rugby

ffs Ireland, give us a try at least.

... yasssss, now three more.

I've little interest in Rugby or in any team-sport but amazon prime pushed this documentary to my recommended list (I guess because they are pushing rugby more generally ahead of the 7 nations cup) and it is fascinating and infuriating. Incredible stats like: 20-25% of professional rugby players come from the pacific islands (fiji, Tonga, Samoa - combined population of 1.5m people) ; pacific island players were getting paid circa £80 per game while western players were getting payed upwards of £20,000 per game and that PI players were busking on the streets while on tour in Europe to earn cash. Some really horribly sad stories in here of the exploitation of PI players.

http://www.oceansapartfilm.com/

Some spin-off docs as well, you'll have to search for on amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Castaway-Romania-Tongan-national-foodbanks/dp/B08NRDHJFL/ref=pd_ys_iyr3

about a PI player who ended up on contract in Romania but got kidney failure and coudn't return to Tonga because they don't have any dialysis machines there. He's currently living on benefits in Romania.

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caucau-Greatest-Mystery-Rupeni-Caucaunibuca/dp/B08NK3L9PS/ref=pd_ys_iyr2

about another player who became lost in the system and is now penniless in Tonga.

First win at Twickenham in 38 years. Get it right up ye's!

Enjoyed that yesterday. Congrats Tom

We were absolutely awful today and would never have won if Ireland hadn't been down to 14

First win at Twickenham in, er, 2 years. Get it right up ye's all the same!

France absolutely murdering England here.

tragic