The Baby Black untouchables, a status reflected in their collective tournament record of 274 points over five matches, have grown old enough to be middle-aged. They are in their early forties now, their playing days all long gone except for the one they used to call ‘SpongeBob.’
Jimmy Gopperth’s marathon, already long enough to outstrip every Olympian emperor of endurance from Emil Zatopek to Haile Gebrselassie, shows no sign of ending. By the neatest of coincidences, this Thursday’s 20th anniversary of Jerome Kaino’s kids cleaning up in Glasgow also marks Gopperth’s 41st birthday.
A fortnight or so later, he will be back on the treadmill warming up for a second season with Aix-en-Provence. Far from sending their evergreen Kiwi off towards the sunset, his employers thought highly enough of his first season’s work to renew his contract for another.
It will be the 23rd of his professional life for old SpongeBob SquarePants, so-called because the squareness of his shoulders reminded a few team-mates of the-then newly-created cartoon character. Even for all the commercial success of his life on the ocean seabed, the original SpongeBob is due to resurface soon for his 15th season which puts him a long way behind his rugby namesake.
Esta historia es de la edición June 23, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
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Esta historia es de la edición June 23, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
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Sleightholme shows he has pace to burn
OLLIE Sleightholme recently clocked his fastest sprint time and is racing to cement his spot as an England starter.
McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
EXETER fly-half Olivia McGoverne has opted for club over country which will rule her out of contention for New Zealand’s World Cup bid in 2025.
Trinity aim to get the culture right
HIGH-FLYING Trinity have made a remarkable turnaround this season after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, heading into this weekend unbeaten and are now eyeing up promotion from Level 7.
YOUNG GUNS
Louie Gulley experienced the environment of England U20s’ World Championship triumph up close this summerand now has a burning desire to become an age-grade star. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker was part of Mark Mapletoft’s squad but didn’t manage to make an appearance during the tournament.
The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
CAMBORNE maintained their lead at the top of the table with a bonus-point win against their nearest challengers in a pulsating game.
A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher
A highly entertaining and enthralling contest between two sides fighting at the foot of the table was eventually won by Esher after the lead had changed no less than seven times throughout an absorbing afternoon.
Chiefs in hunt for new investment
TONY Rowe has confirmed the search for new investors into Exeter Chiefs has begun as he looks to safeguard the longterm future of the Premiership club.
McParland keen to shine for England A
NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland feels he has returned a better player following a nasty injury that denied him a World Cup winners medal and is now ready to fly into a new opportunity with England A.
Undercard get chance to show their A-game
ENGLAND’S A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard provide the opposition at The Stoop.
England look like a clueless rabble
I WATCHED with a growing sense of bewilderment as England yet again took to the field against Australia looking to all intents and purpose as if they had just been introduced to each other on the coach into Twickenham.
