Brian Dick, rugby union in the Midlands

Brian Dick: Longer season will help us get used to new rugby rules Aug 29 2008

Brian Dick prepares for the first whistle of a long, long rugby season.Read

Brian Dick: Barry saga damaging goodwill at Villa Aug 05 2008

Martin O’Neill Wednesday, July 30 2008, just after tea-time: “Naturally we’re all absolutely delighted that Gareth will be staying at Villa Park and relieved to find a resolution and closure to this saga.“Liverpool were informed that the deadline came and passed. Now we can all look forward to the coming season with relief, anticipation and ambition.”Martin O’Neill Saturday, August 2 2008, just before tea-time: “Gareth and his agent came in to say they still felt Liverpool could do the deal. I gave it some thought and realised at the end of it all there is little point in pretending.“Gareth wants to join Liverpool. Therefore, there will be no deadline. Liverpool have got all the time in the world to raise the money.”Read

Brian Dick: Sport neglecting the big green issues Jul 21 2008

There are not many weekends during the summer when I pine for the football and rugby seasons and the daily frustrations they bring.Read

Brian Dick: RFU puts money first in play-off sideshow May 21 2008

Two of Worcester's four Premiership campaigns have come down to final-day deciders, showing it is possible to provide end-of-season thrills without compromising the integrity of the Guinness Premiership.Read

Brian Dick: Worcester Warriors: This time it's personal May 14 2008

As a rule I don't subscribe to persecution complexes.Read

Brian Dick: Don't change rugby's laws for TV's sake May 07 2008

Rugby Correspondent Brian Dick fears the TV-led drive towards basketball-isation is behind some unwise tinkering with the laws.Read

Brian Dick: My Midlands rugby Select XV of the season Apr 30 2008

Rugby Correspondent Brian Dick agonises over his selection for the Midlands League One team of the season.Read

Brian Dick: Pertemps Bees - will they, won't they survive? Apr 24 2008

Pertemps Bees head to Goldington Road this weekend looking to expedite an Escape that would not be so much Great as downright miraculous.Read

Brian Dick: Pertemps Bees fighting for their future Apr 16 2008

'Basement battle' doesn't even begin to describe this Saturday's colossal match between Pertemps Bees and Sedgley Tigers.Read

Brian Dick: Right time to strengthen English coaching Apr 09 2008

Last weekend's round of European matches, in the Heineken Cup and the Challenge Ashtray, produced not just some surprise results, decent spectacles and the most bizarre decision of the season but some pretty useful grist to the Rugby Football Union's mill as well.Read

Brian Dick: Restructuring the league will get messy Apr 02 2008

For anyone not involved with Northampton Saints, April is the big month for the resolution of relegation and promotion issues.Read

Brian Dick: Time for Ashton to make way Mar 26 2008

Rob Andrew presents his Six Nations Championship post mortem to the Rugby Football Union's management board today - a meeting that will either end or extend the tenure of head coach Brian Ashton.Read

Brian Dick: Red and white still the Lions' colours Mar 18 2008

Perhaps the saddest thing about the Six Nations coming to an end is the fact that for another year we have lost our excuse for one-eyed partisanship and must revert to sterile political correctness.Read

Brian Dick: The real reason Wilkinson had to carry can Mar 12 2008

Such was the collective paucity of England's Calcutta Cup humiliation the decision to drop Jonny Wilkinson - and only Jonny Wilkinson, from the team to face Ireland this Saturday may seem harsh.Read

Brian Dick: RFU must keep the Lions roaring Mar 03 2008

I don’t normally use the News of the World as a source of information but last weekend’s contained some that if true, would be utterly staggering. They allege RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew has recommended British Lions tours are not in the interests of the English national team. Read

Brian Dick: Clearly, it's time to ban Broccoli Feb 27 2008

The situation surrounding Scott MacLeod's positive drugs test underlines two things, one heart-wrenchingly sad, the other mind-blowingly illogical.Read

Brian Dick: Coventry's rebirth leaves sour taste Feb 20 2008

Last week was one of the dullest in recent memory for sports news. Journalists across the nation ran, pants on fire, between Dwain Chambers and the 39th game, anxious to dig out the latest talking head to say something controversial. Not my idea of interesting I'm afraid.Read

Brian Dick: A sorry case of Oh, Calcutta Feb 13 2008

The Calcutta Cup is usually the high point of my rugby season. As an exiled Scot, there is no better way to rile an Englishman than by taking his job and then beating him at rugby even though the latter happens but once every third blue moon.Read

Brian Dick: The Haves and the Havants Jan 30 2008

The last time this column strayed from rugby union and trespassed into the domain of Association Football, I was the unhappy recipient of more brickbats than a builders' cricket team.Read

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