Mik A
@mikadooo.bsky.social
Dad, engineer, likes watching rugby
I don't think it's possible to just give a warning for a straight red card though. And if it is, I've not found any recent examples.
November 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I don't think it's possible to just give a warning for a straight red card though. And if it is, I've not found any recent examples.
Yeah, when the red card is the result of two yellow cards the Disciplinary Committee can limit the sanction to a warning. According to current rules, that should only happen if both YC offences were "technical" but in practice there's examples in the last few years where one YC was for foul play...
November 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Yeah, when the red card is the result of two yellow cards the Disciplinary Committee can limit the sanction to a warning. According to current rules, that should only happen if both YC offences were "technical" but in practice there's examples in the last few years where one YC was for foul play...
Personally, I think rugby refereeing is more consistent than it has ever been.
The problem is that by its very nature rugby is full of borderline cases and there’s no 100% objective rule as to what’s “high danger” or at what point “mitigation” applies.
The problem is that by its very nature rugby is full of borderline cases and there’s no 100% objective rule as to what’s “high danger” or at what point “mitigation” applies.
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Personally, I think rugby refereeing is more consistent than it has ever been.
The problem is that by its very nature rugby is full of borderline cases and there’s no 100% objective rule as to what’s “high danger” or at what point “mitigation” applies.
The problem is that by its very nature rugby is full of borderline cases and there’s no 100% objective rule as to what’s “high danger” or at what point “mitigation” applies.
Not in that Ireland/France RWC match he wasn't
November 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Not in that Ireland/France RWC match he wasn't
That pocast is absolute gold - many thanks!
November 5, 2025 at 1:02 PM
That pocast is absolute gold - many thanks!
Yes the teams did look well coached.
I also noticed Julianne Zussman reffing one of the matches, so it looks as though they are getting top-level refs too- which is important.
I also noticed Julianne Zussman reffing one of the matches, so it looks as though they are getting top-level refs too- which is important.
November 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Yes the teams did look well coached.
I also noticed Julianne Zussman reffing one of the matches, so it looks as though they are getting top-level refs too- which is important.
I also noticed Julianne Zussman reffing one of the matches, so it looks as though they are getting top-level refs too- which is important.
Thanks Joel, really appreciate the insight!
November 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Thanks Joel, really appreciate the insight!
It's a plus for the 20-min red card of course that marginal decisons have only limited impact. (The obvious minus to the 20-min red is that it endorses coaching that sends players into contact upright. But World Rugby has evidently given up on that issue.)
November 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
It's a plus for the 20-min red card of course that marginal decisons have only limited impact. (The obvious minus to the 20-min red is that it endorses coaching that sends players into contact upright. But World Rugby has evidently given up on that issue.)
If a bunker official is consistently getting it wrong then of course that'd be cause for concern. A one-off difference in opinion (reflected in vociferous fan opinion which ranges from "clear red" to "nothing to see here") doesn't mean much in itself.
November 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
If a bunker official is consistently getting it wrong then of course that'd be cause for concern. A one-off difference in opinion (reflected in vociferous fan opinion which ranges from "clear red" to "nothing to see here") doesn't mean much in itself.
I don't know if it's a simple as football being a game that can be played by kids just about anywhere; whereas rugby needs a grassy field of a certain size, where it doesn't matter how damaged it gets. I'm still curious though why rugby caught on in some working class areas in particular.
November 4, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I don't know if it's a simple as football being a game that can be played by kids just about anywhere; whereas rugby needs a grassy field of a certain size, where it doesn't matter how damaged it gets. I'm still curious though why rugby caught on in some working class areas in particular.
And maybe other women born and raised in England will end up playing for other teams. A certain amount of player choice and freedom to move is a good thing, no?
November 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
And maybe other women born and raised in England will end up playing for other teams. A certain amount of player choice and freedom to move is a good thing, no?
... but went on to be selected by Wales and Ireland respectively. I've no complaints about that at all, c'est la guerre. If England, the dominant Women's team of course, are asset-stripping other Unions that'd be worse, but perhaps some players picked at U20 will return to their homeland later?
November 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
... but went on to be selected by Wales and Ireland respectively. I've no complaints about that at all, c'est la guerre. If England, the dominant Women's team of course, are asset-stripping other Unions that'd be worse, but perhaps some players picked at U20 will return to their homeland later?
And I wonder if this is connected to class at all. I'm sure there's other reasons eg what sports different schools offer in different places, or where major (Men's) clubs are located. Maybe some areas are felt to be writeoffs faced with the challenge from football. But I wonder if class is there too
November 4, 2025 at 8:21 PM
And I wonder if this is connected to class at all. I'm sure there's other reasons eg what sports different schools offer in different places, or where major (Men's) clubs are located. Maybe some areas are felt to be writeoffs faced with the challenge from football. But I wonder if class is there too
Meanwhile, international matches seem disproportionately held in lower-population areas (the extreme being RWC 2025 with only one match held in London & zero in Birmingham etc. Yes, it was the final of course, in a big stadium, but I still feel the RFU is shunning the inner cities.
November 4, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Meanwhile, international matches seem disproportionately held in lower-population areas (the extreme being RWC 2025 with only one match held in London & zero in Birmingham etc. Yes, it was the final of course, in a big stadium, but I still feel the RFU is shunning the inner cities.
One thing that interests me in the modern Women's game is how it is (I think) under-marketed in London and barely marketed to the other major cities in England at all. Yes, London has quite a lot of clubs, but they draw very small crowds compared to the population available.
November 4, 2025 at 8:21 PM
One thing that interests me in the modern Women's game is how it is (I think) under-marketed in London and barely marketed to the other major cities in England at all. Yes, London has quite a lot of clubs, but they draw very small crowds compared to the population available.
It was only a quick look so I may be mistaken, but a lot of the players looked capable of transitioning to elite/international rugby. It looked a great production line to feed the national 7s and 15s teams.
November 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
It was only a quick look so I may be mistaken, but a lot of the players looked capable of transitioning to elite/international rugby. It looked a great production line to feed the national 7s and 15s teams.
There's a very good tournament web page and I noticed that four of the top 12 kickers in the league were forwards (one a prop forward at that), including the tournament leading scorer by a country mile, Queens flanker Lizzie Gibson.
en.usports.ca/sports/wrugb...
en.usports.ca/sports/wrugb...
2025 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Scoring Leaders
2025 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Scoring Leaders
en.usports.ca
November 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
There's a very good tournament web page and I noticed that four of the top 12 kickers in the league were forwards (one a prop forward at that), including the tournament leading scorer by a country mile, Queens flanker Lizzie Gibson.
en.usports.ca/sports/wrugb...
en.usports.ca/sports/wrugb...
I notice that CBC also carried the bronze final and semifinal matches so there's a lot available to be watched.
At first sight, the style of rugby is very familiar to UK eyes. There's not much evidence of Rouet-ball crazy ruck speeds. The proportions of running, passing & kicking seemed normal.
At first sight, the style of rugby is very familiar to UK eyes. There's not much evidence of Rouet-ball crazy ruck speeds. The proportions of running, passing & kicking seemed normal.
November 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I notice that CBC also carried the bronze final and semifinal matches so there's a lot available to be watched.
At first sight, the style of rugby is very familiar to UK eyes. There's not much evidence of Rouet-ball crazy ruck speeds. The proportions of running, passing & kicking seemed normal.
At first sight, the style of rugby is very familiar to UK eyes. There's not much evidence of Rouet-ball crazy ruck speeds. The proportions of running, passing & kicking seemed normal.