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Mik A

@mikadooo.bsky.social

Dad, engineer, likes watching rugby

87 Followers  |  109 Following  |  1,351 Posts  |  Joined: 04.09.2024  |  2.3752

Latest posts by mikadooo.bsky.social on Bluesky

Loads of Elite 1 information here:

22.10.2025 13:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Just looking now, and Glospury have a difficult start to the season:

- Sarries home
- Exeter away
- Quins away
- Sale home
- Bristol away

So ok yes, a bad wobble could leave them a damaging distance behind.

Still my pick for 1st place though!

21.10.2025 14:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I know what you mean. But last season, if memory serves, they had a WXV wobble in the Autumn and lost three games. Those were the only three they lost all season, and they still finished two wins clear of 3rd place. So if they wobble this time, it'll need to be a big one.

21.10.2025 14:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

(If Sarries have Sophie de G playing at the business end of the season that might be a point of difference, I concede)

21.10.2025 14:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I'd have them as favourites to come top again. Their squad was the best in the league last season, and doesn't look significantly weaker to me this time around. Their rivals don't look to me to have strengthened enough to catch them. The loss of Sean Lynn is big but I think they'll overcome it.

21.10.2025 14:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This is another of Matt's excellent articles. Without spoiling anything for other readers, I politely disagree re Gloucester-Hartpury. Really looking forward to how things work out in practice!

21.10.2025 13:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
2025/26 PWR player movement: New faces and changes of allegiance With the celebrations of the Rugby World Cup now in the rear-view mirror and the focus on womenโ€™s rugby at an all-time high, this could be the most exciting season yet for the PWR. Here are the joiner...

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk has been putting out some great articles on the PWR. This one discusses the various comings and goings of players ahead of the coming season. Leicester, Bristol and Loughborough look like net losers. Trailfinders net winners.

www.rugbypass.com/news/pwr-pla...

21.10.2025 12:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I don't recall the older one had the individual player pages, but maybe I just didn't look hard enough.

One might hope the two red cards (& subsequent disciplinary process) would be reported somewhere but if so, I've no idea where.

21.10.2025 12:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Farah Palmer Cup Premiership Final | FULL GAME
YouTube video by Black Ferns Farah Palmer Cup Premiership Final | FULL GAME

I'm not sure if anyone has posted this, so if not, here's the replay of the final of the Farah Palmer Cup championship. A very hard-fought, close game!

youtu.be/bG3UMfxdiqk?...

20.10.2025 18:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Looks like the FFR website for Elite has been spruced up this season. However as you say, no mention of who copped the various cards.

Meanwhile, Montpellier's website for the Elite 1 team evidently hasn't been updated since October 2024...

Shame, sounds like a heck of a match.

20.10.2025 18:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Ou sont Fabiola Forteza et Carla Arbez?

19.10.2025 20:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If the URC is keeping him away from English rugby, thank you for your service ๐Ÿซก

17.10.2025 18:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
SAEF 2025 - 26 | Arredissima Villorba Rugby v CUS Milano - prima giornata YouTube video by Federazione Italiana Rugby

Thanks for flagging this!

www.youtube.com/live/-0yXiKo...

17.10.2025 15:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Ali Miller
Sene Naoupu
Claire Molloy
Beibhinn Parsons

16.10.2025 19:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

- For the men, there's at least a chance of a GB7 team built around a strong Scottish core. Hopefully they'll do better than last year.

16.10.2025 16:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

(-this differs from Nucifora's Ireland model where a contracted women's 7s squad was the priority over women's 15s; however Scotland are hamstrung by the existence of GB7s)

- for the women this looks like continued mediocrity - minimal Union support and minimal squad preparation.

16.10.2025 16:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

- the women come from their "national programmes" which for Scotland is presumably the player pool that goes into the CC plus contracted 15s players and for England is players based with PWR clubs. I didn't see any hint of Scotland contracting 7s players specifically. Not sure who the coaches are.

16.10.2025 16:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

- there's a "programme" for Scotland Men, including contracted players and up-and-comers

- I think it'll difficult for Scotland to get competitive matches as adistinct team - presumably World Series and Rugby Europe Championship remain GB-only

16.10.2025 16:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Parsing through that report very carefully (& possibly reading too much between lines) it seems that:

- GB7s is being directed by Ciaran Beattie (perhaps the women from long range, if they're based in E&W)

- GB7 teams will be "tournament-based" implying little squad time between tournaments

16.10.2025 16:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Scrap the Bathroom Ban ๐ŸšจThis is urgent๐Ÿšจ Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities, has a decision to make. The EHRC, a regulator mired in controversy over anti-trans views, has sent a new draft Code of Prac...

For my UK followers! actionnetwork.org/letters/scra...

16.10.2025 15:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Depends whoโ€™s got the ballโ€ฆ

16.10.2025 12:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Inaugural U16 Girls camp marks major milestone on player pathway The inaugural Under-16 Elite Player Development (EPD) camp for girls, which ran concurrently with the traditional U16 boysโ€™ camp in Paarl last week, marked a significant milestone in SA Rugbyโ€™s national pathway for young talent.

Building building building.

www.springboks.rugby/news-feature...

16.10.2025 12:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yes I agree

16.10.2025 07:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The full report from the Sutton Trust is here:

www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/u...

15.10.2025 20:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

It's interesting how the proportion who went to University appears to have dropped over time in multiple sports - I wonder if it's to do with better development pathways and pro opportunities coming earlier in life than used to be the case. The trend is least clear with Women's rugby.

15.10.2025 20:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Amongst a range of sports, cricket had by far the most private school attendees (based on people who played for England in the year up to March 2025). Olympic medallists from Paris 2024 also notably drawn from private schools.

It's unclear whether Women's rugby's % drop from 2019 is a real trend

15.10.2025 20:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Men's rugby is notably posher, with 36% having attended private school, but less brainy (only 31% went to Uni).

The rugby players surveyed were the Men's and Women's Six Nations squads for England, Scotland and Wales this year.

15.10.2025 20:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

According to the Sutton Trust, Women's rugby isn't too bad a reflection of the overall UK demographic. 10% educated outside the UK, 9% at private schools and virtually all the rest at comprehensives.

The proportion that went to Uni is however high compared to the UK norm (around 50% I think)

15.10.2025 20:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

FWIW the yellow card against Bordeaux #9 (Canadian Taylor Donato) seemed very harsh to me. She was carded for cynically killing the ball, but so far as I could see, she was jackalling legally before Toulouse #6 flopped all over her.

15.10.2025 19:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Axa Elite 1 : Le rรฉsumรฉ de Toulouse - Bordeaux
YouTube video by France Rugby Axa Elite 1 : Le rรฉsumรฉ de Toulouse - Bordeaux

Highlights of the Elite 1 match between Toulouse and Bordeaux are up on YouTube:

youtu.be/b5MNcrg6PKY?...

15.10.2025 19:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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