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RFU Championship game abandoned after freak injury to referee

AMPTHILL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Referee Alex Thomas during the Premiership Rugby Cup match between Ampthill Rugby and Bath Rugby at Dillingham Park on November 02, 2024 in Ampthill, England. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

An RFU Championship match was abandoned after referee Alex Thomas was knocked unconscious by a ball on Saturday.

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The RFU Championship clash between Hartpury and Ampthill was halted in the 28th minute after Hartpury fly-half Harry Bazalgate’s clearing kick struck Thomas in the head.

The referee collapsed immediately, prompting medical staff to rush onto the field.

Thomas received on-field treatment before being stretchered off and taken for further medical assessment.

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Hartpury were leading 14-0 at the time of the incident.

Ampthill issued a statement following the abandonment, expressing their concern: “Our thoughts are with Alex for a swift recovery. We appreciate that the decision is disappointing for supporters who have travelled to the game, but our priority is the health of the players and match officials.”

The fixture will be rescheduled, with all tickets remaining valid for the rearranged game.

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J
JW 4 hours ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

Ah yes, I see how you've solved the WC available slots, until theyre filled. As said in my reply I don't know if sides want to be up there when they're not good enough, in regards to sides who do well in the middle teir and reach challenge cup knockouts etc. It's also a very messy approach if you ask me, I was barely able to understand it.


It's means you've thought from the top down, and I'd have a bottom up approach. So I think first about what is best for the teams at the bottom, instead of your above approach were you try to fit teams in at the top first.


You've miss understood. You have to set up the competition so that it is based on merit, not like what you've done b,y last years results of English performance as a 'snapshot' of what the future will be like; ie you've given all leagues equal numbers/representation, that is the wrong approach imo. The share should be performance based, and with far less random WC's.


Well that's where we'll have to disagree then, because imo it's a much better idea to give the leagues WC spots rather than the individual teams. I suppose it depends a lot on stability, for instance the 4 Challenge Cup teams you name Sharks and Benneton are in contention because they are at least earning it based on one years of results (this year, so far at least, and last years results, respectively), Clermont a little less so, but Gloucester should not be included based on last year if it's supposed to be a true elite competition and compete with Super Rugby.


Same goes with Exeter, they should not be their because they were part of the 2024 version. Are Gloucester doing well in the prem this year because theyre not worried about resting players for Champions Cup competition? Teams like Benneton get the WC spot for Sharks winning a european trophy, Connacht (I'm not sure I buy my example of giving URC more to start with so maybe this is like Irelands 2nd or 3rd best team in future occasions) as Irelands wildcard for winning the 6N, Castres are rewarded for the Top 14 providing last years champions, based on my example WC ideas. Stormers are included based on the bigger base URC gets, and La Rochelle (based on league) or Toulon (as the missed the top four by elimination game).


Some good English teams miss out but as I say you don't want to be chopping and changing the formats so it might work out in future or you simply start with 5 each and Bristol is is included in CC. Why would you want to give less consistent teams, ones that primarly do well in europe, preference?

9 Go to comments
J
JW 8 hours ago
It's time for the All Blacks to break up Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane

Really? He's back from injury this week so we'll get to see I suppose. I suspect you could be right re Ioane as well. Though I go even further to say he's lost those instincts (as well as speed with his bigger size) as well. The best (and most interesting with this discussion) example was against England were maybe Jordie gave him a bad pass (go figure) but which actually helped him get wide of the blitz, and he Tele'a on the outside but only Furbank coming up on the outside infront of him, but a plethora of the England blitz strategy cover running across the field. With Feyi-Waboso turning after and catching him, cover coming, all he had to do was put the foot on the gas and run at Furbanks inside shoulder and pass the ball to Tele'a for the try. Instead, he takes two steps, senses his chasers, and passes a weak effort out to Tele'a who just immediately just decides to cut back in behind Rieko.


I've started an investigation into Jordies role and use this week. I started by watching his RWC Final effort again (actually I watched it to count Frizell's defensive impact) and in that game his first contributions were one of the first receiver flick backs, then a no look pop, that quick chip for Ardie, a solid crash ball, and carry to the line and pop for Rieko to break through, and then into the second half he had another good crash ball (stopped watching at 58' when SF went off). I know it won't be the same under Razor because the first receiver flick backs have solely been a duty of a few specific forwards, but as I've already shown, its not likely he constant crashed it up under Razor I don't think.

78 Go to comments
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