The club are saddened to learn today of the passing of our former coach Doug Laughton, aged 80, our sympathies go to his family and friends at this sad time
Jamie George: “My mum was on her deathbed talking about the England rugby team and how proud she was of me being able to do what I do. That’s absolutely incredible. She will be with me in some capacity on Saturday and that means a huge amount to me.”
https://t.co/veZZPo5vOe
This Paul Gascoigne story about having a day off at Italia '90 is absolutely brilliant 🤣
"On one of our days off we went down to the beach to sunbathe. David Platt had joined the squad and ever since we arrived hadn't stopped going on about Doug Eliis, the Aston Villa owner and Platty's boss.
It was all, 'Doug Ellis has the best yacht. Doug Ellis is going to do this. Doug Ellis is going to do that. Doug Ellis had installed the best pitch. Doug Ellis has flown to the moon.'
By lunchtime we'd had a few drinks, although we shouldn't have, and I decided it was time to take the p***.
There was a big-ass yacht anchored about three hundred yards off the beach and when I saw it I shouted, 'Ooh look, Dougie and his boat.'
I started to swim out to it and a few of the lads followed, mainly because I said they would probably have loads of drink on board.
As we got nearer I was calling out, 'Oh Dougie. Oh Dougie. Where are you? Just then a bloke peered over the side. 'Hello Paul.' F*** me, it was Doug Ellis.
About eight of us clambered on board, including Gary Lineker's missus. We must have got through about thirty bottles of champagne and all of his food.
It was brilliant. At one point I leapt on Mrs Lineker for a laugh and we both tumbled over the side and into the ocean. Fortunately she saw the funny side, but I'm not sure Gary did.
By the time we had to leave I was smashed. We were swimming back and I was about a hundred yards from shore when I began to get tired. I decided the best thing to do was take a deep breath, dive to the seabed, give myself a moment to relax, then push up and swim back as fast as I could."Yeah I know, not the smartest decision I've made, but I was p****d.
As I was coming back up I must have got turned around because after resurfacing and swimming hard I looked up expecting to see the shore but discovered I was heading in the wrong direction.
I was beginning to struggle and I panicked a bit. It was quite frightening. I started to wave my hands in the air and luckily enough a little dinghy with an outboard motor turned up.
It was Gary Lineker and another bloke. 'Get in you daft b*****d,' he said.
When I looked up it was Nigel Kennedy, the violinist. 'Give us a tune then, Nige,' I said. 'Handel's Water Music?' he laughed. I didn't have a clue what he was on about."
'You ignore me for 12 years in Edinburgh and now you want us to join the mile-high club'
My latest cartoon for tomorrow's @Telegraph
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So much this. I don't want to name names, but the constant bitching , whining and hand wringing about 'The Draw' ends, this weekend.
It is time to put up, or shut up & certain teams will need to choose between going big, or going home. Simple as.👍
Every rugby fan, around the world is rooting to see the “maestro” Antoine Dupont back at the RWC!
What a player!🙏
Fear not rugby world, where there’s a will, there’s a way!🤞
Try spare a thought for Johan Deysel, he will be gutted & take responsibility, but not intentional.