Matt Merritt

A few people, across various platforms, have asked me where I'll be working for the Rugby World Cup in a few weeks.
Unfortunately the work I was expecting to pick up has fallen through, so I won't be out and about at games, but I'll enjoy the tournament from my sofa.

I was pleasantly surprised it recognised me as human to be honest 😂

at least the face scan doesn't reveal how old it estimates you are... mine was the fastest processing I have ever seen 🤣

Ever have that feeling, when you are coming to the end of a job and just turning up each day feels like a herculean effort?
Would quite like to just go and start my new thing now!

Not sure how it would pan out but a team of prime Ma'a Nonu vs 15 prime Seilala Mapusua would be a fun experiment

Wouldn't be at all surprised if they are holding off to announce on a specific date.

Went to see Jon Batiste last night as part of Meltdown Festival.
Honestly one of the most impactful concerts I have ever seen. The man is phenomenal and the way he melds genres (and songs) has to be witnessed to be understood.

There are few signs that bring me as much joy as this...
Away for the next week, normal business resumes on the 16th.

The full roster for @Adam27Keefe's testimonial is now in place, featuring current and former @BelfastGiants, some NHL stars and a few family members too.

sitinthecheapseats.blogspot.com/2025/05/full...
📸courtesy of Press Eye

Hockey two nights in a row... I could get used to this.

I wouldn't blame you one bit... I still struggle to care a lot of the time since Irish went to the wall.

P.O. Morin departs Belfast Giants for Bordeaux Boxers.
A classy operator and level head on the ice, he'll be missed in Belfast.
#EIHL

Struggled to get invested in any excitement about the Maple Leafs playoff run... but at least that means I'm less upset about last night's result.

Jack Jacome returns for a second season at Guildford Flames.

“He is a guy who puts every bit of energy that he has into every moment of every shift and he generates a lot of success just on sheer effort.” - head coach Paul Dixon

#EIHL
📸: John Uwins

They must have been in on it... It would have been part of the submission to host.
I agree on Welford Rd particularly, seems a shame for such a stories ground not to be included.

My understanding is that all the venues applied to be part of the process. I do wonder whether the spread is patchy because in some areas they had no applicants.

Ah, nice work and some great stats.

I agree it feels like this is the last big barrier we will go through. Feels like any major sales gains now will be at a local level encouraging walk ups and last minute orders.

Oh yeah. My welfare point is more when I see emails repeatedly at 2am from someone who was also emailing me at 8am.
I just like to ensure they don't feel they have to be working all those hours due to deadlines/pressure. If they woke up in the night and had an idea, no worries.

100%.
I am a morning person, in fact on commuting days I am up at 4am and on a train at 5 so use this time to respond to emails. Not to push anyone else to be up & working but because it works for me.
Some of my team work late & take late afternoon/early evening for family time. More power to them.

People set the weirdest boundaries (not you, the folk saying it's unacceptable to email late). For me I don't mind when people send an email, I will reply to it at a time convenient to me. My only concern is welfare when I see emails from people in the early hours of the morning etc

If you see this, post a beach photo from your phone.

St Ives Harbour

Nice. The cast for that is Mind-blowing!

What are you seeing?

Like most things, it's made better (or in this case, tolerable) by John Goodman.

a man in a tuxedo is playing a piano in front of a crowd of people ALT: a man in a tuxedo is playing a piano in front of a crowd of people

a terrifying thought that's all the more real for anyone who remembers watching King Ralph as a kid...

Zoe Harrison in a photoshopped Lions shirt

I wrote a thing for RugbyPass and it's Lions related (sorry).
My take on what a women's British & Irish Lions starting 15 might look like based on performances is in this year's 6 Nations.
www.rugbypass.com/news/who-wou...

thoroughly recommend giving this a listen!

Just listened to the Dave Simms interview and it's very good. A divisive figure on Twitter (at least he was before I left that platform) but he knows his stuff about the #EIHL

I know Anthony @bannersonthewall.bsky.social a little from many years ago when I did some bits for the sadly long lost Wightlink Raiders as well as a Tumblr blog interviewing players around the UK... Feels like another life time ago but a great shout!
Will give 3 on 3 a listen too 👌🏼