Search results matching tag 'Rugby'

Thank goodness BA doesn't select the Lions

1715701 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:09:00 GMT

If the British & Irish Lions were selected today not a single English player could be sure of his selection.

And certainly any English player unable to break into our shambolic national team can probably go ahead and book his summer hols without to much worry of a Lions call up.

So it is puzzling that when BA chose its two players to PR its new official airline status of the British & Irish Lions, one would be Josh Lewsey.

The fullback is a fine player but has been out of the England set up since that remarkable night in Paris last autumn when the team advanced to the World Cup final. Someone at BA should have known that.

To make the odds on the player making the Lions squad even longer than they already were, the player chose this week to announce his retirement from international rugby.

Who else would be a terrible choice to PR the airline's sponsorship deal? Gavin Henson - tucked in next to Josh waiting for take off.

Henson has stuggled with injury for a while now and when he was fit managed to get himself dropped from the Welsh team due to his ‘state of mind'. Someone at BA really should have known that.

Let's face it, the only one of these three likely to be on the plane to South Africa next summer is the stewardess.

The Haka: A brand evolution case study

1715701 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:07:00 GMT

If any brand manager ever wanted an example of why it is important to constantly evolve and improve their brand, they need look no further than the New Zealand Haka.

Today the Haka is performed with such passion and ferocity that intimidated opposition constantly seek ways to respond to it else they enter the game a nervous wreck.

Some have tried advancing on the New Zealand team, while last weekend the Welsh players stood motionless and just starred them down. It was probably the best response I can recall and I hope England are working on a game plan for this weekend.

But the Haka wasn’t always so scary. Just take a look at this priceless effort from 1973...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emJyEa4z2Ec&feature=related

The equestrian world's answer to Twenty20

1715701 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:55:00 GMT

As modern attention spans shorten, abbreviated versions of sports have come into the market with mixed success.

Last weekend was spent in Wolverhampton watching some quickfire darts – it was a triumph (and at £10 a ticket something I would recommend during the credit crunch).

Twenty20 cricket is another success, while rugby sevens has never quite pulled in the crowds I think it ought to.

Now it’s the turn of another sport to launch an abbreviated version in a bid to win broader appeal – Eventing.

According to promoters the Express Eventing International Cup will ‘do for eventing what Twenty20 has done for international cricket’.

The world’s top 20 riders face off with the winner bagging £100,000 – the rest split £150,000 between them.

There’s also a celebrity jump-off which sees the debut of socialite Tara Palmer-Tomkinson at an indoor equestrian event at the Millennium Stadium where she takes on Jodie Kidd. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Arlene Phillips are also there.

At £35-45 a ticket I won’t be making another road trip this weekend. And although the Stamford Cup proved chucking a load of money at players doesn’t guarantee a great spectacle the weekend’s event could be one to watch for luxury brands looking for something new.

Anyway, here’s a cheesy picture of Tara preparing for the event…