Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:04 pm  

If correct who could have thought that Andy Ripley - being a lumbering, gigantuan back-rower had a prayer V a perfectly proportioned athletic type in Keith Fielding?

I doubt League could take too much credit from that.

I recall when Ed Moses was allowed to run V Fielding in the 100 meter at an International Superstars event. I thought it might be interesting .... it weren't. The true athlete was cantering .... no-one else in the frame.

Even more shocking Malcolm Macdonald was quicker (than Fielding) but not as quick as Des Drummond.

*Please note none of the above probably happened anything like I recall it.

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:29 pm  

AdmiralHanson wrote:

Otley were considered to be a 'big' Union club and that was one of the reasons why they landed a game for the first 'kick & clap world cup' in '87.

pedant mode on

first kick and clap wc was 87. 91 was over here, i 'stewarded' at the USA v Italy game at cross green.

off

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:11 pm  

Ah you were the jobsworth back in that October Saturday.

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:18 pm  

tvoc wrote:

If correct who could have thought that Andy Ripley - being a lumbering, gigantuan back-rower had a prayer V a perfectly proportioned athletic type in Keith Fielding?

I doubt League could take too much credit from that.

I recall when Ed Moses was allowed to run V Fielding in the 100 meter at an International Superstars event. I thought it might be interesting .... it weren't. The true athlete was cantering .... no-one else in the frame.

Even more shocking Malcolm Macdonald was quicker (than Fielding) but not as quick as Des Drummond.

*Please note none of the above probably happened anything like I recall it.

Was that the one where Kevin Keegan fell of his bike or Jodie Schekter got caught putting olive oil on his socks during the squat thrusts ?

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:13 pm  

I would be interested to see how he played tonight, scored two tries but I wonder how much involvement he had in the rest of the game.

As a fan of both codes, it will be a loss to League but I would be happy if he is as successful as Ashton in Union. Though I think someone has mentioned before, Ashton had the chance to learn his trade in a lower league which was ideal and now we are seeing the benefits. Good luck to him.

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:04 pm  

Andy Ripley died last year I believe (aged just over 60) of prostate cancer.

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:47 am  

AdmiralHanson wrote:

Was that the one where Kevin Keegan fell of his bike or Jodie Schekter got caught putting olive oil on his socks during the squat thrusts ?

In my example not sure if Fielding, Macdonald and Drummond ever competed directly but seem to recall they had each (in that order) set record Superstars times for the 100 Meters.

Didn't Macdonald once run a 11 second race on Superstars but it was ruled out as someone was disputing the start so they marched back up the track, re-set and went again. This time Macdonald did a 10.9 ...... that's good going.

I think Drummond eventually did a 10.85 out in Japan or such like.

There were some right shinanigans with the dips and squat thrusts. Jonah Barrington springs to mind here for some reason. Much better watching David Hemery's facial contortions from his 6th dip onwards than Brian Jacks pecking bird impressions.

Keegan was in a mess but good on him for getting back in the saddle. Can't imagine many footballers would do likewise these days.

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:12 am  

tvoc wrote:

Keegan was in a mess but good on him for getting back in the saddle. Can't imagine many footballers would do likewise these days.

the current equivalent in footballing terms would probably be Rooney? maybe we don't have anyone of the equivalent standing in european football that keegan had at that time, can you imagine the insurance premiums these days?

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:03 pm  

I can't but it can't be much more than what Robert Kubica is paying for his Skoda Fabia.

Re: Eastmond to Bath RU confirmed : Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:23 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Was Drew Broatch? Genuine question as I didn't realise he had been capped by Scotland before heading South.

No I don't think that Drew got his full Scottish cap. I seem to remember he played in the trials and for South of Scotland so was close to becoming a full International.


__________

tvoc wrote:

Generally, if anything, you appear to be supporting the case for the prosecution. Given that in order to recall more than a single handful of Ex England RU Internationals you have had to go back several decades

No I have said nothing to support your case. I simply listed eight England Internationals who became GB RL Internationals of note.

In fact you also have to go back more than 2 decades to find more than a handful of Welsh Internationals that converted to League.

There was a challange to name 5 England RU Internationals that coverted to League in the 70's, 80's & 90's. Well in my list are 3 (5 if you include the late 60's) that converted during that time to which I will add Mike Lampkowski (Wakefield Trinity) and Nigel Heslop who signed for Oldham in the 90's so that makes 5.

Back in the pre-pro RU days, the reason that there were more Welsh RU International players than English that converted to League is nothing to do with what League could afford to pay or that the English RU produced less talented rugby players.

The motivation for the Welsh to convert was for better financial security as the typical Welsh International came from a poor mining background. Whereas the typical England RU International came from a wealthy / public school / establishment background with excellent future career prospects so money was not the motivation.

However in the North of England there has always been a cross over and RU has been a rich breeding ground for many talented RL players who learnt their basic rugby in the RU code. eg Offiah, Atkinson etc

With the advent of pro RU the pendulum has swung in their favour for the converts. Whist it means we lose some of the most talented players it does have a side benefit that raises the profile of League on a National level.

With Jason Robinson and now Ashton our code gets TV & Press mentions every time they score. Add to this the success as RU coaches from former League players from Larder to Shaun Edwards it is not all bad news. Maybe some of the new Ashton/Robinson fans will realise that League produces some unique talent and star to follow our game as well.