The Raeburn Shield...

...an alternative history of world rugby.

I stumbled across an article about this recently on Scrum.com and it rang a few bells as I'm sure I've heard the Raeburn Shield mentioned before somewhere (can't think where).

But what on earth, I hear you ask, is the Raeburn Shield?

I'm glad you asked because it appears that, amidst all the hullabaloo (good word that, hullabaloo) about who will win the Six Nations, or who will triumph at this year's World Cup, the big question should in fact be who are the current holders of the Raeburn Shield and how the devil can my country win it?

The answer, of course, to the first part of the question is South Africa (who won it from England last November) and, in order to wrestle the Raeburn Shield from their grasp, all a team has to do is to turn up and beat the current holders.

It's a simple enough concept. You win the Shield by beating the current holders and keep the Shield until you're next beaten.

The only flaw, sadly, is that the Raeburn Shield does not actually exist or, at least, it does not exist in any corporeal form. As a hypothetical concept, however, it's pretty much flawless, and the chaps over at http://raeburnshield.com/ (who, it might be argued, have a little bit too much time on their hands) have even re-constructed an historical lineage for the Raeburn Shield dating back to the very first first game of international rugby union between Scotland and England at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh in 1871.

Scotland - Raeburn Shield winners in 1871

In that first ever game the winner (Scotland) won the mythical Shield, a trophy which has continued to be played for, won and lost until this day. Even the likes of Samoa (1999), Romania (1984) and Wales (sorry, couldn't resist) have held the Shield at some point in their histories and next up for the Raeburn Shield challenge is Australia who take on the Saffas on 23rd July in the first match of the Tri Nations.

Far from being satisfied with its metaphysical status, however, the Shield's supporters are campaigning to have the Shield recognised with a proper, real, physical trophy and you can show your support for the concept by joining the campaigners' Facebook Group.

So far, sadly, the idea has fallen on deaf ears (mainly belonging to the IRB) but it seems to me that it's an idea that's just about mad enough to work. After all, there's usually some non-sensical, meaningless, sponsor-led trophy awarded at the end of most international matches these days - why not, then, award a trophy that already has such a rich history and widespread support?

Dummy



Chabal (right) with
his waxwork dummy

 EXCLUSIVE - The Musée Grévin in Paris is launching an internal investigation after it was revealed that one of its waxwork dummies played 50 minutes for France at Twickenham yesterday during the 17-9 defeat to England.

We can reveal that the waxwork likeness of Sebastien Chabal, unveiled at the Musée Grévin earlier this month, started the match for France at number 8 before eventually being hauled off by Marc Lièvremont and replaced with the slightly more animate Julien Bonnaire 10 minutes into the second half.

The whereabouts of the real Sebastien Chabal remain unknown.

What Danny did next #3254

Danny Cipriani's stated intention to live a quiet life out of the pubic eye down under really doesn't appear to be going to plan, the former saviour of English rugby getting himself into a wee bit of bother having been reportedly chucked out of a nightclub in the early hours of the morning last week after allegedly stealing a bottle of alcohol from behind the bar.

Fortunately things do appear to be going a little better on the pitch, Cipriani nailing penalty in the final minute to give the Rebels a 25-24 victory over the Brumbies yesterday to make up for their embarrassing 43-0 defeat to the Waratahs in their opening Super 15 outing last week.

However, with many of Cipriani's ex-England colleagues preparing to take on the French at Twickenham today I still feel that Cipriani's strategy to win back his England place looks a little misplaced.

It's too early to say "I told you so" and the move to Oz may still be the making of him, but I've never quite understood how disappearing to the other side of the world to play for a rookie franchise, rather than staying in England and proving himself worthy of a recall by competing directly with his rivals for the shirt, was ever going to work.

It's still early days of course, but despite all the talk of staying out of the tabloid glare and knuckling down to prove himself as a player in the Super 15, the evidence still seems to suggest it's going to be a long hard slog on the pitch while his off-field behaviour is proving to be just as attractive to the tabloid hacks in Oz as it did back home.

Shame, really, because I can't help feeling that a fit and firing Cipriani would quite enjoy playing in the current England team.

On the move...

Mathew Tait's proposed move to Leicester Tigers, having last week been released  from his contract with immediate effect by Sale Sharks, is probably the best thing that can happen to him.

A real talent who, during the 2007 World Cup looked as if he was only a step or two away from breaking through on the world stage, the last few years for Tait have been rather disappointing.

Selectorial foibles, fluctuating form, injuries and being in a (mostly) poor Sale team have all contributed to his lack of progress. The thing is, looking back, I don't recall Tait ever really having had a stinker for England. Even on his debut in 2005 (where he was smashed twice in tackles by a certain tangerine-skinned Welsh opponent), he didn't play that badly. He has, however, failed to convince completely in an England shirt and is currently well down the pecking order, especially given the current preference for behemoths in the centres.

The move to the Tigers, therefore, can only be a good thing. Being around top players, top coaches and, most importantly, a winning culture, can only improve his prospects. Just look at Toby Flood.

Too late for this year's World Cup? Probably, but at 25 Tait's still young enough to be around in 2015 and much can change in 4 years. I do feel that it will be England's loss if they do not find a way to make the most of his talents.

Genius!

A letter to Steve on the eve of his wedding...

My cap is suitably doffed.

Pitbull Muzzled

According to that purveyor of all things true and wise (aka the Daily Mail), former England hooker and current BBC rugby pundit Brian Moore has decided to close his Twitter account following criticism after the publication of a couple of less than tasteful jokes.

Last month Moore apparently re-tweeted a post saying: "Apparently Gary Glitter is the new Aston Villa manager. He heard the strikers are Young, Bent and possibly Keane, boom boom."

Tasteful? No.
Funny? Yes, very, at least according to my admittedly puerile sense of humour.

More recently, following England’s win over Wales in Cardiff, a (possibly Welsh) tweeter named Sam Downes sent a public tweet to Moore accusing him of being "literally the worst, most biased commentator in the history of rugby, sport and the universe," to which one Moore’s followers responded, questioning whether Downes’surname had anything to do with his medical condition, a remark which Moore apparently (and possibly ill-advisedly) re-tweeted.

Tasteful? No.
Funny? Not really, but so what?

The real point here is that the nature of a medium like Twitter is that remarks are often made that are intended largely for private consumption (or at least for consumption by followers who presumably have signed up because they know what sort of views they are likely to get) but which are, in fact, consumed by a much wider public. Tasteless jokes and remarks are part of life and therefore part of Twitter. Sometimes they're very funny, sometimes they're wide of the mark. Moore's not the first well-known figure to be caught out by Twitter (and, remember, he didn't even make the original comment) and certainly won't be the last, but for anyone to genuinely take offence at some throwaway line on a social media site strikes me as being more than a little ridiculous. I suspect that those who have jumped on the bandwagon of condemnation are motivated more by a general dislike for Moore's persona than by any real offence caused.

The fact that Moore, whose views are generally always entertaining (whether or not you agree with them), has felt compelled to close his Twitter account is a shame but, as with many so-called scandals these days, the matter does appear to have been blown out of all proportion.

Christchurch

My thoughts are very much with the people of Christchurch following the devastating earthquake there this week.

With the death toll rising and with 300 people still reported missing, the ongoing rescue mission is, quite rightly, the absolute priority.

New Zealanders will also need the time and space to mourn their dead.

Rugby, quite frankly, can wait.