17 stone giant

Fair enough.

Slightly off topic, but are the Aussies missing a trick by playing their State of Origin on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday? Would they not have a better chance of getting a global audience if they moved it? I just looked up the dates, but it's 1105am on three Wednesdays, so I didn't bother adding it to my calendar. Whereas I would definitely watch it if it was on a Saturday. I'm sure they have their own reasons, but I wonder if in future they'll consider playing it at the weekend.

After reading all the posts, I've reached the conclusion that none of the rep ideas will work. It therefore has to be done through the clubs. That's where the strong allegiances are. I like the idea of Magic, but I would tinker with it. I'd try splitting it with Saturday in one city and Sunday in another. Or two successive Saturdays, perhaps. At the moment I don't think it's being taken around the country enough, and I think a lot of cities wouldn't be able to do the two days, hence my suggestion for splitting it. Let's have a day in Birmingham, Nottingham, Bristol, etc.

That doesn't seem like many in the top two leagues (NRL and SL). Are those 6 even Welsh born and bred, or are they grandparent rule types?

I agree. 8-5 now though. Will be interesting to see if O'Connor can hold his nerve and get over the line.

Your predictions are certainly making it look that way.

The difference is that France players can't choose to be better than they are, but Lancashire and Yorkshire players can choose not to bother trying.

Embarrassing stuff from Forest.

The problem seems to be though that the choice is between doing something badly or doing nothing at all. It's a bit of a predicament for the sport.

Was the Roses game ever shown live on BBC? If not, maybe that's something worth doing if it's tried again.

I celebrated too (nothing against Man Utd, but what a story it would have been). Correct decision though. He could have been onside by a toe and then the goal would have stood. Those are the margins. Incredible semi final. Man Utd must have used about five get out of jail cards there. Feel gutted for the Coventry fans.

That's incredible. I can't believe that. I was watching it earlier before the interval and I thought Brecel would see it out. Even more so when I checked in later and the score was 9-6 to Brecel. The Crucible Curse is one of the most amazing things in sport. How on earth so many amazing players - many of whom went on to win the title again several times - have been unable to retain it at the first attempt, is just bizarre. Congrats to Dave Gilbert.

Wikipedia says his last Crucible appearance was 1988, but he didn't retire until 1993. Why did you stop watching the snooker? Did you ever watch Big Break with Jim Davidson?

Isn't this the sort of event that it might be worth giving to Eddie Hearn and letting him run it? Set the deal up so that he provides the bulk of the money for promoting and venues etc. and gets a chunk of the profits if he can make a success of it.

What's the score?