The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Ballycastle Bar, Hong Kong.

First topic message reminder :

Hello and welcome to the Virtual Rugby Pub, a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

The pub has made its way to Hong Kong, host city for the British & Irish Lions first Tour match before their arrival in Australia - land of the Giant Budgie Smuggler.

So grab a beer, cider, whiskey or wine.... or a warm beverage and sit back and enjoy the rugby.

                     

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Rory Best, Sam Warburton, the Limavady Luge Team, Papa Rodders, Mrs Rodders and our newest & sweetest member, Katelyn.    

last Pawb: https://www.606v2.com/t43001p1000-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-pyongyang

Pete, if there's a chemist near you get yourself a bottle of witch hazel. Apply to the bruises a couple of times a day with cotton wool, it should help. Stinks though!

CJ - Folau has done very well in AR and League. In Aussie footy (whatever code) he is the main man.

A nation needs a sporting icon, and he seems to fit the bill here from what I've seen/read.

I wish him luck; his second try was class.

Hound of Harrow wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:Oh my goodness. These blokes are hopeless!

Multiply all of this by 4 and you'll get an idea what it's like here every day across the codes.

"Slipped" ha ha! I like it!

We're in Melbourne Lb. Have been following the NRL and AFL on Fox Sports up in QLD.

For sure there's a lot of unpleasant stuff going on in Aussie sport recently.

Izzy Folau seems to be a bit of a star in the media though. Hopefully he'll keep his head screwed on.



Good luck bud.

Cheers Hound. Melbourne is a great place... really like the vibe there. They are so sports mad. This is probably the one week of the year when AFL is slightly overshadowed by rugby.

I hope you guys are having a great time here in Oz and the locals are treating you well.

One of the James Squires Brewhouse pubs is just round the corner from the hotel. This is a good and bad thing. Mega hangover this morning.

Had a wander round Melbourne this morning/afternoon. Nice bustling city and The Lions are staying at the Grand Hyatt, a couple of blocks from us. The team coach was parked outside.

Did you see Merv Hughes?

Just arrived in Melbourne myself. Can't wait to see Rory in the game tonight. It has to be said melbourne is utterly fecking freezing compared to brissie. It's beyond a joke I'm actually considering wearing longs tonight!

Oh life is hard! 

Glas a du wrote:Did you see Merv Hughes?

I read that as 'did you see Mary Hughes'. I used to know a Mary Hughes. Big handlebar moustache.

Bore da pawb / good morning all, another sunny day!

Will any London regs be around on Saturday? I'll be down for Wimbledon and I'm trying to find a good pub to watch the second Test. I can't miss that!

Having pints with Tommy's wee bro at the transport bar pre game. You'd be well jealous cari!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Glas a du wrote:Did you see Merv Hughes?

I read that as 'did you see Mary Hughes'. I used to know a Mary Hughes. Big handlebar moustache.

Bore da pawb / good morning all, another sunny day!

Will any London regs be around on Saturday? I'll be down for Wimbledon and I'm trying to find a good pub to watch the second Test. I can't miss that!

I'm (probably) playing cricket in Richmond Saturday afternoon, but could get somewhere Wimbledon way in the morning

Do you know any decent pubs around there?

Morning All!

Hope everyone's well.  Gorgeous day in the Diff...so I'm indoors watching the Lions online.  That's commitment for you.

Hound (or should we call you Dingo...?) - sounds like you're having a great time over there.  If you see Tommy, give him a big Welshy cwtch from me and tell him thanks for the birthday pressie.  They've been worn lots already .  Enjoy the match Willy - Court might also be playing today I think.

Good to see Mr Delve...wonder if he secretly wishes he was a Lion?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote: I'll be down for Wimbledon and I'm trying to find a good pub to watch the second Test. I can't miss that!

Why not? I am... My own fault for poor organisation...

What will you be doing instead, Cari?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:What will you be doing instead, Cari?

Sat on a train from Liverpool reading updates via texts from a work colleague. Can't change my ticket.

That's not so bad. Couldn't you follow the live updates on the BBC website? Or if you're lucky there'll be someone else on the train watching it on Sky Go and you'll be able to listen in!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Do you know any decent pubs around there?

I presume you're wanting Wimbledon Park for the Tennis - pubs around there will be packed with tennis fans. Wimbledon proper has the Alex http://www.alexandrawimbledon.com/, with the Slug and an O'Neils as back up options

It doesn't even have to be in Wimbledon Pete, I'm staying in Barnes. If you know of somewhere good in your neck of the woods, I'd be happy enough travelling there.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:That's not so bad. Couldn't you follow the live updates on the BBC website? Or if you're  lucky there'll be someone else on the train watching it on Sky Go and you'll be able to listen in!

Good thinking! I'm not sure my phone is good enough to use the internet on a train for two hours...but if there's someone else with Sky...

What will you be doing up in Liverpool?

Just having a girlie weekend for my birthday. We'll probably do all the cultural touristy things...never been there before, so it'll be a bit of exploration. I like exploring new cities.

I've been to Liverpool a few times, it's a good little city. I haven't been for a good ten years, but I remember there was a cool part of town sloping down from the Catholic cathedral which had good independent shops and bars. The city centre's fairly compact too, from what I remember.

Yeah I'm looking forward to it. Around the Albert Dock is supposed to be very nice now. I might even go on the tour of The Kop if it's not too expensive.

I hope you have a great time - and that the weather's good!

The forecast isn't too bad - a bit cloudy but dry.

Gareth Delve still sounds Kairdiffian. Bless. Nice post match interview with him.

TOMMY! That hand's looking well....!

Kiwi Pete - just saw an item on the local news that made me think of you. Fancy playing on any of these pitches? Scroll down a bit for a full explanation.

http://rainstoppedplay.org/

Cari, all the games have gone up on youtube within a day of them being on, will send you a link when the second test is up.

I'm going to leave a link to a thread I did outside, as I've spammed most social media outlets already. https://www.606v2.com/t45724-the-eye-in-the-sky-never-lies

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It doesn't even have to be in Wimbledon Pete, I'm staying in Barnes. If you know of somewhere good in your neck of the woods, I'd be happy enough travelling there.

The Ship near Chiswick Bridge and the White Hart near Barnes Bridge are good pubs, 'fraid I don't know about whether they show rugby but as it is a big game they should. The Temperance in Putney is definitely showing the match. Could go to Twickenham ,will be plenty of rugby pubs there like the Barmy Arms

The Bulls Head in Barnes will show the rugby too I reckon

Thanks, CJ. I might have to do a bit of Googling tonight.

Cheers CJ. I don't remember seeing a TV last time I was at the Ship. Putney is handier to Wimbledon Park via public transport for Lucky, though Twickenham sounds good too.

And some impressive pics in that calendar Swanny!

Just clean up afterwards Lucky.

Just about to get the head down after another long day (2am here).

Willy - we were in the Transport before the game; in the area to the right as you walk in. It was a private function though.

Cari - my mates back home already dubbed me 'dingo' before I left.
 

Melbourne is a great city. Walked round loads of it today.

Best wishes folks.

:

Some powerful reading http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23028078

Ha, good one, Thomond!

Just checked with the Temperance - they're opening at ten for the Lions match.

Kiwi - that story almost made me cry.  Ignorant MPs like the Tory who told people to "get on your bike" to look for work should read that.  And that's just one town in one valley.  There's many more places like that in South Wales - and probably some in remote parts of the North of England too....anyway, don't get me started...

Thomond - excellent!  I'll look forward to watching Tommy score!

Evenin' Dingo!

Hope he is involved Cari but Gatland doesn't seem like much of a guy for tinkering the team but we shall see.

Just reading The Roar, and some of the tripe people on there spout makes most of our threads look enlightened.

You can watch sky go over 3g on a laptop or phone. Presuming you have no wifi on your train. If you do, even better.

You can borrow a sky sub temporarily, ditto laptop/ tablet if you don't have a phone decent enough. Ditto 3g dongle.

I watched the Lions this morning on my android phone. I have watched rugby from the passenger seat of a car on a laptop all the way from Dublin to Cork only losing connection when going under bridges.

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Do you know any decent pubs around there?

I presume you're wanting Wimbledon Park for the Tennis - pubs around there will be packed with tennis fans. Wimbledon proper has the Alex http://www.alexandrawimbledon.com/, with the Slug and an O'Neils as back up options

I was all set to meet Hughie in Clapham last week only to have to change to a place near Euston to meet a friend who was getting in on the train, only for the bugger to miss his train anyway 

London was good though! Spent most of our time in Camden and Shoreditch. Some good clubs and galleries there.

Lions must have the afternoon off judging by the number of them wandering about Melbourne with their maps. Richie Gray doesn't look that big (at least not as big as I was anticipating), I reckon I could take him.

  Penblwydd hapus Cari. 

Glas a du wrote:  Penblwydd hapus Cari. 

+1. Oh what the hell: +2!

Happy Birthday Cari.

Was he on the rowing machine, Willy?

Interesting times down under.... another ALP Leadership ballot in 2 hours.
Then Origin 2 immediately after. Seamless.

Thanks Yawl!

Help yourselves to cake

Morning!

All ready to go to Scouseville shortly.  Nice day for travelling too.

Just one bit of sad rugby news:  Huw Bennett has had to retire through injury.  Shame about that.  Benny's done Wales and the O's good service.  I was hoping he'd thrive in France and retire naturally.

WILLY - if you see Tommy, just give him a big Welshy cwtch from me.  He won't mind

Thomond wrote:Hope he is involved Cari but Gatland doesn't seem like much of a guy for tinkering the team but we shall see.

Oh Tommy'll be involved somewhere Thom. His time with the O's made sure of that - he's practically Welsh in Gats mind. I doubt if he'll start (but then I wouldn't be surprised if he did such is Gatland) but he'll get some time to run around.

Hi all. Expecting a significant number of changes for the weekend. Apart from O'Connell and maybe Cobisiero who lose out to injury I could see Lydiate, Tuilagi and Bowe coming into the team.

It takes guts to change a winning team but I can see Gatland doing it.

If we see a repeat of last weeks performance it will not bode well.

PS - not to make you jealous Cari, but met Tommy Bowe last night!

Glas a du wrote:  Penblwydd hapus Cari. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

red_stag wrote:Hi all. Expecting a significant number of changes for the weekend. Apart from O'Connell and maybe Cobisiero who lose out to injury I could see Lydiate, Tuilagi and Bowe coming into the team.

It takes guts to change a winning team but I can see Gatland doing it.

If we see a repeat of last weeks performance it will not bode well.

PS - not to make you jealous Cari, but met Tommy Bowe last night!

How's it going Big_Red_Stag?