phantom

http://www.hesgoal.com/news/69897/Bristol_Bears_vs_Toulon.html If you don't mind French commentary

a bit more from Somerset

Bristol Bears have been forced into a late change for Friday's European Challenge Cup final against Toulon. Already without injured duo Charles Piutau and Nathan Hughes, captain Steven Luatua will also be absent as his partner is due to give birth. The 20:00 BST kick-off in Aix-en-Provence will be the West Country club's first ever European final. Kiwi back Piutau misses out with an Achilles problem while England number eight Hughes has injured his ribs. Will Capon (ankle), Max Lahiff (calf), Andy Uren (foot) and Henry Purdy (hamstring) all miss out too. Up to 1,000 fans will be allowed to attend Friday's final in Aix-en-Provence, as the English side bid for their first major silverware since 1983. 'It'll be our noisiest atmosphere for months' Bears fly-half Callum Sheedy told BBC Radio Bristol: "If you'd said 1,000 people for a European final last year, you'd have laughed, you'd have said that's pathetic, but now, it'll be crazy. "It'll be the noisiest atmosphere we've had in six, seven or eight months, so I'm really looking forward to it." Director of rugby Pat Lam added: "That'll be exciting. It's pity our Bristol fans didn't get an opportunity for that but it'll help create the atmosphere and hopefully the Toulon drums come out. "Having noise and atmosphere increased is good." Hear more: Listen to 'The Scrum' from BBC Radio Bristol on BBC Sounds Toulon are aiming for their fourth European trophy and first in the Challenge Cup competition, having won the Champions Cup three times in a row between 2013 and 2015. The French side also reached the Challenge Cup final in 2010 and 2012. "For the last 10-15 years Toulon have been one of the biggest forces in Europe," Sheedy added. "They've got world-class internationals and strength all around the park, with a very heavy pack. "We need to be on our game in all aspects. If we slip up in any area, they're good enough to punish us." The match will be played on an artificial 4G pitch, on which Sheedy added: "I don't mind it personally. It's a fast track and we like to play a fast game. "It's a cup final and I'm sure the lads won't mind their knees being a bit sore after it." Toulon's starting XV includes Italy legend Sergio Parisse, who won this competition with Stade Francais in 2017, scoring a try in the final against Gloucester. Bristol: Malins; Morahan, Radradra, S Piutau (capt), Leiua; Sheedy, Randall; Y Thomas, Thacker, Sinckler, Attwood, Joyce, Vui, D Thomas, Earl. Replacements: Kloska, Woolmore, Afoa, Holmes, Heenan, Kessell, O'Conor, Adeolokun. Toulon: Cordin; Heem, Toeava, Paia'aua, Villiere; Carbonel, Serin; Gros, Etrillard, Gigashvili, Etzebeth, Taofifenua, Ollivon, Lakafia, Parisse. Replacements: Soury, Fresia, Setiano, Alainu'uese, Rebbadj, Ory, Takulua, Dakuwaqa. Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

At the start of the Bob Willis trophy it was stated Somerset's point deduction would carry over to the 2021 season, but that was on the basis of a full season

A revamped County Championship will return next summer with the 18 first-class counties split into three groups. The competition was replaced by the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020 after the domestic season started four months late amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Bob Willis Trophy final, a five-day game at Lord's, will still take place in 2021 contested by the best two sides in the new-look County Championship. Essex, County Championship winners in 2019, will defend both trophies. They also won the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy in September. The County Championship is usually split into two divisions with eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two. But with uncertainty surrounding how Covid-19 will continue to impact first-class cricket in 2021, the England and Wales Cricket Board said they wanted to restart the County Championship, whilst mitigating against the impact of the pandemic. "I am delighted that the counties have been able to reach this agreement less than three weeks after Essex won the Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord's," ECB chair Ian Watmore said. "The success of that competition provides reassurance that this structure can help safeguard against any impact the global pandemic may have on next season while also ensuring the integrity of the County Championship. "It must be stressed that this structure has been agreed for next season only and during 2021 we will review and consult with the counties and other stakeholders to decide the appropriate next steps for the men's domestic structure in 2022 and beyond." The three County Championship groups Group 1: Essex, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Durham. Group 2: Somerset, Hampshire, Surrey, Gloucestershire, Middlesex, Leicestershire. Group 3: Kent, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Northamptonshire, Glamorgan, Sussex. How will it work? Each county will play 10 four-day games in the group stage - five home and five away. The top two teams in each group will go through to a second group stage called "Division One". The six teams in Division One play a further four matches, with the side that finishes top of Division One crowned 2021 County Championship winners. The top two teams in Division One will contest five-day Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord's. The remaining 12 teams that do not go into Division One will move into Divisions Two and Three, in which teams will play another four matches. TAKEN FROM: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/54570997

Are you sure about this? Don't believe this to be correct. Anyway not going to turn another thread into a coronavirus thread

Flying in style

For me it was more the colours and way it was blended into the shirt

Crikey - don't let the Lemmings on Gaschat hear you use language like that

Rovers seem to have a hoodoo over Lincoln, they always do well against them

That was my first reaction too

The game this weekend against Villa has been postponed Bristol City Women’s Barclays FAWSL fixture against Aston Villa will no longer be played on Sunday, October 11th following discussion and agreement with the FA. The fixture which was due to take place on Sunday will no longer be played, due to a positive COVID-19 case in the Aston Villa camp. As a result, our opponents are following the government protocols and isolating to prevent the further spread of the virus. Whilst we’re disappointed to not fulfil the fixture, the safety of players and staff from both sides remains paramount in these unprecedented times, and we are working with the FA and Aston Villa on a rescheduled fixture date. Everyone at Bristol City Women wishes all affected at Aston Villa well in their recovery. TAKEN FROM: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/robins-fixture-against-villa-postponed/

Sadly standard for rugby shirts The England shirts are even worse

Probably won't play weaker opposition this season, but can only beat what is in front of them. Two very winnable games ahead now in the league

I honestly didn't realise they still existed

I bet the next actor is getting cheesed off having to keep his secret even longer now

I guess it depends how low I go, City are my "local" team, but equally living in Weston, I could watch them, or even go down another few levels and watch Worle FC

Agree, something very odd about these numbers..... Two members of Sale rugby staff have also returned positive results from the latest round of testing, bringing the number of infections at the club to 27 in the past seven days.

No offence but why would I want to go and watch a non league side that I have no connection with? I support / watch Bristol City, have no interest in anyone else As for the last remark, I think things will change soon - as per test events at first. There is a lot of pressure mounting on the Government to rethink the decision about crowds in sport. I honestly believe changes will be sooner than later

Perfecting the mission?

I thought there was a discussion scheduled for parliament today? This is before the petition started - Over 147k now