Dai ticks all the boxes, just like all the others!
The Rugby Paper|January 10, 2021
At the risk of putting every snout in every trough out of joint, it has to be said that Cardiff Blues don’t half make a pig’s ear of hiring and firing coaches.
PETER JACKSON
Dai ticks all the boxes, just like all the others!

As if to prove their touch remains none the worse for the passing years, the capital region marked the new one with a scenario all too familiar to followers of a once great club. John Mulvihill’s abrupt exit as head coach on Monday demanded an urgent official reaction, however terse.

There wasn’t one, which raised the possibility that the board under chairman Alun Jones had checked en bloc into the nearest Trappist monastery. The silence grew louder daily and by the time the Blues eventually got round to saying something, everyone knew not only that Mulvihill had left but that Dai Young had returned.

At this point it might be instructive to spool the tape back some 30 months. Having seen the writing on the Arms Park wall, Danny Wilson turned down an extension to his contract before guiding the Blues to a Challenge Cup victory over Gloucester as thrilling as it was implausible, the only trophy the region has won in the last ten years.

Mulvihill arrived in the summer of 2018 to the customary roll of drums. Blues chief executive Richard Holland said: “John will be the perfect fit.”

The 52-year-old Australian could have been forgiven for wondering what he’d let himself in for. The Blues lost their training base to be followed by their ground and while the requisitioning of the Arms Park as an emergency field hospital left the club no choice, neither was conducive to a winning environment.

Esta historia es de la edición January 10, 2021 de The Rugby Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición January 10, 2021 de The Rugby Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE RUGBY PAPERVer todo
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
The Rugby Paper

Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash

LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
The Rugby Paper

Dramatic late win boosts leaders

A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
England need to be more consistent
The Rugby Paper

England need to be more consistent

I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
The Rugby Paper

Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver

ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
The Rugby Paper

Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions

TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
The Rugby Paper

Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
The Rugby Paper

Four-try David calls the shots for Bears

MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
The Rugby Paper

Scott-Young keen to follow his father

TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
When value for money is not part of the deal
The Rugby Paper

When value for money is not part of the deal

ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
The Rugby Paper

'I want to prove my worth to Bath'

OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024