The Magners League appeal has decided so suspend the points deduction of the Ospreys for 2 years, though the original £100,000 fine (the 2nd biggest in rugby history) still stands.
This is of course by that hugely independent Magners League committee. The appeal board had Irish and Scottish representatives on it – but no Welsh or Irish. Now given that this was involving an Irish team I would think the Welsh should have had a presence. Especially as the Irish teams are owned by the IRFU …

The Ospreys have made their team to take on Italian new boys (and conquerors of the Scarlets) Benetton Treviso known. It is starting to take on a bit more shape than that which took on Ulster – with Lee Byrne and Shane amongst those brought into the side.
Of particular interest will be Gareth Owen at 12. Whilst he is a talent going forward a number of people (myself amongst them) expressed concerns about his positional play at 15 and his defensive ability. I missed last weeks game …

Dan Biggar has become the first choice 10 at the Ospreys – and for good reason.  He rarely puts a foot wrong, is reliable with his kicking and most importantly can run a game… something Hook hasn’t convinced us of since he came off the bench vs Australia a few years back.
But he still sees himself as 10 – and is thinking about leaving the Ospreys to achieve that.
I know this sounds like some typical Western Mail desperate effort to create a story from nothing (and is also where I …

The Ospreys team for the opening game vs Ulster has been named and it’s, um, interesting.
No Byrne, no Bowe, no Adam Jones, no AWJ, Byrne, Shane and Paul James on the bench.  This is hardly a first choice line up – yet again showing the problem with starting a league with low key games.  How different would it be for a derby match where the whole country is watching?
That is not to say there isn’t plenty of interest.  How Gareth Owen has developed over the summer, Ben Lewis (hopefully) getting …

Personally I am hoping this is just a hoax but Cai Griffiths and Sonny Parker have just been Twittering about the new Ospreys training shirt.  Worse it seems that a number of people on Twitter seem to think that it is a good thing. Which just goes to show how many people there are out there with bad taste.
To quote Prysiau from the Rugby Rebels thread about this
Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m absolutely convinced clubs could make far more money from merchandise if they actually put together a shirt …

So the Magners League fixtures have been announced – and yet again the Magners League underwhelms me.
This is a league that gets much derision for a number of reasons, for teams not taking it seriously, for a lack of fans, for a lack of interest. But yet again we see just how the Magners League address this issue – they do nothing and hope it works.
Now I do think the Guinness Premiership is an over rated league. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a number of things …

Talk to any Welsh rugby fan about big prospects coming through and one of the first names mentioned will be Tom Prydie. After all this is the youngest ever Welsh player and, if I recall correctly, the youngest ever player to play in the Heineken cup, having come off the bench for the Ospreys.
This weekend he faces up to New Zealand (the poor sod, does anyone hold ANY hope for this game?) having already made two starts for Wales. And he is barely 18.
But take a look at …

That is the only conclusion I can make from the farcical decision to dock the Ospreys 4 points next season, and fine them £100,000. This is because they refused to play a league game vs Ulster.
But it is not as clear cut as all that, in fact it is nothing like you would think from hearing that those nasty Osprey people (trust me, read any non-Welsh message board and you will see many people calling them a lot worse, based on nothing but hearsay) cancelled a game.
Rearranged
First up it …

YOU ARE. Ok maybe not you, but it’s fans. No, not my opinion, after all I am an Ospreys fan myself, but that is teh opinion of another Ospreys fan who also happens to write for scrum.com.
In an article about what is wrong with the Ospreys he claims
I’m certainly not saying that there are not fans who are passionate about the Ospreys, still less that the players do not care enough. And collective passion by itself will not turn a bad team into a good one. It might, …

It is hard to believe anyone can respect Leicester these days. Oh they are still a decent team, and with a long proud history. Their fans are right out of the top draw, no question, the set up is quality and they have a coach who seems to be doing the right things. So what am I talking about?
Their sour grapes at losing, or more accurately their Director’s continued sour grapes. I am finding it hard to get my head around but the Director of Leicester, …