At last it’s over and we can begin to look forward to better times ahead as 2020 slides away and a new year opens its door.
With virtually an entire season lost by clubs across the country, the new year brings hope that by mid to late spring we may at last be able to get back to playing at all levels.
The year 2020, in rugby terms, has had its ups and downs with (thankfully) the top club level being able to continue to bring rugby to an audience of fans including newcomers who may have been watching the sport for the first time mainly because of lockdown.
Although the standard of some of the games was questionable, at least it was out there bringing the game alive again.
We also had the unique experience of a new competition with the Autumn Nations Cup and a different pool format containing some new teams as a possible idea for a future upgrade of the Six Nations, should a replacement ever be needed.
The Nations Cup was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy year of stale and stalled rugby, held back by virus restrictions.
This was the first time outside of a World Cup that Tier 2 nations have been seen live on TV playing against our Six Nations teams.
Denne historien er fra January 03, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra January 03, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
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Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
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Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
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Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
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It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
