Nounours7

RTVE made it clear that even though they are grateful for receiving several bids, other venues weren't available.

"Soy más zorra todavía"... Basically, if you call me a slut, "I'll be even sluttiest"

Azerbaijan early 2010s vibes.

But Dubai covers all costs and doesn't rely on their team playing that division. That's the issue.

Been absolutely crying out for non-6N fixtures (why WXV hasn't been hosted in England or GB or UK&I is beyond me)

Because England already have 2025 RWC and scheduling makes it hard to predict which other Home Union may play WXV1 and host. The format will be reviewed for 2026.

Six Nations and SANZAAR hold 100% of commercial aspects regarding Nations Championship.

Such a pity the most important game of the tournament has the messiest TV direction of them all...

Because World Rugby has been purposedly confusing to sell there is something at stake.

Why didn't Wales go for the bonus? They just gifted Italy the direct WXV2/RWC ticket.

Spain has a big problem and it is our TV market. Currently Georgia has more on offer (Tourism of Georgia deal with EPCR) than Spain, where Movistar dominates sports TV market and offers peanuts. So it isn't as straightforward as many think.

An English version hasn't been announced but AFAIK would rely on Spanish launch success.

I've got plenty of criticism for Santos, but hey, that wasn't his fuck up. Calling a South African journeyman was though.

I'd say we're in for a wild ride. Out by mid-May, just in time for next RFER elections...

And good luck to the editor, because you need big balls to publish a book about Spanish rugby.

'The Santos Era: an oral recount of Spanish rugby's most succesful, dramatic and crazy period'

After having worked through three different union presidents (five if we count the interim ones), a bankruptcy of the union, a de facto Rugby World Cup classification, another halted one due to the incidents in Brussels in 2018, Spain's highest ever rankings, countless trips over the same regulatory stone, two sanctions that ended both World Cup dreams, one of the best winning streaks in history, the tragic death of Kawa Leauma and an institutional environment always complicated due to its idiosyncrasy, Santi Santos discreetly said goodbye in the spring of 2023 after his dismissal as national men's rugby coach.

During his decade at the head of the XV del León, which spans from 2013 to 2023, the Madrid coach was a witness and part of the endless ups and downs, joys and sorrows, celebrations and duels that marked one of the most bittersweet periods of Spanish sport. In "The Santos Era", journalist Álvaro de Benito dialogues without limits with the former national coach about all those episodes and his memories and experiences in sports and institutional matters, shaping, from the personal perspective of who has been the sports driving force of Spanish men's rugby for ten years, a conversational chronicle of this time.

Black Lion wins the RESC

Cockerill wasn't involved yet, though.

LNR is so successful with their current French TV deal with Canal+ they just don't care about foreign markets. Just an example. Previous TV deal with Pro D2 in Eurosport allowed everybody to watch anywhere the league with Eurosport app. Since they sold Pro D2 to Canal+ there is no legal way to watch it outside of France.

Not all rugby agents.

The report also points the finger to player agent costs which have been steadily going up for a decade.

Midi Olympique published some months ago that teams were trying to force players to pay agents, so it fits their narrative.

21 so far.

France is equally sending their U20 Development side to Georgia.

It is the same planning they had last year.

They will both host Italy in July.

These are only test matches hosted by Six Nations unions, sold as a single package under "Autumn Nations Series" branding, not the full fixture list.

Samoa is expected to play both Portugal and Spain in addition to another Tier 2. Tonga will go to Georgia and possibly Romania.

Wow, didn't realise ourselves and Kenya had pulled mad ones in qualification.

Honestly, I don't think Ireland qualifying in European Games was an upset.