A few first time matchups coming in the 2027 RWC after the draw today;

Ireland vs Uruguay (how have they never played before?)
Chile vs Australia
Chile vs NZ
Hong Kong China vs Australia
Hong Kong China vs NZ
Zimbabwe vs Wales
Zimbabwe vs England

Could see Spain vs NZ in the last 16 as well.

Looking at all teams in tomorrow's 2027 RWC draw.

Japan, Tonga & Canada have played every team, while Hong Kong China & Zimbabwe have never faced over half of the other teams before.

Left to right
Purple: never played
Red: never won
Green: won and never lost
Orange = both won and lost.

The PWR is an absolutely elite competition now and Ruahei Demant is a fantastic signing for Bristol.

Going through the squads playing each week they're chocka with big names from top sides at the RWC.

Not sure I'm going to get used to the American commentator talking about Chandler "Cunning Ham" South.

Meanwhile, due to the expanded format and place for the AREC champions at RWC 2027, Hong Kong China qualified today by thrashing South Korea, who are ranked 36th globally.

Thought de Allende was clearly offside there looking at the stripes. Frustrating when the TMO is used so regularly in matches now that they can't make a decent call due to bad camera positioning.

Mike Brown career longevity:

8th all time prem try scorer
Scored tries v NZ, SA, AUS, FRA, IRE
2015 - oldest in the England squad
2014 - only England M6N player of the championship ever
2005 - scores try on Quins debut in team with Greenwood, Mehrtens & Diprose, vs London Irish with Catt & Magne.

The tricky part now is putting together a 23 for Argentina on 10th June, with the URC & Prem finals 6 days before.

Likely Leinster make the finals. That leaves one HK and two THs/LHs.

+Sale = no HK
+Bath/Glasgow = 1 TH
+Bristol = 1 LH

Might we see Jamie George in a Lions shirt again next month?

A lot to like in the British Lions selection and not a single name on there not deserving of a call up.

Doesn't mean there aren't other players who'd be great on this tour (Darcy Graham would be up there for me), but we know that there are always call ups over the next couple of months.

Phenomenal performance from Northampton. If this was a Lions audition then Pollock, Mitchell, Smith & Freeman have booked their seats.

Healy, Snyman, O'Brien & Deegan had each lost one game for Leinster all season. The other eleven of the starting XV were undefeated in both the URC & Champions Cup.

England dominance in women's rugby:

Currently at 24 wins in a row, equalling the men's record (Cyprus 2008-2014), their narrow loss to NZ in 2022 after a 17th minute red card is their only loss in the last 55 matches.

They could win the home world cup this year without gaining any ranking points.

The bluntness of the headline made me chuckle, but very valid points from @brianmoore666.bsky.social on the need to move on after the failed no confidence vote.

With W6N in flow and building up to the women's world cup in August, a united front to maximise coverage and image is a no-brainer.

Henry Pollock just keeps adding to his highlight reel.

Back row strength and depth is huge for the Lions this year but if you're going on form this season, and someone who despite his youth would lilely be a great tourist, he has to be considered.

Looking at who ( backs v forwards) has been scoring the tries this 6N.

Ireland's pack are level with France at the top on 8. But their backs (5) are above only Wales (4).

Tries scored by backs;
Scotland - 93%
Italy - 88%
France - 69%
England - 67%
Wales - 57% (+1 pen try)
Ireland - 38%

Sidcup, in SE London, with a population of around 15000, is the birthplace of players from three of the six nations squads;
Chandler Cunningham-South (Eng)
Nick Tompkins (Wal)
Matt Gallagher (Ita)

Brive with Courtney Lawes in Pro D2 this season - 11 wins & 3 losses.
Brive without Courtney Lawes - 2 wins & 5 losses.

France could potentially beat their record winning margin tonight of 51 against Wales, from 1998. Dupont (won last 23 matches starting at 9 in all comps) and Ntamack (won 23 of last 24 played) both starting. So much class.
Wales need their back row in top spoiling form to be close to competitive.

When do pace and longevity start to become a factor for Ireland in this world cup cycle? This team will have an average age of 29 years and 357 days come matchday, with 6 out of the 10 backs in their thirties.
England by comparison are 26 years & 94 days, with only Slade aged >28 in the backs.