Mik A
@mikadooo.bsky.social
Dad, engineer, likes watching rugby
France's 2026 Six Nations strip revealed early I see...
November 27, 2025 at 1:40 PM
France's 2026 Six Nations strip revealed early I see...
Reposted by Mik A
1/ World Rugby is pushing the size 4.5 ball trial into elite #HSBCSVNS. Claims of designing the game "in its own right" aren't enough. We demand the science! Is this an enhancement or a limit?
Read our full demand & analysis: scrumhalfconnection.com/2025/11/26/s... #WomensRugby #DataNow
Read our full demand & analysis: scrumhalfconnection.com/2025/11/26/s... #WomensRugby #DataNow
November 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
1/ World Rugby is pushing the size 4.5 ball trial into elite #HSBCSVNS. Claims of designing the game "in its own right" aren't enough. We demand the science! Is this an enhancement or a limit?
Read our full demand & analysis: scrumhalfconnection.com/2025/11/26/s... #WomensRugby #DataNow
Read our full demand & analysis: scrumhalfconnection.com/2025/11/26/s... #WomensRugby #DataNow
Obviously a huge shame to see Dow retire from an England point of view.
(But from an engineer's point of view, great to see her returning to Mechanical Engineering).
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
(But from an engineer's point of view, great to see her returning to Mechanical Engineering).
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
Abby Dow: England World Cup winner retires from rugby at 28
England's World Cup-winning wing Abby Dow announces her retirement from rugby at the age of 28 in order to focus on a career in mechanical engineering.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Obviously a huge shame to see Dow retire from an England point of view.
(But from an engineer's point of view, great to see her returning to Mechanical Engineering).
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
(But from an engineer's point of view, great to see her returning to Mechanical Engineering).
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
Looks like Sunday’s Elite 1 match between Bordeaux and Blagnac will be broadcast by TV7. Seems to be accessible online at sudouest.fr/lachainetv7 without geo block or needing to open an account.
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Looks like Sunday’s Elite 1 match between Bordeaux and Blagnac will be broadcast by TV7. Seems to be accessible online at sudouest.fr/lachainetv7 without geo block or needing to open an account.
Reposted by Mik A
🍿 Watch live all the action from Harlequins 🆚 Scarlets ⤵️
📺 www.quins.co.uk/video/live-harlequins-v-scarlets
📱 www.quins.co.uk/download-the-harlequins-app
#COYQ | #HARvSCA
📺 www.quins.co.uk/video/live-harlequins-v-scarlets
📱 www.quins.co.uk/download-the-harlequins-app
#COYQ | #HARvSCA
November 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
🍿 Watch live all the action from Harlequins 🆚 Scarlets ⤵️
📺 www.quins.co.uk/video/live-harlequins-v-scarlets
📱 www.quins.co.uk/download-the-harlequins-app
#COYQ | #HARvSCA
📺 www.quins.co.uk/video/live-harlequins-v-scarlets
📱 www.quins.co.uk/download-the-harlequins-app
#COYQ | #HARvSCA
Off-the-charts drama between Netherlands and Belgium in the Rugby Europe U20 Championship. Late changes of lead, iffy refereeing decisions, Netherlands fighting back with only 13 players on the pitch and sudden death extra time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbN...
NETHERLANDS vs BELGIUM - RUGBY EUROPE U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 - SEMI FINALS
YouTube video by Rugby Europe
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Off-the-charts drama between Netherlands and Belgium in the Rugby Europe U20 Championship. Late changes of lead, iffy refereeing decisions, Netherlands fighting back with only 13 players on the pitch and sudden death extra time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbN...
Morgane Bourgeois has thoughts on why England Women are outperforming France. Among them:
- 🌹experienced squad
- 🌹number of players with previous 7s experience
- 🌹winning mentality
- in France poor pathway from junior to senior level
Bourgeois also suggests France should have a development squad.
- 🌹experienced squad
- 🌹number of players with previous 7s experience
- 🌹winning mentality
- in France poor pathway from junior to senior level
Bourgeois also suggests France should have a development squad.
November 18, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Morgane Bourgeois has thoughts on why England Women are outperforming France. Among them:
- 🌹experienced squad
- 🌹number of players with previous 7s experience
- 🌹winning mentality
- in France poor pathway from junior to senior level
Bourgeois also suggests France should have a development squad.
- 🌹experienced squad
- 🌹number of players with previous 7s experience
- 🌹winning mentality
- in France poor pathway from junior to senior level
Bourgeois also suggests France should have a development squad.
Reposted by Mik A
As soon as the new calendar dropped, I knew I wanted to talk to players caught up in the reshuffle.
So here’s the story of three of them, on the new hand they’ve been dealt. A huge thank you to all of them for sharing their thoughts with me.
alicesoapbox.substack.com/p/the-hand-t...
So here’s the story of three of them, on the new hand they’ve been dealt. A huge thank you to all of them for sharing their thoughts with me.
alicesoapbox.substack.com/p/the-hand-t...
The Hand They've Been Dealt
Three players make their choice after Aupiki's reshuffle
alicesoapbox.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:28 AM
As soon as the new calendar dropped, I knew I wanted to talk to players caught up in the reshuffle.
So here’s the story of three of them, on the new hand they’ve been dealt. A huge thank you to all of them for sharing their thoughts with me.
alicesoapbox.substack.com/p/the-hand-t...
So here’s the story of three of them, on the new hand they’ve been dealt. A huge thank you to all of them for sharing their thoughts with me.
alicesoapbox.substack.com/p/the-hand-t...
Trailfinders vs Bristol should be an absolute treat - two teams that love to run the ball and work on the basis of "whatever you score, we'll score more."
The 🏴 #PWR continues.
GH and Sarries should have easy matches.
Trailfinders are on a high after trampling Sale, while Bristol pride was injured by Saracens last week.
And on Sunday Exeter & Harlequins, 2 strong teams that are lacking some consistency searching for the 2nd win of the season
GH and Sarries should have easy matches.
Trailfinders are on a high after trampling Sale, while Bristol pride was injured by Saracens last week.
And on Sunday Exeter & Harlequins, 2 strong teams that are lacking some consistency searching for the 2nd win of the season
November 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Trailfinders vs Bristol should be an absolute treat - two teams that love to run the ball and work on the basis of "whatever you score, we'll score more."
Reposted by Mik A
They’ve woken up a beast now
As reported by R365 last month, SA Rugby intends to centrally contract up to 150 players for this league, creating an unprecedented professional platform for women’s rugby in South Africa.
www.rugbypass.com/news/sa-rugb...
www.rugbypass.com/news/sa-rugb...
SA Rugby to centrally contract up to 150 players for new women's league
SA Rugby has been working tirelessly to expand opportunities for women’s players and to further professionalise the women’s game in South Africa, plans which have gained pace since the Women's Rugby W...
www.rugbypass.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
They’ve woken up a beast now
Steve Borthwick 🤝 Emma Raducanu
-- New coach every month --
-- New coach every month --
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Steve Borthwick 🤝 Emma Raducanu
-- New coach every month --
-- New coach every month --
Reposted by Mik A
I wrote a piece about Movember and how I'm not a mental health advocate.
www.threeredkings.com/when-novembe...
www.threeredkings.com/when-novembe...
When November Ends – Three Red Kings
www.threeredkings.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I wrote a piece about Movember and how I'm not a mental health advocate.
www.threeredkings.com/when-novembe...
www.threeredkings.com/when-novembe...
Reposted by Mik A
🚨Over 42 hours of rugby🚨
🗞️Full guide and rugby media rights update👉
shorturl.at/tQVcU
🗺️Quilter Nations Series
🏆RWC 2027 Qualifiers
🏉Internationals
🇫🇷Pro D2
🇫🇷Top 14
🏴Champ Round 6
🏴PWR Round 3
🏉The 745 Game
🏉Rugby Europe Conference & Trophy
🗞️Full guide and rugby media rights update👉
shorturl.at/tQVcU
🗺️Quilter Nations Series
🏆RWC 2027 Qualifiers
🏉Internationals
🇫🇷Pro D2
🇫🇷Top 14
🏴Champ Round 6
🏴PWR Round 3
🏉The 745 Game
🏉Rugby Europe Conference & Trophy
November 6, 2025 at 1:11 PM
🚨Over 42 hours of rugby🚨
🗞️Full guide and rugby media rights update👉
shorturl.at/tQVcU
🗺️Quilter Nations Series
🏆RWC 2027 Qualifiers
🏉Internationals
🇫🇷Pro D2
🇫🇷Top 14
🏴Champ Round 6
🏴PWR Round 3
🏉The 745 Game
🏉Rugby Europe Conference & Trophy
🗞️Full guide and rugby media rights update👉
shorturl.at/tQVcU
🗺️Quilter Nations Series
🏆RWC 2027 Qualifiers
🏉Internationals
🇫🇷Pro D2
🇫🇷Top 14
🏴Champ Round 6
🏴PWR Round 3
🏉The 745 Game
🏉Rugby Europe Conference & Trophy
I don't know. It's a fact that rugby is always going to have borderline decisions and that there will often be a subjective element in decision-making. Changing the process (eg bunker vs on-field decision) won't change that reality, and there'll still be complaints from aggrevieved fans and pundits.
Re: Tadhg Beirne. The committee stating "it did not meet the red card threshold" really devalues the entire process.
If they're implying a 10 mins bunker review came to the wrong decision, serious questions need to be asked of World Rugby. The laws seem harder to follow now more than ever for fans
If they're implying a 10 mins bunker review came to the wrong decision, serious questions need to be asked of World Rugby. The laws seem harder to follow now more than ever for fans
November 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I don't know. It's a fact that rugby is always going to have borderline decisions and that there will often be a subjective element in decision-making. Changing the process (eg bunker vs on-field decision) won't change that reality, and there'll still be complaints from aggrevieved fans and pundits.
This was a thought-provoking interview too. I get the worry, but wonder the situation might not be as bad as Snowsill fears. It feels there has been recruitment of players from other Unions for a long while. Jenny Hesketh and Nancy MacGillivray would be recent examples who played for England U20...
Former fly-half Elinor Snowsill says it is "very frustrating" when England come after Wales' best young talent.
Snowsill has been leading one of the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) player development centres since calling time on her Wales career two years ago.
www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-...
Snowsill has been leading one of the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) player development centres since calling time on her Wales career two years ago.
www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-...
Elinor Snowsill frustrated with Welsh talent headhunted by England
Former fly-half Elinor Snowsill says it is
www.bbc.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
This was a thought-provoking interview too. I get the worry, but wonder the situation might not be as bad as Snowsill fears. It feels there has been recruitment of players from other Unions for a long while. Jenny Hesketh and Nancy MacGillivray would be recent examples who played for England U20...
This is an interesting article. I'm keen to dive further into how the various football codes crystallised in the Nineteenth Century. I'd agree with Hattie that rugby is somewhat exclusive by nature but I'm interested as to why it became popular with working classes in some places but not others.
In case you missed it, yesterday I posted my latest article 'Why is Rugby Union Posh?'. It is a look at the middle-class roots of rugby union in England and a brief look at class and rugby union in the wider rugby world
🔗 therugbyhistoryproject.com/2025/11/03/w...
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/1k5G...
🔗 therugbyhistoryproject.com/2025/11/03/w...
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/1k5G...
November 4, 2025 at 8:21 PM
This is an interesting article. I'm keen to dive further into how the various football codes crystallised in the Nineteenth Century. I'd agree with Hattie that rugby is somewhat exclusive by nature but I'm interested as to why it became popular with working classes in some places but not others.
A couple of days ago the YouTube algorithm pointed me to a live stream of the Canadian University Sports rugby final for women. It's an entertaining match with a very close finish, played to a high standard. I'd guess comparable to UK BUCS and better than US college.
www.youtube.com/live/kWM6dGa...
www.youtube.com/live/kWM6dGa...
U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship: Victoria Vikes (1) vs UBC Thunderbirds (6) - Gold | #CBCSports
YouTube video by CBC Sports
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A couple of days ago the YouTube algorithm pointed me to a live stream of the Canadian University Sports rugby final for women. It's an entertaining match with a very close finish, played to a high standard. I'd guess comparable to UK BUCS and better than US college.
www.youtube.com/live/kWM6dGa...
www.youtube.com/live/kWM6dGa...
Emma Sing doing Emma Sing things
November 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Emma Sing doing Emma Sing things
Reposted by Mik A
Had this whole thread of my thoughts on the Autumn Nations Series games vanish in the ether because this app doesn’t have a draft posts option 😑
Basically:
🏴 Roebuck best in the air in the world? Pollock looking at himself in the big screen 😂 25m maul 😍 England getting really good at the basics
Basically:
🏴 Roebuck best in the air in the world? Pollock looking at himself in the big screen 😂 25m maul 😍 England getting really good at the basics
November 3, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Had this whole thread of my thoughts on the Autumn Nations Series games vanish in the ether because this app doesn’t have a draft posts option 😑
Basically:
🏴 Roebuck best in the air in the world? Pollock looking at himself in the big screen 😂 25m maul 😍 England getting really good at the basics
Basically:
🏴 Roebuck best in the air in the world? Pollock looking at himself in the big screen 😂 25m maul 😍 England getting really good at the basics
Anyone want to see a conversion attempt hit the woodwork not once, not twice, not three times but FOUR TIMES on its way between the sticks. Crossbar Challenge Level: Impossible.
Hannah Brink for the US Naval Academy team
Hannah Brink for the US Naval Academy team
November 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Anyone want to see a conversion attempt hit the woodwork not once, not twice, not three times but FOUR TIMES on its way between the sticks. Crossbar Challenge Level: Impossible.
Hannah Brink for the US Naval Academy team
Hannah Brink for the US Naval Academy team
The Rugby4Cast algorithm did rather better than me last weekend, and I'm inclined to agree with their predictions for round 2. Sale and Quins likely to achieve closer margins than these but I'd agree with Loughborough and Sarries to get the wins.
The predictions ahead of the Premiership Women's Rugby matches this weekend, as well as the results from last week.
For more on PWR - and how to use these predictions at the bookies - check out Rugby4Cast below 👇
buff.ly/sUbAh1B
#PWR
For more on PWR - and how to use these predictions at the bookies - check out Rugby4Cast below 👇
buff.ly/sUbAh1B
#PWR
October 31, 2025 at 9:15 PM
The Rugby4Cast algorithm did rather better than me last weekend, and I'm inclined to agree with their predictions for round 2. Sale and Quins likely to achieve closer margins than these but I'd agree with Loughborough and Sarries to get the wins.
The URC's communication about this controversial incident remains very amateurish IMO. It's widely reported that Wessels' appeal has been rejected (other than a 1 week reduction to his ban) but there doesn't seem to be any official URC communique on the subject...
Does the URC publish its Disciplinary decisions? I don't think so, but they really should. Tough for fans to interpret decisions without the full facts.
www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disci...
www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disci...
Disciplinary Decision: Jan-Hendrik Wessels | United Rugby Championship
www.unitedrugby.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:13 PM
The URC's communication about this controversial incident remains very amateurish IMO. It's widely reported that Wessels' appeal has been rejected (other than a 1 week reduction to his ban) but there doesn't seem to be any official URC communique on the subject...
The Women's ODI World Cup semifinal between India and Australia is heading for a nailbiting finish...
October 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The Women's ODI World Cup semifinal between India and Australia is heading for a nailbiting finish...
In case anyone is interested, here’s the match replay from 2018. A very entertaining match and an absolute roll call of Red Roses and other internationals
www.youtube.com/live/MRPBlS2...
www.youtube.com/live/MRPBlS2...
October 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
In case anyone is interested, here’s the match replay from 2018. A very entertaining match and an absolute roll call of Red Roses and other internationals
www.youtube.com/live/MRPBlS2...
www.youtube.com/live/MRPBlS2...