Tl dr; Thursday to avoid the winter olympics ceremony in Italy. Just 1 rest week as expected. And FTA confirmed in the UK for another 4 years

Los Angeles, CA – May 16, 2025. Rugby Football Club Los Angeles (RFCLA) is proud to welcome Antoine Dupont and his company Ouest Coast into the ownership group of the franchise, currently competing in its second season in Major League Rugby.

Widely regarded as one of the very best players of rugby’s professional era, Dupont will leverage his unparalleled success on the pitch and extensive marketing experience to guide RFCLA’s enduring success in high performance, branding, and commercial development.

Huge games this weekend for all pro leagues. Final regular weekend for the URC and it is tight in the middle in particular. Play offs, european qualification, relegation. It is on

So who's going to a game? Who's watching on the telly? Who's hopinng their team will go well?

Hooray for Scotland getting a top flight ref for the first time I can remember. Adamson hasn't been given these reigns yet. She's a greta ref too

Prostate survivability has massively increased in recent years. Here's hoping Geech puts up a good fight

Got rused by a Gerard Butler Butler-ganger at the weekend. Some pished dude who looked exactly like him came over and introduced himself as Gerard when I was having a fag at halftime at the rugby. Apparently I wasn't the only person who got rused...

Ohh Maro Itoje! Cotton wool for him

Boak. Won't watch this if they paid me

There goes a few Scots I'm sure. Would sooner have seen O'Gara with some actual coaching experience

Happy Saturday, I'm just out of the Edinburgh vs The Bulls match, and it was great. I missed the Glasgow score until now, and had to post this article. Who will stop Leinster?

This is why tackle height has changed. I literally bumped into him in a post match Edinburgh function with my wife, who speaks excellent french, was struck dumb by the encounter and I still wind her up about it. He was phenomenal, this is rather tragic

Finally some good news on concussions

Bloody baltic here in Goldenacre today. But a cracking game of speed vs strength with Heriots the bulkier team losing 0-12 at the break

European cup action this weekend, enjoy folks!

Gonna be fun!

The finale. It ends today for 2025. Last weekend saw the setup for this weekend where the battle for the spoon heats up, and the winner is determined by the final game.

Saturday

1415 Italy vs Ireland
1645 Wales vs England
2000 France vs Scotland

As always, predictions before, reactions during, and analysis after all very welcome. Happy super Saturday and remember to pace yourselves!

How many times have we heard about the elusive 80 minute performance? That said I think Scotland can give France a scare before Les Bleus ultimately triumph

Much better than my talking points. Ireland only seem to turn it on vs Scotland now. England are sill improving, watch out in 2026. Wales have a long way to go. Scotland need some new forwards. France finally showing their depth, and 7-1 benchs need banned. Italy also need some new forwards, their backs are fantastic too

I have 6 points though, one better than the lazy BBC

I'm glad BB pulled it off but it caused me to hold my breath watching it live

Last round we saw a spirited Wales drift off the 2nd half vs a still yet to peak Ireland. England steal a win over yet another misfiring Scotland. And France stomp on Italy. Leaving Ireland top of the table, followed closely by France

So isn't it fitting that it's our first game this weekend? Miss this one at your peril, expect big tackles, trick plays, and drama to the final whistle. Following up is the always spirited Wales vs a Scotland team that should be doing better. With pressure on both coaches: a mist win for both teams! Then Sunday we see if Italy really can kick on and at least give England a scare at Twickenham, but England technically still in contention so don't expect an upset here

Saturday

1415 Ireland vs France
1645 Scotland vs Wales

Sunday

1500 England vs Italy

As always; predictions in the comments, reactions more than welcomed, and your post round thoughts appreciated

Oooh, big shock

3 for the price of 1 here. They've all had Scotland's number for many years, so no tears here for sure. But you have to hat tip and acknowledge that they have been great for Ireland and have all earned a quiet retirement

Couldn't find a way to share at a specific timestamp but if you go to 57:30 then Asterix and his fellow Gauls discover rugby from Les Bretons. Great lots of great rugby related gags!

Also found it interesting as a british person to hear the brits speak French with their accent. That's less rugby related though.

So all teams have played now, and the early signs are that this season is going to be an absolute belter.

Of the 10 games, only 2 have been a bit of a blow out, everything else has been well fought for the full 80, and with the Aussie teams absorbing one club to reduce to four they look much more competitive already.

Probably the biggest talking point so far is how the new focus on continuing the game rather than pissing about for a cup of tea every few phases is making the last 20 minutes a huge battle.

Basically what happens now is lineouts have to be formed within 30 seconds, I think the only reason to delay is if the hooker isn't available. So there's just way less players taking a knee for a breather (though SR traditionally didn't have much of that anyway).

Kicks, Scrums, Lineouts are all going way faster, and once a player has held up play for an "injury" a couple of times the referee is making sure that its severe, and if it is asking them to get a replacement on.

I expect the popularity of those changes is going to be pretty high down here, but of course international rugby swings to the beat of the NH rule makers so it will be interesting to see if it hurts the ABs & Wallabies come test time, where because the big forwards will be allowed to have a breather any extra fitness gained won't matter.

If you want to watch any recommendations from this weekend: Chiefs-Crusaders for the (so far) clear best team putting on a clinic in that last 20. Highlanders-Blues for one team overcoming cards due to a hugely emotional game and possibly one player demanding Razor gives him the black 12 jersey. Force-Brumbies for a game down to the wire right until the whistle.