Durbin could always wear number 6



I thought that the idea was to wear 30-40 if you were a trial or loan player, earning the right to have your name on the back of your shirt and a 1-25 squad number once you've played x number of games and signed permanently?

players who play 5+ games will get the 26-30 shirts

dont know if thats just in the league tho

Ah ha. Makes a bit more sense, cheers Si.

If thats the case then I stand corrected. I knew #6 had been left blank (presumably while we tried to get a work permit for our Aussie) but assumed the rest of the numbers had been allocated and the later ones had gone to U21's who were likely to figure at some point in the season.

Still think players swapping number after a few games is a bit of a confusing way to do it, but if it's the way the system works then so be it.

Think it was a compromise to avoid loan players being allocated a shirt number for the sake of a couple of games. Find it a bit frustrating, personally, that having got used to seeing the names on the back of the shirt, you then have to check the programme to see who is playing number 36, 38 etc

Is Aaron Smith still with us, haven't heard a thing about him this year and haven't seen him in the stands at any of the games as yet?????

He's taken time off from his rugby due to personal issues.

So why don't the club tell us these things rather than letting people guess because this is how rumour and innuendo start?

Some things never change do they

did the word "personal" fly over your head?

I questioned Neil a few weeks ago about this but was told the official line was not to say anything. however I felt that as he told the LISA meeting a couple of weeks ago then it could be put on here. It was already listed on another thread so its in the public domain.

So?

All they needed to say is Aaron Smith has been giving leave of absence for personal reasons.

Whatever it is I hope it get's sorted and he'll be back very soon as he's a top player.

Typical comment.

Fans are genuinley interested in where he is, as he is a valuable member of this years squad.

Kevster has said nothing wrong. The club could simply announce, as NK did at the LISA meeting, that he was unavailable due to personal reasons.
This would stop any rumours starting.

Like a few others I know, I have stopped posting on here because of sarcastic comments & the feeling of the site being 'owned' by individuals. Apart from a reply on an upsetting thread, this is my first and last post for many weeks.

Bye Bye........

Thats a real shame that because I always thought your posts were interesting, well-thought out and informative. I may not always have agreed with what you have had to say but your contribution to debate and topics will be missed. Rise above the sarcasm and dont let the barstewards get to you.

then next time your not at a match can you report on here the reason no matter how personal it is?

dont you think the players deserve a little privacy?

You don't read things properly do you.

No one is asking WHAT the personal reasons are - just say PERSONAL REASONS - that is sufficient. It tells us that he is still with us, he is not injured and hopefully will be back soon.

Is that clear enough?

It's good that Aaron is back now and well done to him on the last couple of performances.

Agreed and whatever his issues have been, he appears to have kept himself fit, I expected him to be off the pace when he returned, but thankfully that's not been the case.

As you said Well Done Aaron

We've looked a stronger side since Smith came back. Gets us a fair few penalties too as he isn't afraid to make it obvious if he feels he is being held down etc.

I would like to echo those sentiments. Aaron has shown us what we have been missing and I am pretty sure there are better things to come from him.

It isn't true that Nanyn will be wearing 88