The Rugby Thread

[Liverpel]

And with that goes any outside chance Wales may have had.....

https://twitter.com/rugbytoulon_/sta...15568376176641

Actually, there goes any chance of getting out of their group.

[RichC]

Rhys Webb has been ruled out of the WC, looking worse and worse for Wales

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34183785

[RichC]

Called up Mike Phillips and Eli Walker to take their places.

[Liverpel]

If anyone's interested in a fantasy World Cup league, I've set up one here

http://fantasyrugby.espn.co.uk/ESPN/en/1/userhome.do

League name : Est1892
Code : 1153837-9847

[RichC]

I'm in Mr Pel.

Better have a read of the rules and hope I can make changes before the KO as it's an auto-complete side at the moment.

[Buzzo]

I'm in.

[Vermilion]

Wales international forward Jonathan Thomas has been forced to retire from rugby at the age of 32.


In a statement, his club Worcester said that Thomas was diagnosed with epilepsy last year "which is thought to be from multiple head traumas and has led to a degree of brain injury."

Thomas, who won 67 Wales caps between 2003 and 2011 and played in two World Cups, has now stepped down on medical advice.

News of his retirement comes as the World Cup prepares to kick off later this week, and delivers another stark reminder of the debate around head impacts and concussion which has dominated rugby union's agenda in recent months.

Worcester high performance director Nick Johnston said: "We've sought the best medical opinion in the country in order to try and enable Jonathan to prolong his career.

"But unfortunately, on the advice of consultants, he has been advised to retire from professional rugby."

Thomas also featured in two Six Nations Grand Slam campaigns with Wales and spent 10 years with the Ospreys before moving to Worcester in 2013.

Warriors rugby director Dean Ryan added: "It's with great sadness that after all his efforts Jonathan has had to concede his fight to continue playing rugby.

"This is a great opportunity to celebrate all of his success as a player, but also to go on record in how grateful I am in the courageous decision he took to come and join me here at Warriors.

"Some of our greatest challenges have come during these first two years to ensure we redirect this club to a more successful future, and Jonathan's actions have been fundamental to this.

"I wish him and his family success in their next steps in life."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/wales-forward-jonathan-thomas-forced-to-retire-from-rugby-due-to-epilepsy-31527847.html

[lucas]

If anyone's interested in a fantasy World Cup league, I've set up one here

http://fantasyrugby.espn.co.uk/ESPN/en/1/userhome.do

League name : Est1892
Code : 1153837-9847

I'm in Pellington.

[Liverpel]

I'm in Pellington.

Woohoo!

[ChesterDave]

I'm undecided as to whether I should join in or not. Could embarrass myself

[paulg]

GoodButNotWillCarling is registerd. Not sure if picking all the top players, with the exceptions of a couple I actually like, is cheating but we'll soon see.

[Liverpel]

I'm undecided as to whether I should join in or not. Could embarrass myself

C'mon Dave. There's prizes galore.

[ChesterDave]

Right, I've auto completed a team to register in the league. Now got to get picking.

[ChesterDave]

Right! Team picked.

[ChesterDave]

Tony Livesey on 5Live outside Twickers has told us 37 billion times that Jason Robinson once broke 2 of his ribs.

Anywho. Booze chilling in the fridge ready for KO. Just got to nip out to KFC about half 7 and get back for the start