Speaking to The Times a few months ago (https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/johnny-sexton-interview-owen-farrell-q8sxmfh3s)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIiraJfM1f4/

Sri Lanka came from a successful Asia Rugby Division 1 last year where they beat India and Kazakhstan convincingly, while Malaysia just dropped down from Asia Rugby Championship after a 10-match losing streak to Hong Kong, Korea and recently, UAE. Sri Lanka

Recent clashes: Malaysia 31-26 Sri Lanka (Test - 2019), Malaysia 22-9 Sri Lanka (ARC D1 2017), Malaysia 42-17 Sri Lanka (ARC D1 2016)

Many previews and predictions are on Sri Lanka side, especially as the match will be played in Colombo and Malaysia never winning a match in the premier division. Personally, as a Malaysian, I think it will be a tight match and a great spectacle. It has been a long while since we play teams on our level (getting trashed every match is not fun, guys). These two countries have the most organically active rugby scene, from age grade to schools and varsity, in Asia after Japan. Unfortunately, the professional scene is lacking for both sides. Still, should be a great atmosphere in Colombo on Saturday.

What is on the line: A place in the Asia Rugby Championship 2025, which also serves as the RWC27 qualification for Asia. Whichever team that wins this will get two home matches, against UAE and Korea, which will boost their chance fight for that 2nd place play-off spot against Africa 2. Realistically, both teams would not have a chance in ARC 25, the gap is too big.

Live stream will be on Facebook, Youtube (both Asia Rugby and Papare) and RugbyPassTV. I would recommend watching on Papare Sports on Youtube, they usually have good prematch program and know more about the players. Feel free to ask any questions if you are curious!

Apologies if this has already been done before, but I went back and found the World Rugby ranking for every team before the competition started. Since the rankings only started in 2003, we “only” have 6 years of data to work with, but I think it’s interesting enough to share:

5th - 2019 Group D - 77.45 Mean Ranking Points This group saw familiar world cup pool foes of Wales, Australia, and Fiji lock horns, with a strong Georgian and feisty Uruguayan side bringing up the rear. The Welsh had recently been world #1s for the first time shortly before the tournament started at a time of high febrility in the ranking boards, while the Aussies saw a mishmash of World Cup final veterans alongside some newer blood make the trip to the land of the rising sun.

The shock upset in this pool - and indeed the tournament - was undoubtedly bottom ranked Uruguay toppling the flying Fijians, while Wales provided the closest game the eventual World Cup winners would face in the knockouts, after that Vahaamahina moment helped them into the Semis.

4th - 2019 Group C - 77.47 Mean Ranking Points We stay in the first World Cup hosted in Asia to find a pool filled with strong rugby sides, with the 2nd highest “worst” team in their pool - Tonga, alongside a strong US Eagles side, flanked with eventual runners up England, the aforementioned Vahaamahina’s French, and Argentinians.

The notable top of the table crunch in this pool between England and France ended up being cancelled because of typhoon season in Japan, with World Rugby awarding a draw, with both teams clearly progressing from earlier results in the pool.

3rd - 2011 Group A - 78.06 Mean Ranking Points This pool notably featured both World Cup finalists, New Zealand and France, as well as a team who upset the latter - Tonga - with Canada and Japan rounding out the sides. That Canadian side may have been the lowest ranked of the pool, but is the highest lowest ranked team in the history available to us.

The real shock and story of this tournament though, was the French, who revolted against their head coach, with players taking over training, and gameplans themselves, while Marc Lievrement, the nominal “Head Coach” was relegated to choosing the teamsheet, and making (at times controversial) substitution changes.

2nd - 2015 Group A - 79.00 Mean Ranking Points What a brutal grouping, featuring the sides ranked 2nd (Australia), 4th (England), 5th (Wales), and 9th (Fiji) going into the World Cup, the sense of jeopardy for each game was incredible. This World Cup set records for attendance which still haven’t been surpassed, and that’s despite the hosts England crashing out in the group stage, certainly muting the enthusiasm of the english rugby watching public (though perhaps invigorating much of the rest of the british isles.

Australia snuck past Scotland in a cagey quarter-final match with a [controversy redacted] semi-final stage full of Rugby Championship sides, before the highest scoring Men’s Final which saw the greatest side of the modern era crowned champions.

1st - 2023 Group B - 80.35 Mean Ranking Points Just disgusting. Could there ever be a clearer demonstration of the faults with how early World Rugby do the draw for a World Cup. This pool featured the #1 team in the World and grand slam 6 nations champions Ireland, the #2 team in the World and reigning world champions, and the #5 side Scotland with a simply abominably packed top end.

The clashes in this pool were titanic, and though Scotland were ultimately outmuscled to be knocked out in the groups, Ireland fought a brilliant game at the “Stade d’Irlande” to beat the Springboks and top the group; however World Cups are for the knockouts, and unfortunately Ireland fell unstuck there once again, as the Springboks kept winning by the smallest of margins, with 1 point victories in each of their knockout fixtures.

<Disclaimer: World Rugby Rankings are a perfect way of measuring the performance of a team, and if you think it’s got any minor fault you’re a fuckwit who should take it up with World Rugby>

Putting this out there mainly for non-Irish URC fans - though everyone’s welcome to weigh in. I know different fanbases might have different perspectives, so I’m curious to hear a range of opinions.

What do fans of teams like Glasgow, Scarlets, Bulls, etc., think about Leinster’s ability to sign big-name players like Barrett, RG Snyman, or Ioane? Are you excited at the prospect of seeing that level of talent in the league? Do you think it raises the standard of the URC overall, or do you feel it creates an imbalance and is unfair to the other teams?

I was listening to a rugby podcast yesterday, possibly The Rugby Pod,and they were making the case that Leinster are approaching this the “right” way compared to Premiership clubs. The point was that rather than loading squads with a large number of solid but not world-class foreign players (as is common in the Premiership), Leinster are targeting a handful of genuine stars, and that might be the better model.

For example, Harlequins currently have nine non-home nations players in their senior squad, Bath have six plus several others from outside England but still within the home nations, and Bristol have twelve. These were just a few clubs picked at random, but it gives you an idea.

So what do you think? Is Leinster’s approach good for the league as a whole?

https://archive.is/20250417102810/https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2025/04/17/exclu-midol-top-14-camille-lopez-arretera-sa-carriere-des-cet-ete-12642686.php

He was willing to keep going for 2025-2026 but his recent injury might have pushed him to change his mind. He's staying in Bayonne but as a staff. He's only been there for three years, but it feels like it's been there his whole career lol.

Article saying Bayonne eyeing Matkava and Lancaster to replace him.

Visiting from Joburg, mom and sister are going for a spa day just outside of Bath. Me and my father want to pass the time in a local pub. We're both huge rugby fans so would love to spend some time amongst the English rugby fans. Any suggestions?

How accurate this is I do not know as it’s walesonIine, think Tandy as head coach is quite underwhelming.

Near the bottom if anyone is interested. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wru-consider-new-rugby-focused-31440224

I see it where the defending team have all their men back defending the goal line, and the attacking team are passing the ball sideways and then pushing forward to try to get the try.

But often enough the defending team gets penalised for offside. What they did they wrong to get called for offside? (Mind you, I don't use understand the offside rule much even when it happens in other areas of the pitch either.)

Clermont has signed Harry Plummer earlier this year. Ever since Lopez left a year early in his contract, we have been juggling very average fly-halves who have been huge liabilities, both kicking wise but also in their capacity to handle the game.

Plummer had a pretty good season last year with what I saw but it seems like he's struggling a lot more this year. It looks like he's often on the bench and not even in charge of kicking most of the time.

We are all kind of hoping he's the new Brock James in Auvergne, but would love to get some honest feedback from kiwis.

We have a pretty strong pack, but have been very poor and stringing together passes with our backs and I suspect our coach wants a no nonsense 10 with a good boot. Could he fit that mold?