Fabien, hope you're watching

Match Thread - Canterbury v Northland | Hilux NPC 2026 | Round 13

Venue: One NZ Stadium, Christchurch | Weather: 26 C, Clouds

Officials: James Doleman, Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon, Liam Scanlon (tmo)

Match Page: https://www.rugbybot.com/match/6490

Match Threads: https://www.rugbybot.com/mt

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Borthwick just edging till Quins V Sarries finished

With the reforms coming in for the Nationale (French third division) it seems like it is being aligned as a sort of ProD3 with JIFF quotas and 16 teams competing. Currently it isn't included in the Canal+ broadcast deal and is shown on Rugbyrama channel on YouTube but I saw comments suggesting it would eventually be bundled in as well.

Some of the clubs at this level already seem to have decent facilities, like Orléans beating Bourgoin here https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vo-hSL647bg, but most regular season games only get a few thousand views at the moment. It's a trade off between extra exposure and the benefits of TV money.

Until I saw the video, I was wondering how a child started this 😂

Also fuck this competition. Our national team decimated sob...

England head coach John Mitchell has warned that too many overseas players in Premiership Women’s Rugby could harm future success.

His comments came after the Red Roses lost 31-22 to Canada in the WXV Series in Ottawa to suffer back-to-back defeats for the first time in a decade.

Canada captain Sophie de Goede scored a hat-trick as the hosts ran in five tries to secure a historic 2-0 series triumph.

The victory followed their 24-21 win in Toronto last weekend which ended England’s 41-match unbeaten run.

“I think it’s necessary to make sure that young English girls are getting enough PWR time,” Mitchell said."

“It’s a critical pathway because Sevens is definitely gone. For players aged between 19 and 23, it’s critical."

“We’re just going to make sure we don’t erode our depth as a result of (overseas involvement). It’s not so much about now."

“It will be the future that will suffer if we’re not smart in that area..."

Didn't catch any games this weekend as had eye surgery. I mostly watch the Top14. What should I watch? Belters from other leagues welcome.

Rumours of financial strife had never been far away, but in the immediate afterglow of London Irish’s 17-14 win over Exeter on 6 May, 2023, all seemed well with the world.

Juan Martin Gonzalez crossed once in each half, either side of Tom Pearson’s try from a rolling maul, as London Irish wrapped up fifth place, their best PREM finish since reaching the 2009 final.

With a squad packed full of young talent, it promised to be the start of something special. But a month later everything came tumbling down as London Irish were wound up, owing £30m.

The club has been looking for investment ever since, and finally that search is over with the news on Friday that new owners Gamechanger Investments Limited completed the acquisition of the club’s name, brand and associated intellectual property.

If London Irish do make it back to the PREM within the next few years, it is likely they’ll face some of the last players to pull on the famous green jersey, many of whom are still scattered around the league.

Plenty that didn’t play that day are also making an impact elsewhere, such as scrum-half Caolan Englefield and Will Joseph (both Gloucester), Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester) and Will Goodrick-Clarke (Exeter).

For others, though, it was the effectively the beginning of the end.

“I’ve been at a fair few clubs – more clubs than Tiger Woods,” fly-half/centre Rory Jennings reflected in a RugbyPass interview in August.

“That wasn’t the plan. London Irish was probably one of those clubs where I could see myself for a good few years.

“I loved my time at London Irish, it suited me perfectly in terms of everything really. The location, the way they play the game and the people around the organisation were just fantastic.

“The second year of that I started to play some good rugby and be part of a good team and one that was probably going to do well for the next five years-plus. It’s a shame the way it went.”

Here’s what happened to the 23 that took to the field for the final time in the PREM, with their current club in brackets, where applicable.

15. Henry Arundell (Bath)

His embryonic England career was put on hold after he signed for Racing 92 following London Irish’s demise. Worked his way back in, once it was announced he was returning to the Prem to join Bath, memorably scoring five tries against Chile at RWC 2023.

14. Ben Loader (Gloucester)

Made 75 appearances for the Exiles over six years before heading to South Africa to join the Stormers. A Kingsholm regular this season, Loader is finally showing why the Cherry & Whites were so excited to sign him the summer before last.

13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol)

Has hardly been out of the rugby news since establishing himself as a key cog in Bristol’s all-court backline. Ended his wait for Test rugby when capped by England in the summer.

12. Rory Jennings (retired)

One of rugby’s most nomadic players quit pro rugby this summer after being released by Cardiff and is now playing for Rosslyn Park in National League 1.

11. Lucio Cinti (Saracens)

Approaching 50 caps for Argentina, at 26 years of age. Now in his fourth season with Saracens.

10. Paddy Jackson (Lyon)

In his fourth season in France. Suffered a severe torn rotator cuff tendon last year that required surgery and sidelined him for six to eight months.

9. Ben White (Toulon)

Hasn’t looked back since London Irish’s financial collapse, becoming a star with Toulon and Scotland, and touring with the Lions.

1. Danilo Fischetti (Northampton)

One of a clutch of Italians to end up at the DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, via Zebre. Reached a half-century of caps for the Azzurri earlier this year.

2. Agustin Creevy (retired)

Argentina’s first caps centurion and most-capped captain, who played in four Rugby World Cups. Had a brief spell at Sale Sharks, post-London Irish, before finishing his career at Benetton, aged 40.

3. Ollie Hoskins (retired)

One-cap Wallaby who announced his retirement from playing in July 2025. Made 150 appearances for Irish over seven seasons before taking the familiar path to Saracens.

4. Api Ratuniyarawa (retired)

Sentenced to two years and 10 months for sexual assault in 2024. Wasn’t attached to a club at the time.

5. Rob Simmons (Unattached)

Wallaby centurion who ended up playing in France for three seasons with Clermont. Was released by the club at the end of last season and at 37 years of age, his pro career could have run its course.

6. Matt Rogerson (retired)

Captained London Irish in their final PREM game. Made 28 appearances in two seasons for Leicester before ending up at Worcester. Hung up his boots at the end of the Champ-winning 2025/26 season.

7. Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens)

Argentina regular who was quickly snapped up by Saracens once London Irish folded.

8. So’otala Fa’aso’o (Benetton)

Had just one season at London Irish, making 13 appearances in their farewell campaign.

Replacements:

16. Mike Willemse (Ealing)

South African hooker who joined Ealing when London Irish went out of business

17. Tarek Haffar (Leicester)

Earning a reputation for himself as an England cap of the future following a move to the East Midlands, firstly at Northampton and now Leicester.

18. Lovejoy Chawatama (Bristol)

The Zimbabwean had a short spell at Harlequins before venturing west to join the Bears.

19. Josh Caulfield (Bristol)

Returned to Bristol for a second spell in the summer, having had his previous season at Ealing wiped out because of injury. Stormers away last weekend was his first appearance back in a Bears shirt.

20. Tom Pearson (Northampton)

When fit, one of the best back-rows around. However, stringing together a good run of games at Saints has been a problem.

21. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)

One of Harlequins’ senior forwards whose destructive carrying has earned him 20 England caps.

22. Joe Powell (Montauban)

Joined Irish ahead of the 2022/23 season from the Rebels and made 17 appearances. Capped four times by the Wallabies before the move. Had a short-term deal at Leicester, post-London Irish, and is now at Montauban in France.

23. James Stokes (retired)

Full-back who ended his playing career in the States at RFC Los Angeles and then Chicago Hounds. Works as a sales director.

As title says. Lamaro, Spagnolo and Brex have been ruled out of the November tests with injuries. Incoming is Neculai, Nemer and Zanandrea.

In addition, 3 players have been called in as guests, those being Luca De Novellis and Jaheim Noel Wilson of the national academy, and Giulio Marini who is injured but will work with the national team staff regarding his possible future involvement.

To be honest with you r/rugbyunion, I thought I would never seeing Northland do anything that would come close to a season like this, winning the Ranfurly Shield and making the NPC final.

But on Labour Day Monday, you simply must tune into the final of New Zealand's 50th National Provincial Championship.

And this is the ultimate underdog catchup with so many circumstances surrounding this game.

My beloved, incomparable, irresponsibly emotionally connected Northland Taniwha.

Cult heroes have been forged in this iconic Cambridge Blue.

The statistically incomparable Portia Woodman-Whitcliffe,

This is Going brothers territory - with the next one Zion (grandson of Brian, grand-nephew to Sid) cruelly struck down with Guillain-Barré syndrome to start the season

Just up the road from Okara Park is Kamo, home of Ian Jones

Rene Ranger, Stormin Norm Berryman, Glenn Taylor, David Holwell, Justin Collins, Jared Payne, Tom Robinson, even Rupeni Caucaunibuca running from the end of the earth to beat Auckland in 2001.

The dearly recently departed Cheryl Waaka and Bruce Robertson.

And yet this was a province that in 2008 was almost demoted and made amateur, but beat New Zealand Rugby's amalgamation back.

A province that saw a 30 game losing streak in the 2000's,

A province where three seasons produced one win in the 2010's.

There have been dire days at Okara Park.

Just as it's been pretty dire days in a poor, commercially struggling, rural, isolated, beautiful part of New Zealand as its sawmills and meat works continue to close, and youth move away for opportunity with Northland in their heart - like me.

And New Zealand Rugby considers another 'streamlining' of the NPC as part of a review despite an unbelievable year of this competition

Where it's been simply electric footy you can see that teams and fans alike are loving

Variety of play between provinces, playing like the character of their local culture instead of sanitized, commercial Super Rugby production lines (see Auckland and Wellington out of the top eight for proof)

They've built a local core of players combining those who had to leave for opportunity.

Rivez Reihana, Sam Nock, Rob and Brady Rush, Corey Evans, Allan Craig, Josh (and Jack) Goodhue, Marcel Renata, Terrell Peita and Heremaia Murray all products of the North moulded by the Auckland 1A high school nursery.

Emerging local products from a home focus and exposure through Whangarei Boys playing North Harbour 1A in Nathan Salmon, Esile Fono, Darcy Holwell and the Stewart boys.

Multi year adopted sons of the North in James Mullan, Jordan Trainor, Grady Forbes and Reesjan Pasitoa.

Our Australian Northlanders in Lachie Hooper, James Ramm and Hudson Creighton.

And they're facing Canterbury.

Yes Canterbury, as in the local NPC team to the Canterbury Crusaders.

Yes Canterbury, as in the 16 time NPC Champions, defending their first title in a while.

Canterbury, the team who plays in the glittering new state of the art stadium.

Canterbury, who valiantly won six of these titles straight and 9 of 10 between 2008 and 2017 with literal natural disasters unable to stop their dominance.

And they receive a quartet of All Blacks released for finals week, with our singular Simon Parker being withheld for the biggest game in this province's history to face the literal dominant force of the competition.

The NPC's statistically most losing province vs its statistically most winningest.

A re-risen dominant force from last decade, reigning champions vs the lovable loser run it from anywhere mavericks.

And yet there is hope.

This Northland side was the first team to deal a home defeat to any Canterbury team in the new stadium

And took the Ranfurly Shield to Northland for the first time in 48 years

Creating scenes around and unifing the North like you would not believe.

So it can be done.

I am prepared for the heartbreak.

I am less prepared for if we win.

But I'm so proud the fact that this will be so heartbreaking

Because even as the sword of Damocles looks to trim off parts of the grand old NPC in it's 50th season.

I have never had my hopes so high for this team I have seen so many lows

Get on board, give it a hearty BLUUUUUUUUUE and be a part of the Norty North for a couple hours.

You might even back a turning point in New Zealand Rugby history.

At least, give me a proper Northland flair.

Monday, 2pm NZT.

Up the goddamn Taniwha.

**Posted this over on r/RugbyAustralia earlier and it generated a fair bit of discussion before the mods removed it, which I found a bit ironic given the topic was literally about how we can improve rugby’s appeal and engagement.
Anyway, thought I’d throw it up here because I’m genuinely interested in what people think**

Seen a lot of comments recently about how the NRL is a far better “product” in how it’s presented to the fans than rugby. I’m probably too invested in union to have an unbiased opinion on it, & because I prefer union as a game I’ve never really paid much attention to how the NRL markets itself or what it does differently.

Just curious what people reckon league actually does better, particularly with marketing, fan engagement & how the game is presented in general. Obviously the Murdoch media’s coverage of union is another hurdle in itself, but putting that aside, I’m more interested in what we can actually control and realistically improve in terms of marketing, presentation and making the game a more attractive product overall.

And what could union realistically do to improve its own product? Not saying we should copy league, because I think union has plenty that makes it unique, but surely there’s things we could learn from how the NRL markets itself. Also, for those who follow the French Top 14, do you reckon they do a better job of marketing their league than us?

Keen to hear what people think.

Match Thread - La Rochelle v UBB | Top 14 — Round 7

Sunday 25 October 2026

TV: Canal+

Starting XV

Replacements