r/rugbyunion

Any help would be much appreciated!

Phew, reading through the official r/ of both All Blacks and Springboks it seems there is no love lost. I have my own obvious bias into agreeing with posts with the latter. Utter vitriol and blamegaming of underhanded tactics even before the first whistle! Love it! This is bigger than a Lions tour (in MY opinion) 😄

Much love to my AB bro's (not you fake lot in cape town) and hope for a cracker of a series! The respect shown by previous players is really something already.

French coach Bernard Goutta has been appointed as the new head coach of Morocco's men’s national rugby union team, the Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation (FRMR) has announced.

The appointment of Bernard Goutta, a prominent figure in French coaching circles, is part of the Federation’s strategy to develop rugby union and prepare the national XV for upcoming Arab, African, and international competitions, the governing body said in a statement on Sunday.

With extensive experience in modern rugby union and a strong knowledge of Moroccan rugby, which he has followed closely, particularly during the Atlas Lions’ training camps and warm-up matches in France, Goutta will be tasked with leading the national team, helping players progress technically, physically, and mentally ahead of forthcoming African competitions, and contributing to Morocco’s bid to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, the same source added.

Bernard Goutta spent most of his playing career with USA Perpignan as a back-row forward. He holds the club record for appearances, with 298 matches, and captained the side 112 times. He also represented the French national team.

After a distinguished playing career, he moved into coaching, beginning on the Perpignan bench from 2007 to 2012, before joining Colomiers Rugby from 2012 to 2017. Between 2017 and 2021, he was in charge of the forwards at ASM Clermont Auvergne alongside Franck Azéma, before coaching SU Agen in 2022 and 2023.

More than sports tv will be the broadcaster of the 2026/2027 season of the Top 14 in Germany

If one ignores a lot of valid grievances with the protocol change, limiting the one-on-one contact coaches are allowed to have with the ref was a brilliant marketing move by world rugby.

It forces coaches to talk to the refs through the media on what they think the other team does wrong, meaning team press conferences work to stir the pot a bit before the games.

Almost reminds me of how UFC champs will try and psych each other out before fights, but with a ref in the middel XD.

Not sure if this is what the change intended but watching the mind games is entertaining.