London Welsh to appeal RFU’s Premiership promotion verdict

London Welsh will appeal against the decision by the Rugby Football Union to deny them promotion should they triumph in the two-legged Championship play-off final over the Cornish Pirates.

Yesterday the Exiles secured a stunning 37-21 win over the favoured Pirates in the away leg at Mennaye Field. The home leg, to be played at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, which Welsh had planned to use had they been granted leave to play in the Aviva Premiership, is next Wednesday evening.

Welsh’s 16-point advantage going into the home leg makes their appeal against the RFU’s decision all the more pertinent. And they have received support from a cross section of rugby players and journalists in their bid to change the RFU’s mind.

• The Daily Telegraph‘s respected rugby writer Brendan Gallagher blames the Premiership sides for forcing the RFU’s hand, calling the decision “gross hypocrisy”. To give a (lengthy) sample:

How dare they criticise London Welsh. Who do Premiership Rugby think they are? Have they completely forgotten recent history? At various times Harlequins and Northampton have rightly been relegated to Division One but prospered massively from the experience and bounced back as model teams.

How dare Premiership Rugby, via the RFU, attempt to deny that to other equally ambitious rugby clubs. How dare they be judge and jury when the only people benefitting is their self-appointed elite. It is so against everything Rugby Union stands for as to be laughable, which they will quickly discover if this London Welsh situation is allowed to go any further.

A natural process of promotion and relegation should always decide who the elite are. Two years ago, Exeter’s promotion was greeted with guffaws around the League, and predictions of their instant relegation and humiliation. Well how wrong were Premiership Rugby on that.

• Gallagher’s Telegraph colleagues Brian Moore and Rupert Bates have both tweeted their support for his article:

How dare Premiership Rugby criticise London Welsh- a fine rant by Brendan Gallagher on Premiership hypocrisy soc.li/IGxzpge

— Brian Moore (@TAFKAbrianmoore) May 24, 2012

The words “hear” and “hear” spring to mind. Read @gallagherbren on London Welsh #rugby story tinyurl.com/c3cgco7

— Rupert Bates (@rupertbates) May 24, 2012

• London Welsh coach Lyn Jones said: “The players feel it’s a negative move for English rugby. That channel to promotion needs to be open at all times for all sides. It’s just a shame the union has complicated that. There’s a big buzz in Oxford about the possibility of Premiership rugby being played there.”
• Welsh international Ryan Jones said:

so @LondonWelshRFC don’t meet the magical RFU criteria for the top flight, shame as I’m sure they’d be a wonderful addition! #itsnotoveryet

— Ryan P Jones (@RyanJonesOnline) May 24, 2012

• Former England captain Will Carling, admittedly not the RFU’s biggest fan, also weighed in:

A very well worded statementlondon-welsh.co.uk/rugby_newsroom…seems to endorse the ‘cartel’ theory of the premiership……#rugby

— Will Carling (@willcarling) May 24, 2012

• Even away from the world of rugby, there was support for London Welsh. Comedian Mark Watson tweeted a response to Brian Moore:

@TAFKAbrianmoore @premrugby Dear Premiership. As a neutral, you absolutely have to let London Welsh go up. Or the whole league looks silly.

— Mark Watson (@watsoncomedian) May 24, 2012

Sport the loser as London Welsh denied promotion

It makes a farce of sport when the Rugby Football Union makes decisions like it did today.

The RFU ruled London Welsh was ineligible for promotion to the Aviva Premiership, meaning if they win their two-legged Championship title decider, the bottom-placed Newcastle Falcons will stay in the top flight.

Oxford United host Wrexham at the Kassam Stadium. The RFU has rejected a proposal by London Welsh to use the ground as their home for Premiership matches should they beat Cornish Pirates. Picture: Flickr, Ben Bore (Rhys)

The Exiles’ opponents, the Cornish Pirates, did not apply for promotion. Indeed, only Bristol of the final four in the Championship title hunt would have been guaranteed a place in the Premiership. The fourth side, Bedford, were dispatched 30-27 over two legs by Welsh.

Cross Keys, Penallta and Glyncoch victorious on Swalec finals day

More than 15,000 people – thought to be a record – spent Bank Holiday Monday at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium for the culmination of the WRU’s three Swalec knock-out tournaments.

15,308 people watched at least one match of the triple-header Swalec Finals day at the Millennium Stadium

Newly crowned Division 6 Central champions Glyncoch kicked off proceedings by coming from behind to edge out Division 4 East side New Tredegar 16-14 in a hotly contested bowl final.

An inspired performance from full back and man of the match Shaun Baggs along with a try for prop Mike Webb proved to be the difference between the sides in a compelling contest. Read Alex Bywater‘s full match report on the WRU website here.

Penallta (Division Two East) also secured a thrilling victory against a higher tier team as they resisted intense late pressure from Division One North side Nant Conwy to lift the plate.

The Pitmen edged a pulsating encounter 21-15, but were hanging on at the end, as the sin binnings of Rhys Silcox and Luke Purnell gave Nant Conwy an irresistible advantage in the scrums.

Penallta RFC’s captain Kieron Mahoney lift the Swalec Plate after holding off a late Nant Conwy fightback

Penallta had raced into a 21-3 lead thanks to a brace of tries from Silcox’s flank partner Ross Morgan, but the North Walians refused to give up, and could have had what would have surely proved to have been a game-winning penalty try as they clock ticked past 80 minutes. Read my full match report on the WRU website here.

In the final game of the day, Cross Keys overpowered Premiership 32-19 table-toppers Pontypridd to bring the first silverware home to Pandy Park in the club’s 127-year history.

Hooker Gerwyn Price scored the pick of the Keys tries, showing the Ponty defence a clean pair of heels to sprint over in the corner from 30 metres to spark wild celebrations on the Keys bench.

Rob Nash, Keys captain and man of the match, said the result proved his team was “one of the top sides” in Wales.

His coach Greg Woods described the win, which came just a week after losing the final of the British and Irish Cup to Munster A, as “unbelievable”, but Ponty counterpart Dale McIntosh described his team as “grieving”, while conceding Keys deserved their win. Read Alex Bywater‘s full match report on the WRU website here.

Sports Personality: no women, but worthy recognition for grassroots coaching pair

BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) is always easy viewing for the sports fan, if only to imagine some of the uneasy conversation between invited guests who have ended up sitting together – it is fascinating to wonder what Paula Radcliffe and David Moyes might have discussed.

But this year SPOTY has caused a controversy thought to be beyond its inoffensive and innocent reflection of 12 months of British sport.

An Early Bath has previously discussed the lack of female representation on the shortlist for the main award, and during last night’s ceremony the lack of attention women’s sport commands in this country became increasingly obvious.

As well as Mark Cavendish, who picked up the main prize for his Tour de France green-jacketed exploits this summer, award after award went to men:

• Andy Flower, coach of the year;
• England men’s cricket side, team of the year;
• Sir Steve Redgrave, lifetime achievement;
• Novak Djokovic, overseas personality;
• Bob Champion, Helen Rollason award

Indeed, 16-year-old golfer Lauren Taylor was the only female recipient of an award except for Janice Eaglesham, who shared the BBC Sports Unsung Hero gong with husband Ian Mirfin.

For more than two decades, Janice and Ian have run the Red Star Athletics Club, Glasgow, coaching hundreds of people with disabilities in a variety of athletic disciplines.

Typically for people like Janice and Ian, they seemed overwhelmed upon collection of their trophy. “We know many other people who are involved [in disability sports] to an even greater extent than us,” said Ian during the presentation.

“I suppose this is an award for volunteers everywhere.”

People like Janice and Ian – including the brilliant coaches at Disability Sport Wales, with whom I have had the privilege to work alongside – sum up the essence of grassroots sport and the power sport has within the community at each and every level of ability.

So while the lack of female representation is an obvious cause for concern, the platform SPOTY gives to previously unsung heroes like Janice and Ian ensures the BBC venture is a worthy one.

Speed tragedy and Shane’s retirement shows professional sport still has a heart

A few weeks ago, I made a generalised attack on the culture of elite sport and the extent to which professionalism has detracted from the true nature and value of sport.

So it is only fair to acknowledge when professional sport excels itself – as it has done over the course of the last week.

One week ago, the football and wider sporting world was rocked by the tragic death of Wales national manager Gary Speed. The resulting outpouring of emotion finally and rightly gave the lie to the (in)famous Bill Shankly line: “Football is not a matter of life and death. It’s more important than that.”

Some of the tributes to Gary Speed at the Cardiff City Stadium

Instead, Speed’s passing showed football in a compassionate light it is not often associated with. Shrines were spontaneously set up at Elland Road, Goodison Park, St James’ Park, the Reebok Stadium, Bramall Lane – the homes of clubs Speed played for during his twenty-year career – as well as grounds across Wales.

Initiatives by those clubs – including wreaths being laid a playing of the Welsh national anthem at Everton and the plan for 52,000 Geordies to sing Welsh hymn Bread of Heaven in unison at the Swansea game on 17 December – were welcome.

But perhaps more notable was the generosity of spirit shown by fans, and not just those of the clubs Speed represented. Each Premier League game this weekend was preceded by a minute’s applause for Speed, as well as chants of his name from fans of teams he never even played for.

Speed’s name chanted at Chelsea v Liverpool – neither of whom he ever represented.

A friend said his mother, who had no links to Speed, had cried during the tribute at Leicester City’s Walkers Stadium. Shay Given and Craig Bellamy, friends and teammates of Speed, showed great courage to play in matches this week despite their obvious distress. John Carver, Newcastle’s assistant boss who worked with Speed at St James’ Park and with Sheffield United, was comforted throughout the applause by fourth official Mark Halsey.

England and Wales football fans have not always had the warmest of relationships, so it was moving to see that laid aside for the sake of Speed, with Welsh flags adorned with messages to the midfielder fluttering in the crowd at Leeds and Newcastle, amongst others.

The shock and grief at Speed’s death did not only unite opposing fans, it also transcended sports. At the Millennium Stadium yesterday, applause for Speed rained down from the stands prior to Wales taking on Australia.

That match, the last international before retirement for Wales’s little winger Shane Williams, provided another heart-warming instance to dispel some of the cynicism surrounding professional sport.

Williams wept during the rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, in the process reducing much of the crowd to tears themselves. Wales lost 18-24 to the Wallabies, but Williams crossed for his 58^th and final international try with the last play of the match, sending 62,000 people into raptures.

The atmosphere was incredible, surreal. Wales had been outgunned by a more clinical and apparently hungrier outfit. For much of the second half, it was painful to watch. The stadium felt flat.

But Williams’ try – skipping past Berrick Barnes before scampering over one final time – rejuvenated the crowd. Nobody seemed to notice or care Wales had already lost. This was Shane’s moment, and all that mattered was that he had the chance to say goodbye in style.

Shane Williams and his family after his last international against Australia yesterday. Photo credit: Flickr - Sum_of_Marc

A win would have been nice, but we cared more for Shane than for the result of what was, after all, a friendly match. Fans stood for the winger, to thank him for his commitment to the Welsh cause for more than a decade, to celebrate with him, to join him in his emotional farewell.

This was not about winning at all costs – it was about a more human side. It was a demonstration that while victory is the ultimate aim of a sportsman or woman, it should not be the sole focus. Grassroots sport, by its non-elite nature, recognises that.

Over the past week, with rivalries set aside after the passing of a legend, and with an international crowd celebrating one man’s achievements rather than reacting negatively after the defeat of their nation, a fundamental characteristic – the value of sport in emotional rather than monetary terms – has been revealed to be present at the top levels of sport on a scale that is sometimes obscured.

Olympic sports – which should be discontinued?

The Olympics are the greatest sporting event. But is their focus on certain sports correct? The inclusion of certain sports in the Games has always attracted controversy, and this led to the discontinuation of softball and baseball after Beijing 2008.

This blog promotes minority sports, and the Olympics are an ideal place to showcase them. But arguments continue. Which of these should play no further part in future Games, in your opinion?

There is also an ‘Other’ option for your suggestions.