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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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.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
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.
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.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
