Thoughtsofanidlemind's Blog

Category: Rugby

  • RWC ends and I’m off to Greenwich and Vegas

    This coming week I’m travelling from Dublin to Greenwich, CT for the last in the current series of Exchange 2010 Maestro training events where I’ll be joining up again with fellow MVPs Paul Robichaux and Brian Desmond to deliver around twenty hours of lectures between Wednesday and Friday. The lectures are…

  • RWC events, weekly happenings, and Frankfurt calling

    Wow… what a Rugby World Cup (RWC) semi-final. Wales were desperately unlucky to end up at the wrong end of a 9-8 result as France staggered through to the final to emulate their feat at the original RWC in 1987. Much of the commentary since the final whistle has centered…

  • September 2011 wrap-up

    Lots has happened during September, much of which I have covered in other posts. This post serves as a wrap-up for other bits and pieces that I haven’t managed to get to over the month. First, a recommendation for rugby fans. Have a look at Brendan Fanning’s WordPress blog where he’s been…

  • International rugby in Cesena

    The upheaval in the technology market over the last few weeks has made me remiss in terms of updating this blog with details of what’s been going on with rugby. Right now it’s an important time for the national teams who are scheduled to play in the Rugby World Cup…

  • Rugby, weapons, and conferences

    Lots has been happening over the past two weeks with trips to Las Vegas to speak at “The Experts Conference” (TEC), Flayosc (south of France) for some vacation, and England for rugby. It’s time to consider some of the incidents encountered along the way. I landed in Las Vegas late…

  • Catalan triumph in Barcelona

    It’s been a big rugby weekend in Europe as the Heineken Cup quarter-finals were played in Ireland, England, and Spain. Despite Spain’s relatively low status in world rugby, it hosted two games, both moved from France. The Olympic stadium in Barcelona, where I was the TMO, was the location for…

  • Chariot derailed at Lansdowne Road

    Seeing English white shirts coming out for a rugby international creates a special feeling for both opposition and spectators. Unless the game is played at Twickenham, the feeling is not affection. It’s not hatred either, even in Scotland when centuries of repression and the Braveheart fever is at its height,…

  • Communications failure in Twickenham

    On March 13 I was back at Twickenham to be the TV Match Official (TMO) for the England v Scotland Six Nations game. This is the oldest international fixture and was first played in 1871, so there’s a bit of history and whenever the two teams come together you can…

  • TMO’ing Six Nations rugby in Twickers

    It’s been a while since I reported on rugby activities, so here goes. Saturday last (February 12) saw me at Twickenham, London for the England vs. Italy match in the RBS Six Nations championship. Whilst I have been the TMO for other internationals, this was my first Six Nations game…

  • Tales of the unproductive TMO

    I fear that I am the most unproductive TMO in rugby. The last six matches that I have been involved in have seen just one potential try decision referred to me (480 minutes for one decision, very low productivity). I guess I have been fortunate to work with referees such…