Take the cash, or play for your country? Almost taking it back to the differences between amateurs and professionals...

If the players received their payments within brown paper envelopes then surely it wouldn't count & they would still be elible to represent their country?

[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/10/12/03/RUGBYU_South_Africa_Maori.htmlSouth African rugby has reversed its policy of refusing to play against the New Zealand Maori.[/url

[iEarlier this year, though, they issued a landmark apology to those excluded from South African tours during apartheid - New Zealand rugby authorities left indigenous Maori players out of three tours to the country in 1928, 1949 and 1960.[/i

Quote ="Shark J"Football. Simple as that. I always get annoyed when I see quotes along the lines of "Sale - the club that's thrived in a Rugby League hot bed" - because that's rubbish. We're not in any other area but for a football one. Pretty much the whole of England is. You could walk to Old Trafford from Sale. It would take a while but from Sale to Stretford it's a couple of miles. You've also got a load of Premier League, Football League and Rugby League sides within 20 miles of us. That's apparently why we play our games on Friday nights. Or at least was originally. I don't really think it matters though. I doubt thousands would be going to watch Football the next day. Even Sale itself is more a football town than a Rugby one. I went out in Sale before the Grand Final and said to my mate that we'd go to a pub near the Metrolink stop, thinking it would be empty. It was absolutely full of United fans watching the game. The chances of redeveloping of Edgeley Park are probably pretty high. I would think though as cj has mentioned that Salford is probably first choice. I don't know what's happening with that yet though. The club said not long back that the immediate future remains in Stockport. I don't know the ins and outs though of redeveloping Edgeley Park. I know the council have jumped in a couple of times. For example we're not allowed a screen in the ground when it's a televised game. It's against health and safety to put it in the available areas or something. Also, the open stand - www.footballgroundguide.com/stockport_county/, The Railway End backs onto private property or land not owned by Sale or Stockport and so can't be expanded. I'd much rather stay in Stockport or somewhere nearby. I'm from South Manchester and don't drive. Salford is a bit too far to get to and almost impossible on a Friday night on public transport.'" Bingo. That area is my patch and other than forced RU at school it's a football tyranny round there, but is has been since the dawn of time. Ultimately though, it doesn't matter where Sale play, they really are a North West regional team as you've said. Mainly because Heywood Road was is the home of Sale FC, from which the Sharks are spun. So Sharks' modern era success has mostly taken place away from Sale. If you live in Sale, you can be at OT in ten minutes or Moss Lane in ten minutes. If you live in Urmston, you can be at OT in ten minutes, the HJ or Willows in twenty. The only Union pub in Sale is the pub at Brooklands station. You see a few Sale shirts most days elsewhere, but there's not much real interest on the whole. A lot of Sale folk who I know who used to go when Sale were at Heywood Road have either given up or watch Sale FC still, so it's now essentially a new north-west fanbase. Or at least that's my experience. Oddly though, Urmston now seems to have more Salford, Wigan and Wire shirts floating around, and a general interest in League. Maybe the borough is having a code schism!

Quote ="Shark J"Football. Simple as that. I always get annoyed when I see quotes along the lines of "Sale - the club that's thrived in a Rugby League hot bed" - because that's rubbish. We're not in any other area but for a football one. Pretty much the whole of England is. You could walk to Old Trafford from Sale. It would take a while but from Sale to Stretford it's a couple of miles. You've also got a load of Premier League, Football League and Rugby League sides within 20 miles of us. That's apparently why we play our games on Friday nights. Or at least was originally. I don't really think it matters though. I doubt thousands would be going to watch Football the next day. Even Sale itself is more a football town than a Rugby one. I went out in Sale before the Grand Final and said to my mate that we'd go to a pub near the Metrolink stop, thinking it would be empty. It was absolutely full of United fans watching the game. The chances of redeveloping of Edgeley Park are probably pretty high. I would think though as cj has mentioned that Salford is probably first choice. I don't know what's happening with that yet though. The club said not long back that the immediate future remains in Stockport. I don't know the ins and outs though of redeveloping Edgeley Park. I know the council have jumped in a couple of times. For example we're not allowed a screen in the ground when it's a televised game. It's against health and safety to put it in the available areas or something. Also, the open stand - www.footballgroundguide.com/stockport_county/, The Railway End backs onto private property or land not owned by Sale or Stockport and so can't be expanded. I'd much rather stay in Stockport or somewhere nearby. I'm from South Manchester and don't drive. Salford is a bit too far to get to and almost impossible on a Friday night on public transport.'" Bingo. That area is my patch and other than forced RU at school it's a football tyranny round there, but is has been since the dawn of time. Ultimately though, it doesn't matter where Sale play, they really are a North West regional team as you've said. Mainly because Heywood Road was is the home of Sale FC, from which the Sharks are spun. So Sharks' modern era success has mostly taken place away from Sale. If you live in Sale, you can be at OT in ten minutes or Moss Lane in ten minutes. If you live in Urmston, you can be at OT in ten minutes, the HJ or Willows in twenty. The only Union pub in Sale is the pub at Brooklands station. You see a few Sale shirts most days elsewhere, but there's not much real interest on the whole. A lot of Sale folk who I know who used to go when Sale were at Heywood Road have either given up or watch Sale FC still, so it's now essentially a new north-west fanbase. Or at least that's my experience. Oddly though, Urmston now seems to have more Salford, Wigan and Wire shirts floating around, and a general interest in League. Maybe the borough is having a code schism!

[url=http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/tahu-and-eels-are-about-to-split-20101204-18kna.htmlCipriani's pining for home. [i(At the bottom of the article)[/i[/url

Looked a lot less than 31,000 at HQ yesterday.

The Nottingham rugby union method?

Wasps beat Exeter 24-12

Is it the crowd or players that are cardboard? Difficult to tell in yawnion.

You have to question the rationale for the Wembley games, needing 50k to break even

If it is to attract fans for the Vicarage Road games it isn't working as they have averaged less than 7k in their 5 home games this year (and Wembley to Vicarage road is less than 20 miles)

And yet at the end of the year, they will no doubt release a press statement again saying they are the best supported rugby club in the UK!

I'm sure there is some value in releasing such a statement but making a loss in order to do it is another matter

Glasgow 16 v. Toulouse 28 tonight (Sky Sports 1) news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 264542.stm Att: 7,546 About 2,000. Summary: Glasgow couldn't tackle and Toulouse could hardly hold a pass. Barnes' second half commentary seemed to be mostly about whether or not Toulouse could get themselves a bonus point by scoring another try, the result of the game being a foregone conclusion.

Glasgow 16 v. Toulouse 28 tonight (Sky Sports 1) news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 264542.stm Att: 7,546 About 2,000. Summary: Glasgow couldn't tackle and Toulouse could hardly hold a pass. Barnes' second half commentary seemed to be mostly about whether or not Toulouse could get themselves a bonus point by scoring another try, the result of the game being a foregone conclusion.

Venter's interview last night was class.

I fully recommend you watch it.

Deary me.
Childish but quite unique way to behave after the RFU went for him. My favourite part was when disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett's judgment censured Venter for his "disdain" in eating a biscuit and throwing sweet papers as he awaited his sentence

Hi comments about the Metro winger were superb. When Madge leaves I want him as coach.

Not sure about that but club spokesman would be very entertaining

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/9283639.stmWilkinson England career over?[/url

[url=http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=28127Huge Super Rugby fan base coming in for Queensland Reds[/url

[url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/8739011.Young_urged_to_leave_Falcons/Micky Young urged to leave Newcastle Falcons. Austin Healey has warned scrum-half Micky Young he has no chance of playing for England if he stays with Newcastle Falcons.[/url
"[iThe fact of the matter is that if you are a scrum-half and you have a desire and ambition to play for England, then you have to play for one of the top teams.[/i"

[url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-sobering-assessment-of-northern-hemisphere-rugby-2160129.htmlSobering assessment of northern hemisphere rugby[/url
"[iEven your international teams would struggle to beat the top four or five sides in Super 15 rugby[/i" Italy’s South African-born coach Nick Mallett said. "[iThere are far too many average games in northern hemisphere rugby. Even in competitions like the Heineken Cup, the French Top 14, the English Premiership and the Celtic League, you can lower your guard in any of those games.[/i"

He coaches Italy, he OBVIOUSLY knows his rugby! lol

Saracens make another financial loss at Wembley.

Sale fans must be over the moon they've got Newcastle and Leeds in the same division.

I'm struggling through Quins and London Irish.

60 minutes 21 - 18 to Quins and not a try scored.
You can tell how boring it is when the crowd started the Mexican wave after 20 minutes.

Missed the first 5 minutes but think it's been standard fayre as far as this year's competition has gone.

Can't believe you lasted 60mins! I watched 5mins(ish) of Wasps v Sarries t'other day til I fell asleep.

Aviva Premiership RU is awful, international RU is by far better to watch IMHO. Still no match for RL though!