Season Finale - Fixtures 1st/2nd April

Some poor discipline there from ET. Something i'd assume they'd try and change before entering the Prem otherwise alot of games could finish with 14 players or less....

First off, huge congratulations to Ealing Trailfinders. I hope they now play their rugby games in the Premiership next season as they thoroughly deserve to. They have won the league fair and square and I wish them all the luck in the world.

Secondly, well done to Doncaster for pushing Ealing all the way.

But most of all, well done to my team, Ampthill, who finish sixth in their very first full season, ending their campaign with a wonderful bonus point draw away to Cornish Pirates. Surely this is something to build on for next season.

I also think my equal second standing in the prediction table at the end of last week will see me tumble downwards after this week’s set of results.

Now for the appeal - hope the RFU see sense. If not I just don’t know what the options are. 

I spotted Chris Cutherbertson RFU. He is a littlewig and played rugby for Hammersmith and Fulham. No disrespect to Chris who is a genuine Rugby man. Just another kick in the bol locks for Ealing

No 7 wrote:  Chris Cuthbertson - Chair, Governance Standing Committee  Council Member for Middlesex since 2003  Previous RFU roles:  Chair, Laws Subcommittee  Member, Remuneration Committee  Member, Audit Committee  Appointed 1 August 2014  Chris is not considered independent for the purposes of the Sport England Code for Sports Governance

Some interesting views on the RFU representation at the Ealing Game yesterday that I think are off the mark.

Chris Cuthbertson has been involved in the game for a long time as has been noted, but I think the point needs to made that he is still Secretary of Hammersmith & Fulham Rugby club and has been for 20 odd years. Chris is man steeped in rugby experience. How many RFU board members are there who have that direct current involvement in running a community club. Indeed, how many of them have ever run a rugby club? One day making decisions on a budget of millions, the next trying to balance the books at his club when the coach company wants to increase charges by 10%.

I hear Chris is stepping down from his positions at the RFU after 19 years service and having worked with Chris, I can say the loss of his experience at all levels of English rugby is a huge loss, which most definitely needs to be replaced at RFU Board level.

HOPEFULLY the 'other' RFU person present, Tom Ilube, the Chairman of the RFU and the RFU's most senior representative (who choose to come to Ealing and not watch the Varsity match), will understand that folks like Chris are the the backbone of the game and the board must hear their voices

I think having the Top Chaps from country and county present winners medals to the players and the league trophy to our Captain, Rayn Smidt was perfect.

To suggest that there was some kind of snub intended is baffling beyond belief!!

dumbape wrote: Some interesting views on the RFU representation at the Ealing Game yesterday that I think are off the mark. Chris Cuthbertson has been involved in the game for a long time as has been noted, but I think the point needs to made that he is still Secretary of Hammersmith & Fulham Rugby club and has been for 20 odd years. Chris is man steeped in rugby experience. How many RFU board members are there who have that direct current involvement in running a community club. Indeed, how many of them have ever run a rugby club? One day making decisions on a budget of millions, the next trying to balance the books at his club when the coach company wants to increase charges by 10%. I hear Chris is stepping down from his positions at the RFU after 19 years service and having worked with Chris, I can say the loss of his experience at all levels of English rugby is a huge loss, which most definitely needs to be replaced at RFU Board level. HOPEFULLY the 'other' RFU person present, Tom Ilube, the Chairman of the RFU and the RFU's most senior representative (who choose to come to Ealing and not watch the Varsity match), will understand that folks like Chris are the the backbone of the game and the board must hear their voices I think having the Top Chaps from country and county present winners medals to the players and the league trophy to our Captain, Rayn Smidt was perfect. To suggest that there was some kind of snub intended is baffling beyond belief!!

kempstonblue wrote: Whilst we all believe the Championship winners deserve a season in the Premiership (or longer). Am heartened that the scrap for 2nd place on National One is still underway. After visiting Cambridge about 15 years ago when a family member required specialist care at Addenbrookes I took a breather one tough weekend watching the Blood and Sand. I hope in my life that Bedford and Cambridge play at least one season in the same league. I would say on a level playing field…but Bedford might never achieve that.

Tom Ilube zoomed into the last Middlesex management meeting. He sat through the whole session and at the end held up a mind map he made during the session.He was geuinely interested in the community level.