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Six NationsEnglandWales

An English city council has been forced to apologise for celebrating the Welsh Grand Slam

Wales players celebrate after England win. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

An English council has apologised after flying the Welsh flag on St Patrick’s Day.

Social media users expressed their puzzlement on Sunday when the distinctive red dragon of Wales was spotted fluttering above Sheffield’s Town Hall.

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The city council then added to the confusion by issuing an initial statement which included congratulations to the Welsh rugby union team following its Grand Slam in the Six Nations.

On Monday, a Sheffield City Council spokeswoman said: “We are very sorry that the Welsh flag was raised in error yesterday rather than the St Patrick’s flag.

“We are also sorry for any offence caused by our earlier statement.”

Wales were crowned Six Nations Grand Slam champions as they demolished Ireland 25-7 in Cardiff to claim European rugby’s glittering double prize.

The Principality Stadium threatened to lift from its foundations, with Wales making it 14 games unbeaten and giving head coach Warren Gatland a record-breaking Six Nations swansong.

Gatland’s final Six Nations game – he leaves Wales after the World Cup later this year – saw him become the first coach in Five or Six Nations history to win three Grand Slams.

PA

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fl 12 minutes ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Not sure which of my comments RE Pep was unbalanced or unthoughtful. You are welcome to disagree with me, but unlike you, I did actually base all of my arguments on evidence.


The vast majority of managers continue performing at a high standard after the age of 50, but you said Pep had gotten better with age by every metric - surely you must see that that was incorrect?

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Timothy Hoffman 52 minutes ago
‘We don’t fear them’: Blitzboks ready for must-win clash with SVNS leaders

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CV 1 hour ago
'We offered him a three-year deal': Hurricanes priced out of U20 star

Exactly. He'll get game time for Toulon at some stage next year. If not, they might loan him out to a ProD2 club where he plays every game against men. Much better than the NPC and a real opportunity to show himself and develop.

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IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley makes decision on future

Not a central contract? Not quite the statement signing it could or should have been.

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RedWarriors 1 hour ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

Just to point out that Ireland ‘testing themselves against the best’ in 2022, was one a principle contributions to NZ eliminating them in 2023. France can beat NZ anyway: why go under their microscope?

I agree re O’Gara and La Rochelle: two Champions Cup wins is unprecedented.

The mention somewhere about his relationship with players was after a defeat last year where he admitted going hard on them eroded his confidence. He has a great relationship with his players.

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JPM 2 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

What fake news ??!!! They are his own various declarations.

That’s my last reply as you really want to make a point despite more complex reality, insisting on your own theory of home-grown coaches…

Strangely enough I never read an article on or a detailed interview in Rugby Pass of Ugo Mola who is the best coach in Top 14 (and put in place the best rugby ecosystem which is consistently growing top players). But he is an home-grown coach…

25 Go to comments
N
NB 2 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

Are you sure they were not fake news as in the Midi Olympique story?


Still not a reason to sack him after he’s achieved EPCR wins other home-grown coaches can only dream about…

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N
NB 2 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

Edwards was the biggest single influence in the style of play, which began to revolve around strong defence and countering off turnover ball. It is still the way France plays now, just look at the tries scored and conceded, and he low number pf phases taken to score…


Sure ROG has made his share of mistakes he has a winning pedigree at the highest level - and where do you get the idea he has a problem with his players??


I am glad to hear at least that French journos see the missed opportunity in July! There i still time to reverse the likely squad selection criteria…

25 Go to comments
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Soliloquin 2 hours ago
'We offered him a three-year deal': Hurricanes priced out of U20 star

He’s French and he’s been siphoned off by France…?


Apart from the money (which we have no info of for now), there are way more games between the Top14 and the European cups to get some game time compared to SR. With 29 games of Top14 for those who qualify in the top 6 and play the final, plus the potential of 8 Europan cups games, that’s almost 37.

Many 18/19/20 year old French already play in the Top14 or those cups, sometimes in the U20 6 Nations or World Cup, with a high level of rotation.

The guy was quite ahead in his development, playing during the 2024 6 Nations, he was said to be tested for the Argentina summer tour. And no SR game time.


So I guess that between not getting opportunities to play in the Super Rugby and entering the rotation of a top 3 French team, money isn’t the only thing that could motivate him.

At Toulon, Corentin Mézou is a year younger than Tuifua and has already played in 2 U20 6 Nations, 1 U20 World Cup and played in 5 games for Toulon this season in Top14.

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JPM 3 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

If you read the French rugby media you will discover that ROG has been admitting himself after various games since the beginning of the Top 14 season that he has been struggling to motivate his players and made mistakes in his handling of young talented players in particular. Unlike other coaches ROG is very honest. But in the same time his whole communication has not been consistent in the last weeks and a bit naive not bringing necessarily a lot of confidence.

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E
Ed the Duck 3 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

What player issues are you talking about? Everything I’ve read talks about how strong the connections are between Club, players and their families?


And yes, when the Top 14 finishes in June, restarts in September and requires 8wks for rest/preseason, there is no tour solution.

25 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 3 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

I guess we’ll see but I’m not convinced Merling operates that way, or at least he hasn’t until now. Success can do strange things to people I suppose.

25 Go to comments
J
JPM 3 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

The galvanizing of the French rugby at national level only occurred with Shaun E !!! What about Fabien Galthié and the rest of his staff…Obviously SE played a big role but he is not the only one.

I am not pretending that ROG needs the boot. But painting him as not making any mistakes is not correct either. His relationship with his players has been a problem for some time as well as his communication (which he recognizes himself).

Will he be able to reinvent himself?

For the NZ July tests so much has already been written…The perfect solution doesn’t seem to exist and the majority of the French rugby journalists agree that it is a missed opportunity.

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Solomon Acher 3 hours ago
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Solomon Acher 3 hours ago
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After I trusted someone with my money and they refused to let me withdraw from my account and insisted that I pay more money to their fake platform, I was defrauded of $121,000 in Bitcoins. I learnt my lesson the hard way to never trust anyone posing as an agent or account manager. I was fortunate to attract the notice of a coworker who informed me about Wizard James Recovery, a respectable business that has previously assisted numerous individuals in getting their money back.  After I got in touch with them, they assisted me in getting my money back in less than 48 hours.Many thanks, Wizard James, I'm going to keep sharing your information since I know that many others have lost money to these scammers and are being kept captive by them. Here is how to get in touch with them.wizardjamesrecovery @ usa . com

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NB 3 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

I think the Top 14 is getting much closer to the Soccer model, which means far less forebearance with struggling coaches. Promo/Relegation doesn’t help ofc, as you stand to lose a shedload of revenue if you drop to the Pro D 2. France is the only big league worldwide which uses it now.

25 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

I know it’s desperate and myopic in equal measure G. Les Kiss okay, give the guy some encouragement but at least be realistic with it. He hasn’t won anything at Ulster, Irish or the Reds [yet]…

25 Go to comments
N
NB 3 hours ago
Why French rugby would be poorer if Ronan O'Gara leaves La Rochelle

I think that’s right. He will have a pick of top jobs - but for the life of me, I cannot see why LAR would want to release him after such a wonderful record there?

25 Go to comments
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