Elgan Evan Alderman
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elgantimes.bsky.social
Elgan Evan Alderman
@elgantimes.bsky.social
440 followers 120 following 47 posts
Sports reporter for The Times. Rugby, cricket, numbers, niche. Really busy with choir. The artist formerly known as @WelshMinor 🏉🏏📊
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Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
rosbifsrugby.bsky.social
🗞️ MUST READ!

This is an absolute cracker of an article by @elgantimes.bsky.social about Toulouse’s 🇪🇸 tight head Joel Merkler.

🔥

www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Meet Spanish prop with English dad who is part of Toulouse machine
Rugby may ignore the Spanish national team but Joel Merkler cannot be dismissed, having been key cog in Top 14 club’s domestic domination and European success
www.thetimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
johnthejack.bsky.social
Brilliant by @elgantimes.bsky.social on the epic (!) 0-0 draw in 1961 between France and South Africa.
(£) www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Violence, vengeance and monsters: the match that had it all (except points)
The Springboks were out for revenge when they took on France in Colombes in 1961 but two sides at their peak failed to trouble scoreboard
www.thetimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
rosbifsrugby.bsky.social
Elgan + Top 14 Final + Songs

Need we say more? 👇

t.co/bu3KklqsFG

@elgantimes.bsky.social
https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/bordeaux-toulouse-top-14-final-french-rugby-trp8cmhwr
t.co
June 27, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
rosbifsrugby.bsky.social
It's #Lions2025 time!

Rewind a couple of months, we were joined by Professor of 🇫🇷 Rugby @elgantimes.bsky.social to pick a 21st Century 'French Lions.'

Selection based on performances in France alone. Room for Johnny Sexton? Nope. But Johnny Howard, he's in!

Who would make your 23?
June 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
johnthejack.bsky.social
Brilliant by @elgantimes.bsky.social on the great rugby player and fantastic character Maurice Colclough.
(£) www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Lions legend with calves the size of footballs who sold jeans to KGB
From a near-fatal aftershave incident to captaining a boat bought from a Russian spy, ex-England lock Maurice Colclough had enough adventures to fill several memoirs
www.thetimes.com
June 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
🇫🇷 The Rugbyman 🇫🇷

Pro D2 final time, and Sam Davies is ready for a match of international proportions. Third time lucky for Grenoble, or can Montauban keep the shocks going?

www.thetimes.com/article/70af...
Sam Davies: Welshman hoping to kick Grenoble back into Top 14
Sam Davies, who experienced fleeting fame as a Wales fly half, on shaking off career stagnation and why Saturday’s Pro D2 final is ‘like an international’
www.thetimes.com
June 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
elgantimes.bsky.social
🚨The Rugbyman 🚨

British and Irish fans can now watch the Pro D2 on YouTube. Here's my chat with Joe Worsley about how we got here, via the grit/flash combo of UBB, Castres and Brive 🏉
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Ex-England star aiming to give French rugby a Football Italia moment
Former flanker Joe Worsley, who spent years coaching in France, commentates for FR-UK, a YouTube channel bringing second-division action to British audience
www.thetimes.com
May 28, 2025 at 10:43 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
🚨The Rugbyman 🚨

British and Irish fans can now watch the Pro D2 on YouTube. Here's my chat with Joe Worsley about how we got here, via the grit/flash combo of UBB, Castres and Brive 🏉
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Ex-England star aiming to give French rugby a Football Italia moment
Former flanker Joe Worsley, who spent years coaching in France, commentates for FR-UK, a YouTube channel bringing second-division action to British audience
www.thetimes.com
May 28, 2025 at 10:43 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
The rise of UBB: the 19-year-old entity in the city that once housed Zidane and now unfurls Louis B-B, with the biggest crowds in Europe but without a trophy - yet? 🏉
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Zinedine who? Bordeaux’s rise to rugby-mad city with Europe’s biggest crowds
Bordeaux, once a home to French footballing superstars, can win their first major trophy if they beat Northampton Saints in Saturday’s Champions Cup final
www.thetimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
Harlequins required dispensation to allow Danny Care to wear No9 from the bench on Sunday, which had me thinking about how Quins numbered their squad in 1996-98...🧵
May 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
elgantimes.bsky.social
Here's one game of rugby I think would be great fun: a Clash of the Codes between the Red Roses and Jillaroos - how about Vegas 2026?
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
England need competition: best answer may be cross-code match
With the Red Roses and Australia dominating in union and league respectively, this may be the perfect time to bring them together in ‘Clash of the Codes’ reanimation
www.thetimes.com
March 30, 2025 at 5:38 PM
elgantimes.bsky.social
Here's one game of rugby I think would be great fun: a Clash of the Codes between the Red Roses and Jillaroos - how about Vegas 2026?
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
England need competition: best answer may be cross-code match
With the Red Roses and Australia dominating in union and league respectively, this may be the perfect time to bring them together in ‘Clash of the Codes’ reanimation
www.thetimes.com
March 30, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
elgantimes.bsky.social
Return of The Rugbyman 🍾

What's going on in Paris?
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
From European finals to fighting relegation— the fall of Parisian giants
Culture clashes, financial woes and struggles of overseas stars including Owen Farrell have put the French capital’s clubs Stade Francais and Racing 92 in danger
www.thetimes.com
March 19, 2025 at 10:48 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
Return of The Rugbyman 🍾

What's going on in Paris?
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
From European finals to fighting relegation— the fall of Parisian giants
Culture clashes, financial woes and struggles of overseas stars including Owen Farrell have put the French capital’s clubs Stade Francais and Racing 92 in danger
www.thetimes.com
March 19, 2025 at 10:48 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
We have an open weekend to explore the Times and Sunday Times. Unfettered access to the lot, including Alderman’s carousel of nonsense 👇
t.co/z8j7S19Uua
March 15, 2025 at 9:49 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
*Don’t mention the Stereophonics, don’t mention the Stereophonics*

The last three times Wales have hosted England on the final weekend, they have summoned perfect days.

On the delicate balance between inspirational history and the future 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

www.thetimes.com/article/d1a4...
Parochialism is Wales’ driving force against England — but it holds team back
Wales have a history of summoning fire to ruin English title bids, but building long-term success takes pragmatism and foresight
www.thetimes.com
March 14, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
elgantimes.bsky.social
🚨 Replacements in rugby 🚨

The debate around use of the bench in rugby focuses on wanting to limit the impact of eight fresh players, allowing fatigue to be a factor in the game (correctly, imo). That is a reversal of reasoning behind why tactical subs were brought in...
March 12, 2025 at 1:36 PM
elgantimes.bsky.social
🚨 Replacements in rugby 🚨

The debate around use of the bench in rugby focuses on wanting to limit the impact of eight fresh players, allowing fatigue to be a factor in the game (correctly, imo). That is a reversal of reasoning behind why tactical subs were brought in...
March 12, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
elgantimes.bsky.social
Wales have lost 15 on the spin, which puts them 65 short of Prairie View A&M Panthers between 1989-98 🏈 🏉

Lessons from a losing streak with Greg Johnson, the coach who brought victory to the town victory forgot 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

www.thetimes.com/article/9151...
‘15 defeats is nothing’ — lessons for Wales from team who lost 80 in a row
Wales’ 15 defeats in a row is the kind of run that can stick with a team, just ask coach Greg Johnson, whose Prairie View college American football team went winless for almost nine years
www.thetimes.com
March 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
elgantimes.bsky.social
Wales have lost 15 on the spin, which puts them 65 short of Prairie View A&M Panthers between 1989-98 🏈 🏉

Lessons from a losing streak with Greg Johnson, the coach who brought victory to the town victory forgot 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

www.thetimes.com/article/9151...
‘15 defeats is nothing’ — lessons for Wales from team who lost 80 in a row
Wales’ 15 defeats in a row is the kind of run that can stick with a team, just ask coach Greg Johnson, whose Prairie View college American football team went winless for almost nine years
www.thetimes.com
March 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Elgan Evan Alderman
elgantimes.bsky.social
Twenty-five years ago, a group of actors flew out to Gujarat to portray the British officers in Lagaan. A piece on cricket, TV and Bollywood - featuring Thermoman, Ever Decreasing Circles, and Mitchell and Webb 🏏📺
www.thetimes.com/sport/cricke...
Cricket and Bollywood: Where India’s religion meets the big screen
In India film stars like Shah Rukh Khan own cricket teams and Virat Kohli is married to an actress, but Bollywood is yet to make the cutthrough in to the western market
www.thetimes.com
February 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
elgantimes.bsky.social
Twenty-five years ago, a group of actors flew out to Gujarat to portray the British officers in Lagaan. A piece on cricket, TV and Bollywood - featuring Thermoman, Ever Decreasing Circles, and Mitchell and Webb 🏏📺
www.thetimes.com/sport/cricke...
Cricket and Bollywood: Where India’s religion meets the big screen
In India film stars like Shah Rukh Khan own cricket teams and Virat Kohli is married to an actress, but Bollywood is yet to make the cutthrough in to the western market
www.thetimes.com
February 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
elgantimes.bsky.social
England have named a XII for tomorrow's second T20I here in Chennai. Brydon Carse in for Gus Atkinson. Jamie Smith is the extra man as Jacob Bethell is ill and not at training today 🏏
January 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
British and Irish rugby used to have plenty of French players in their leagues. Not so much now. A survey of their history, mentioning lots of them but not all of them, including that one you remember and I have also heard of 📬
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...
Why French rugby players no longer want to play in England
A once-common migration of French rugby stars to England has dwindled. With 30 professional clubs in France, and a perceived golden age for the sport, is the allure of the Premiership fading?
www.thetimes.com
January 24, 2025 at 8:22 AM
elgantimes.bsky.social
England have named their XI for tomorrow's first T20I in Kolkata

Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
January 21, 2025 at 8:30 AM