Recent content by The umpire

I didn't do many games last year, for various reasons, and when I dug out my kit this year I found that my watch has died, new battery was no help, it is an ex-watch. So I need a new one. I don't want to spend a fortune to be tracked by satellite or report my blood pressure or whatever, and...

I went to watch my local team on Saturday, having set the video to record the game on TV, and was surprised to hear the referee insist that non-throwing team had to match numbers in the line out. How long ago did that law change to 'not exceed' the throwers' numbers? It also raised a second...

Scotland v SA today. Pieterson turns the Scotland player upside down and lets him land on his head. TMO eventually talks Nigel into a penalty, just a penalty, when it looks to fit all the requirements of a straight red. Sam Warburton must be shaking his head in disbelief. Thoughts?

Spot McCaw... Shamelessly nicked from the Rugbybanter Facebook page. I'd link to it if I knew how. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156233738160206&set=gm.955620607813012&type=1

Some praise for a change in a forum. Nigel was very good yesterday. Missed one knock on (which was odd as it looked very like the last gasp try denying one from his game last week), but that apart he was showing why is generally regarded as the best. Picked up on all the things the Warriors...

Right then. All you defenders of Mr Clancy, explain why Ashton's no arms 'tackle' wasn't a clear Penalty Try and YC but a 22 drop out????

No, but then you're misconstruing "above" and "on top of" (and it is "should have" not "should of" - which is an errant back-formation of the abbreviated "should've" which really, in case you hadn't notice, gets my pedantic goat:D and probably means you are a lot younger than I am:()

If the 9 gets a Yellow card, do they have to provide someone else to stand by other 9 at a defensive scrum?

U18 game this weekend. Conversion, ball lands and rolls into drainage ditch beyond DBL. All trot back to half way, eventually followed by fly half "Sir, the ball's wet, can we change it" !!!!!!!!!

I haven't watched the highlights yet, and if rest of the report is accurate, I may not bother, but there does seem to be some grief at the end. 'But Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes the officials robbed his side by giving the penalty to the wrong side. Saracens destroyed...

Just watched the Ospreys v Blues game and among the decisions of Mr Hodges was a very odd one indeed. O's wing has the ball between his goal line and 22. He stars to runout and then decides to kick. Milli-seconds after releasing the ball, he gets tackled and can't complete the kick. Mr. H then...

m.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/gregor-townsend-spare-a-thought-for-rugby-refs-1-3567363 someone appreciates us

Apart from the splendid scoreline, which Glasgow fully deserved, by the way, this was the first match I've seen where the man off was enforced. Ulster ran out of props and were told that if the now injured pro went off, they were going to play with 14. He gamely tried in the next scrum, but was...

Sorry, I forgot it was behind a paywall. I hope it is attached to this post. - - - Updated - - - As I said, stills can be deceptive, but this one could still go either way...

Yesterday's Times (England) Sports section, article on Cockerill illustrated on p17 with a photo. OK,it's only a still, which we know can be misleading, but, would you have chosen this one?