By Andy Reynolds
August 28 2004

Still plenty of time to get your team in if you haven’t already. Deadline for teams to be included from the start of the season is the 3rd of September. Teams received after this date will be entered from the next week (no retrospective scores will be received). Entries

So far we have 63 teams and in addition to the normal league table I will be creating a mini-league based on team supported. The current split by allegiance is as follows:

41 Bath
6 Glaws
5 Tigers
8 Saints
1 Wasps (where are you abcd?)
2 Others/Unknown

There have been a few teams submitted that don't comply with the rules that each team must have 3 players from each pool team (Bath, Glaws, Saints, Tigers, Wasps), and cannot have more than 1 player from each team in any of the paired positions (props, locks, flankers, centres and wings). Currently, the following need to amend their teams and resubmit:

Norfolk Enchance managed by Cheryl Wilcox
Shark Bites managed by Shark
Skidmore's Shedheads managed by Aidan Whitmore
Cherry 'n' Whites managed by Neil Duffy


Prize

Bath Fan Jack has very kindly offered a prize of a bottle of champagne to the winner. So not only will you be able to feel smug, you can also toast yourself for being so very clever. Thanks BFJ.


Injury update

Bath - Adam Vander (long term), David Flatman (Achilles), Andy Higgins (leg).
Glaws - Simon Amor (ankle ligament), James Merriman (ACL, out until 2005)
Tigers - Brett Deacon, Leon Lloyd, Dan Hipkiss and Ollie Smith are all currently injured.
Saints - Marc Strebrinca, Paul Grayson, Selbourne Boome, Matt Lord (all short term injuries), Tom Smith
Wasps - Tom Voyce (fractured finger), Fraser Waters (ankle), Martin Purdy (dislocated shoulder), Tom Rees (knee), Howley (hand), Simon Shaw (neck strain)

Up to the start of the season you can make as many changes as you like (try to send them all in one e-mail please to bathrugbyere_fantasyrugby@hotmail.com). After that you will be allowed 3 substitutions at the end of the year (after the 11th game). Note the team must still comply with the selection criteria (see above).

I will be on holiday for the next week so don't expect prompt replies. Rest assured though that I will deal with all teams/changes sent on or up to the 3rd of September.


My Team

I won't be entering a team this year (doesn't seem ethical) but just for fun below is my fantasy "fantasy team"! Feel free to plagiarise.

Manager: Andy R
Team Name: The Judge's Decision is Final

1. Prop - Graham Rowntree (Leicester)
2. Hooker - Trevor Leota (Wasps)
3. Prop - Tom Smith (Saints)

4. Lock - Alex Brown (Gloucester)
5. Lock - Andrew Blowers (Saints)

6. Flanker - Andy Beattie (Bath)
7. Flanker - Neil Back (Leicester)

8. Number 8 - Isaac Feaunati (Bath)

9. Scrum Half - Bruce Reihana (Saints)
10. Fly Half - Andy Goode (Leicester)

11. Wing - James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
12. Centre - Olly Barkley (Bath)
13. Centre - Henry Paul (Gloucester)
14. Wing - Tom Voyce (Wasps)

15. Fullback - Mark Van Gisbergen (Wasps)

The only slightly dodgy choice is Blowers at Lock, no worse than Goode at scrum half (you know who you are!)