Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 6d

They’re on rugbypass tv if you happen to be somewhere where local media haven’t secured rights

rugbypass.tv/interstitial...

England v USA | Rugby World Cup 2025 | Full Match Replay

Watch the full match replay as England took on USA in the Rugby World Cup 2025 opener in Sunderland

rugbypass.tv

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HitchikersPie @hitchikerspie.bsky.social · 8d

@alicesoapbox.bsky.social I heard you mention the attendances on the last Full Credit episode, and thought I'd put up a full list of Attendance% for Women's Rugby World Cup 2025

England obviously the main draw, but Black Ferns brand is *huge*

(Small caveat of double headers lifting e.g. Brazil)

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 8d

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.

As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.

At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

To everyone in Britain's Jewish Community: you are not alone.

We will not let hate or those who spread it win.

We stand with you.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 9d

I don’t know how much training together these teams will do but I wouldn’t be surprised if most of it takes place in the UAE

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 9d

I’ve got to assume

- the thing about player IP is to allow the Kildunnes of this world to make their millions off the merch that bears their name or image. If so, smart by R360

- the UAE base is to allow the King’s nephew-in-law to avoid tax

- player residence is about tax avoidance or simplicity

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 9d

*Team doh!

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 9d

The best kind of spoiler!

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 9d

Loads of great stats here, as well as a very good Tram of the Tournament

OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 9d

107 - Sophie de Goede was the only player to make a century of carries at #RWC2025 (107), after being the only player to do so at the previous edition (101). Great.

⭐️Find out who else joined the Canada star in our Team of the Tournament 👇

🔗 theanalyst.com/articles/eng...

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 9d

Agreed. And hopefully Mignot will still be remembered as one of the greats of the French Women’s game.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 9d

Beautifully done

EK Rugby Analysis @ekrugby.bsky.social · 10d

Had to do a breakdown on this beauty of a lineout peel from Zebre.

Turn sound on 🔊 to hear how they made it happen.

#URC #URCGO #RugbyAnalysis

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

However even allowing for the disadvantages Les Bleues contend with, it is surely time for Ortiz and Mignot to go. I don’t think they managed to establish a clear playing philosophy, with France sometimes free-flowing and sometimes very pragmatic. Some of their selection choices were very odd.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

I thought this was a really good article. Lots of detail about why France is currently behind England and others, and some positive signs the FFR is finally starting to get behind Women’s rugby.

James Harrington @jamesonrugby.bsky.social · 10d

Or ... what France are belatedly doing to smash the semi-final glass ceiling. If they get it right, things may well get very interesting very quickly

www.rugbypass.com/news/here-an...

Here and no further: how France failed to hit new heights in 2025

Fourth is, by sporting consent, the worst tournament position — a so-near, so-far frustration of a finish.

www.rugbypass.com

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

Yeah it felt that the Ferns did that thing of “We’re going to play our game, we’re not going to worry what the opposition might do” and then struggled to adapt in the first half. NZ’s tactical kicking was much better in the 2nd half. Canada did start to run out of steam a bit.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

Canada were generally winning comfortably, so it was a bit less visible there were periods when passes weren’t going to hand.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

Canada’s lightning fast game and interchangeable players is always likely to result in a higher rate of knock-ons and balls going to ground. I think Canada struggles to deliver full “80 minute” performances. It’s just that in the previous 5 matches “flat” or disjointed passages didn’t matter.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

I agree. And I think the stats only go so far in explaining what went on in the match. There’s a vast amount of nuance that doesn’t show up in the publicly accessible stats.

I’d suggest though that issues of handling and forced passes weren’t just limited to the England game.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

It has been wonderful on so many levels

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AJ Thomas @zzypt.bsky.social · 10d

One day I will not cry when I read or watch a WC story, but today is not that day. I have read about 4 stories today and cried every time.

I have loved this tournament.

#Rugby #WorldCup #RWC2025

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 10d

It’s a very fine piece of work for a supporters group. But I wonder if selection bias in the respondents will cause the WRU to ignore it.

Also, after the joy of the Women’s World Cup it’s a bucket of cold water seeing how low a priority Women’s rugby is for the (middle aged male) respondents.

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James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 10d

This is something all rugby outlets need to be covering and should get some attention from the Welsh media.

gwladrugby.wordpress.com/2025/09/29/t...

The Welsh Rugby Union Consultation and Survey 2025

Survey and Report by Gwlad Rugby You can read the Executive Summary of this report here. Introduction On 20 August 2025 the Welsh Rugby Union (“WRU”) published a “consultation to help shape the fut…

gwladrugby.wordpress.com

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Reposted by Mik A

HitchikersPie @hitchikerspie.bsky.social · 11d

I'm not here for code wars, but I think an interesting angle is that the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Final had a higher single game attendance than *any* rugby league world cup game.

Further the total attendance was higher than all but one edition:

Genuinely phenomenal stuff

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 11d

I’m surprised at those attendance records in Australia, given that State of Origin regularly gets far more

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 11d

Yes I think this, and the other key stat would be points per ‘22 entry. Canada credited with 1.3pts per entry, England 3.6. I think a host of reasons for this, not least your point about gain line dominance. But it somewhat vindicates Tessier’s decision to kick for points on 33 minutes.

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Thala Msutu @thalamsutu.bsky.social · 11d

This stat for me is the winning of the game. England gave Canada absolutely nothing on the gain line and that had so many knock on effects - the Canadian average wruck speed was 3.6 instead of 2.4, it created opportunities for Botterman and co to slow rucks down, it meant the attack wasn’t as fluid

Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 11d

It’s possible of course that notwithstanding averages, there were key moments when England were able to slow Canadian ball. But I suspect Canada’s main problems were caused by England’s physicality and workrate.

England were credited with 21 dominant tackles, compared to previous av 13.4 vs Canada.

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Mik A @mikadooo.bsky.social · 11d

There was nothing wrong with Canada’s offloading (21 vs England compared to previous average 21.6) it was just that too often it came without momentum.

I may be missing something important here so do say!

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