The East Terrace

IRB to force players to Tweet, Facebook during games

The International Rugby Board has given the green light to a host of radical measures designed to bring fans closer than ever to the game.

Worried that the forthcoming summer tours to the southern hemisphere by England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland are not generating enough momentum, a team of marketeers has been appointed by the Home Unions to spice up what is on offer and make sure the fans are fully engaged with the fixtures.

The extremely controversial endorsement of the proposals by the IRB mean that all players will be expected to interact with fans via social media before, during and after games by using extra durable smartphones which will be carried in a special pouch on new high-tech jerseys.

"Rugby can't stand still and rely on the game alone to appeal to fans," said Michael Drew, head of the marketing team appointed to oversee the summer tours. "We need to move forward. Rugby's slowly been getting a little more interactive over the years. First, back in the nineteenth century you could sing, clap and shout when attending a game. Decades later you were able to wear your replica shirts to show your colours off to the world and support the lads.

"Then, just a few years ago, you could start to buy radios to listen to the match official whilst sitting in the stadium. It's only natural, therefore, that the next step is allowing fans to vote, via Facebook apps on their smartphones, on what substitutions the coach should make. Or that players Tweet their unique view on the action whilst it is actually happening. It's a very natural progression and we think it is going to be great fun for all concerned."

The IRB are keen to stress that the social media initiative is for this summer only and will be reviewed before being implemented in the Six Nations, Rugby World Cup or any other major tournament.

For the full story: http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/164531.html 

IRB makes rugby an amateur sport again

The International Rugby Board has confirmed that as of September, 2012, rugby union will again revert to being an amateur game. From this date onwards no players can receive any financial rewards for taking part in the sport and if they do so they will be banned from the game for life.

The decision, which has rocked the rugby world, reverses the momentous decision in 1995 to go professional and to end the 'shamateurism' which blighted the sport for well over a century.

The IRB has chosen to end rugby's 'open' period after reviewing video evidence from the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby competition which has shown that it is now becoming not only commonplace for players to dance after scoring a try, but also that said dancing is not followed with the players involved being ostracised from the game.

The key incident which has prompted the dramatic volte-face was former England fly-half Danny Cipriani dancing during an appearance for the Melbourne Rebels. (The dance can be viewed here - viewer discretion advised).

The IRB also cited the wearing of a red sparkly hat by centre Jamie Robert's after Wales' recent Grand Slam win and claimed it was another nail in the coffin of rugby as a professional sport.

"We can no longer stand idly by whilst our once great game is besmirched in such a way," said IRB spokesperson Andrew Lyons at a Dublin press conference. "The actions of a worrying large number of modern professional players has stripped our game of its dignity and its status. We hereby confirm that from this coming September the game will revert to its amateur status. May God forgive us for our trespasses against His holy game. Not even in our worst nightmares back in 1995 did we see rugby coming to this."

For the full story: http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2012/rugby/story/163239.html