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From Roberts' generous NHS gesture to Mbanda joining Italian Yellow Cross... how rugby has reacted to pandemic
With all rugby in Europe suspended for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic, players have been doing their bit in different ways to help their communities. According to walesonline.co.uk, Jamie Roberts – who is currently living in Cape Town while with the Stormers – has offered his flat in Cardiff to NHS staff who need it.
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The ex-Wales and British and Irish Lions centre, who is a doctor himself, has opted to remain in South Africa for the time being but still has a flat near the University Hospital of Wales. The Welsh great is just one of many players doing their bit to help amid this health crisis.
@CV_UHB Have a 2 bed flat free in Pontcanna for next three weeks if needed by any of your staff. Get in touch 👍🏼
— Jamie Roberts (@Jamiehuwroberts) March 19, 2020
During a period in which people are being encouraged to limit social interaction, with even the recommendation that those over 70 years of age do not leave their houses, there is a British-wide appeal to help those who are most vulnerable at this time.
Wasps have started an initiative where their players call fans who are in isolation at the moment. England’s Brand Shields and Dan Robson have got the ball rolling, as has winger Josh Bassett, as Wasps aim to get as many people involved. Other clubs such as Gloucester and Leicester have made fan calls.
https://twitter.com/brad_shields/status/1240265727044706309?s=20
So good to catch up with Wasps fan Peter!! It’s so important for us to stay connected during this difficult time – but we can do it by sticking together.
I’d like to nominate @_JoshBassett @robmiller89 @joe_launch to #MakeThatCall! #WeAreWasps #OurCommunity pic.twitter.com/FAwtESzPC6— Dan Robson (@d_jrobson) March 18, 2020
Absolute pleasure! Was lovely to speak to them. Especially finding out my nickname is twinkle toes 😂 @WaspsRugby want as many people as possible to get involved 🐝 #MakeThatCall #OurCommunity #WeAreWasps https://t.co/TXnsRX3dXh
— Josh Bassett (@_JoshBassett) March 19, 2020
Thanks @d_jrobson for the nomination. During this tough period, it’s vital that we pull together and keep an extra eye out for one another. Social isolation can be reduced with just one… https://t.co/C4Cot45yjt
— Rob Miller (@robmiller89) March 19, 2020
Tigers back-rower @GuyThompson87 – with the help of his best mate Jax 🐕 – checked in on Tigers supporter Michael Gaunt, who has been a Season Ticket Holder for more than 1⃣8⃣ years.
At this tough time, for everyone, pick up the phone and #MakeTheCall 📞 to check in on someone! pic.twitter.com/XoladgMFBr
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) March 19, 2020
🙌 @joesimpson9 making the all important call to get us all through these tough times. #MakeThatCall https://t.co/SaFWYcWiXJ
— Gloucester Rugby 🍒 (@gloucesterrugby) March 19, 2020
Elsewhere, Wales prop Rob Evans has offered on Twitter to help get food to the elderly while being off training. So too has ex-Scotland and Harlequins winger Tim Visser. They are typical of rugby people making good use of the free time they have on their hands at the moment.
Just want to say to anyone around the Pembrokeshire area, I’m off training so if any of the elderly or any one needs help with getting food or whatever just let me know. Here to help 👍💪 #freeagent
— Rob Evans (@Revsprop1) March 18, 2020
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Time to start looking after each other! #corona #covid_19 #coronahelp pic.twitter.com/CiyakV3zt9
— Tim Visser (@timbovisser) March 17, 2020
Perhaps the player that has truly gone above and beyond the call of duty, though, is Italy and Zebre flanker Maxime Mbanda, who has joined the Italian Yellow Cross.
The 27-year-old has shared photos on Instagram of himself clad in a decontamination suit as well as the Yellow Cross uniform, working in the country that has suffered the most deaths outside of China as a result of the virus.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9oyySNICKl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
WATCH: Freddie Burns takes RugbyPass through his fitness regime during the coronavirus lockdown
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
6 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
6 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments