ve won Heineken Cup games playing in blue this year We’ve nearly won everything we’ve played in wearing that jersey so I don’t think we can use it as an excuse.”
ERC spokesman John Corcoran last night insisted that Toulouse had complied with all regulations.
“Toulouse registered four jerseys before September 14th — a pink jersey, a black jersey and white jersey and they informed us that they would replace the pink jersey to celebrate their 100th anniversary at the end of 2007.
“They confirmed in December that a red jersey would replace the pink kit. Regarding what appears in the media guide, it is only that, a guide.”
Fitzgerald’s focus this week may be on the return to Cardiff as Munster aim to defeat a French team for a second time in a decider.
However he is also busily attempting to secure new Munster signings to bolster the squad — especially in the back row area.
He revealed: “We have identified one or two areas where we need to strengthen the squad. But we will strengthen it with the right people.
“We identified one or two people in the last few weeks but unfortunately they have decided to stay where they are and have re-contracted in their own country. But we are still very keen on least one new player in the back-row area if possible. If the right player comes up and you don’t need them until the following season, it is such a small market that you have to go for it if the opportunity arises.’’
But the new faces wouldn’t be confined to the playing staff. Kidney’s elevation to the national job means that Munster are in the market for a new coach.
Fitzgerald continued: “We are putting a shortlist together on the type of person we deem would fit the type of characteristics we are looking for. There are people in Ireland and people abroad. It is a busy time worldwide in that area. Once you have gone past the year of a World Cup a lot of people have signed up into cycles of three or four years at national level and the Super 14 have renewed or looked at a lot of their candidates for the following year. We are moving along quietly in the background with a view to acting on it as soon as the Heineken Cup Final is finished.”
Munster quiz ERC on jersey mystery | BreakingNews.ie
Moderator
ROB Parker could face a five-match ban after allegedly committing a repeat offence of the tackle that angered St Helens boss Daniel Anderson three weeks ago.
The Wolves prop has been summoned to an RFL hearing in Leeds tomorrow night, Tuesday, after a video panel decided he had used an 'alleged dangerous tackling technique contrary to true spirit of the game' in the 36th, 66th and 70th minutes of Friday's match at Wigan.
The tackles were not put on report during the game but have been categorised as a grade D offence, which brings a ban of between two and five matches.
The challenge, which involves wrapping his arms around his opponent's chest and both legs around his opponent to drag them to the ground
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