Couch Spectator

A really stiff hip and a sniffly cold meant that the sensible part of me won the day and I didn’t travel to Ebbw Vale to watch Pontypool in the return match. I did follow the course of the match on social media as I lay on the couch feeling guilty. Suffice it to say, that Ebbw vale exacted their revenge after Pooler’s triumph the previous Saturday. Pooler were well beaten going down 34-3 to the league leaders. Newport’s loss against Cardiff means that Ebbw Vale have now opened up a decent lead at the top of the table.

Not going to Ebbw Vale meant that I watched a lot of rugby on the TV. As a Welshman, it is all very depressing as you witness how Wales has gone from having the most competitive club rugby in the world to being a bit of an also ran. I watched games from England, Scotland, Ireland, France and even South Africa where large passionate crowds watched compelling rugby. Watching a really close match between Harlequins and Leicester Tigers at a bouncing Twickenham was the highlight. The skill levels were high and the rugby entertaining in a 34-34 draw. Welsh rugby seems to be sinking in a sea of mediocrity. Here we had a Saturday with no football in the festive season and no match featuring a Welsh professional rugby team – an opportunity missed for sure.

As a dinosaur, I am not sure that I like the pyrotechnics, lasers and DJs playing thumping music on display at Twickenham but thousands of people do. All this stuff does not win rugby matches but developing an atmosphere certainly does help.

2024 is coming to a conclusion which is a relief on a personal basis as it has been a difficult year. My hip replacement operation is scheduled in three weeks and if successful should improve things somewhat. For Pooler, it has been a decent year and they are finding their feet in Super Rygbi Cymru well. They have cemented a place in the middle of the table and have played some really good rugby with the home victories over Newport and Ebbw Vale my highlights. It is also great to see the progress being made by our young Dragons players.

For the national team, it has been an abysmal year with not a single victory recorded and constant debate about the suitability of the coaching team. A much needed victory will be hard to come by in the 2025 Six Nations on current form I am afraid. The regions have hardly fared much better with none of them dining at the top table in Europe. The optimist might say that there are encouraging signs at least at Cardiff but that remains to be seen.

It is a hard to find good things to say about professional rugby in Wales but at least some of the players who have ventured outside of Wales to ply their trade seem to be doing well. In the words of the song “Things Can Only Get Better. ” Can’t they?

Hopefully I can get to Pooler’s next game which is home to Carmarthen Quins next Saturday.

Come on Pooler!

I wish you all a prosperous, healthy and peaceful New Year.