Larxia

New Zoradia, Zoran
Ministry of Justice building
15 February 1422
8:00 AM Overtime
“Ministress Lanesa, I am assuming you have seen the news about Blubberman’s latest comment?” she nods at her vice minister,
“I have and I think it would be in the interest of the Zoranian people if we press charges against Blubberman and Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network for hate speech. Blubberman is in Zoran and is thus bound by national law and by making those comments about our people a case could be made that he met the requirements to have committed hate speech.” her vice minister nodded,
“Just what I was thinking, plus it grants us the opportunity to establish precedent and case law relating to hate speech.”
“Good thinking, Scolaguta, let me just get approval from the Queen about pressing charges against Approctoflecticus Blubberman and SDCSN for violating Part 3 Section 18 of The Hate Speech Act of 1421. I don’t want to jump on this without her approval as it could carry global political implications to this.” Scolaguta nodded and watched her take out her phone. She knew the Queen was busy and was dealing with a lot at the moment and she felt bad for wanting to potentially dump this on her as well but as she sees it this behavior from the Santo-Dominian media company cannot be permitted to continue, especially with such public outcry to what Blubberman said. She dialed the number and waited as she dialed Adsila,
“Your Majesty.”
“What’s the matter, Tsianina?”
“I know you’re busy so I will make this quick, my vice minister and I were discussing the possibility of pressing charges against Blubberman and SDCSN for violating the Hate Speech Act.” Adsila let out an audible groan,
“I had a suspicion that this was the subject of your call. Sigh Go ahead, you have my approval. Don’t cut any corners and make sure this is done right, we don’t want them to get out of this on a technicality.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
With that Adsila hung up and Tsianina made eye contact with Scolaguta, giving him an affirmative nod to press charges.

9 months ago
Tennie walks into the bar after the last cricket interview. It was with the coach and manager - not fun at all for her. It's not that she doesn't like cricket,  it's just not her chosen sport of preference. 
She sat down at the counter and ordered. A Martini as normal. Suddenly the seat beside her was no longer vacant. 
Bernard smiles "Hey my number 1 interviewer!" 
She turns and looks at him "Oh, Hi my number 1 captain!" She gives him a polite smile back. 
He orders a IPA and hands the bartender his card when they come over with her drink. "So, I watched your interview tonight, you did great. You were nervous before our interview but it never shows up on camera. It's amazing"
Tennie giggles "Thank you. I think it helps that you fit the camera well." 
Bernard grins "I think you would too, if you were not doing the news meeting interviews. Like if you were actually on screen. Doing the interview." 
"You're just full of compliments tonight." She glances away, taking a sip of her drink. 
"Its just because I'm in beautiful company" He takes the drink from the bartender. 
Now
She checks her messages, reading a reply from Bernard 
"Babe, make sure you relax too. Have a martini and not chat up the next cute captain x" 
She rolls her eyes as the team sits down for their interview, and puts her phone away.
The cameras start rolling and she sits up. "Thank you for your time, congratulations on your win! How are you feeling?"
Ness smiles "amazing, the whole team is buzzing and our hard work has paid off. I am proud of us and I think the only way is up!" 
Tennie smiles "I agree, and how about our game tomorrow against Hertfordshire and Jammbo?"
Ness looks at her other team players "Yeah, we have been training hard. We both have one win and one loss so it's important for us to win. And I have my confidence in my team to push and work hard to get the points we need to win." 
Tennie grins "Beautifully said." She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.
"wait wait I've been busy... A WOMAN IS THE CAPTAIN?!?!?!? Ignore my last message fml"

SITUATION BRIEFING - LEVEL: STAVKA-ONLY - SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS BRANCH
Situation: Demonstrations by Anti-Dalimbari Elements in Far-Eastern Control Zone
22 individuals have been arrested for conspiracy against the Free State for attempting to blow up bridge near Odda in FECZ. None have been determined at this time to hold ties to foreign actors. Conspirators call themselves "Friends of the Hills". Further investigation has uncovered a network in the Odda area which will be cleared this evening. Odda area considered "hostile" until operation concludes. Arrested conspirators are currently in transit to Camp 22-U.
Special Investigations Branch and other security services will continue monitoring situation and act accordingly.

Principality Stadium in the background with Hillborough Castle in the forground
Principality Stadium was constructed two years ago as the official home of the Saint Mark Royal Lions. Funds and the site were donated by Lady Arlene Reston, Dowager Countess of Hillborough and aunt to Paul Reston, the Number Eight for the Lions. She is said to have wanted the arena close enough that she could watch her favorite nephew and his friends as they played. It is a fairly small stadium, with a capacity of 19,000. The artwork decorating the exterior walls was the inspiration of artist Manuel Porjiere and carried out by the students of the Academiae Debiles Artifices.
 

Principality Stadium

RWC3 Commentary: Match Day 3, Post-Match
Presented by SDCSN3 sports intern Approctoflecticus Blubberman and SDCSN Assistant Editor-in-Chief for Ethics & Standards Hector Lafontaine
[OOC Disclaimer: The following RP is presented as a script. Imagine as if these characters said and did these things on live television, which is then compiled into a clip and put on the SDCSN Sports website.]
BLUBBERMAN: Ugh, why must I do such menial, mundane things like grabbing coffee for people?
LAFONTAINE: Stop complaining, Intern Blubberman. Since corporate made the decision to demote you from head sports correspondent to intern, you've been extra noisy. This is a warning to you. You can't keep offending people and making us lose viewers from other countries! Anyways, go host the broadcast. Yes, you still have to do that.
BLUBBERMAN: Fine... (Turns to camera.) Hello, everyone! From Spirit Park in Divanadado Gadoataleseevee, Zoran, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 3rd Rugby World Cup!
LAFONTAINE: It's "Divando Gadoatalesv". You pronounced it flawlessly in previous broadcasts. Did you screw up just out of intentional spite?
BLUBBERMAN: Ugh, shush! (Turns to camera once more.) Anyways, our RWC3 coverage is brought to you by our generous sponsor today, S. Hyster & F. Raud LLP! Employment lawyers Simon Hyster and Fergus Raud are ready to help you start living the good life off of your boss' money. Call them at +2-38-LAW-OUCH today! I, Approctoflecticus Blubberman, shall be your host for the entire duration of the 3rd Rugby World Cup. Accompanying me is Mr Hector Lafontaine, Assistant Editor-in-Chief for Ethics & Standards for SDCSN3's online news section. Mr Lafontaine is my direct superior, so please give him a warm welcome!
LAFONTAINE: You're not going to get your old job back with that insincere bootlicking. You forget that I'm the assistant editor responsible for ethics and standards.
BLUBBERMAN: Damn it! Anyways, let's get straight to talking about today's RWC3 news. Match Day 3 has concluded and the official results are out! In Group A, our beloved Team S-D defeated the team from Denieria in a 17-13 victory. Us Santo-Dominians have once again showed people who's boss! This loss, the third one in a row for Denieria, means that they will no longer able to compete. They are eliminated from contention! In the other Group A match, the top team from Zoran trounced Teralyon in a 27-15 victory that illustrates just how strong the RWC2 champions still are, even after all this time. Wow, looks like the Zoranians-
LAFONTAINE (mutters): No outrageously offensive comments up till now? Hmm, he might still have some hope...
BLUBBERMAN: -are on the warpath, treating their rugby opponents like they did to their fellow Zoranians in their civil war! They must be channeling their destructive tendenc-
LAFONTAINE: ...I was wrong! Damn it, Blubberman! Why are you so obsessed with that war? Can you focus on anything positive at all?
BLUBBERMAN: Hey, you told me to talk about Zoranian history! Anyways, onto Group B. Dalimbar has continued its explosive streak by sending Dilber flying in a 23-5 wipeout! Dalimbar's enemies are blasting off again at the speed of light! And in the other Group B match, Nieubasria swamped Einherfell in a 31-16 match, winning a spectacular victory with nearby double the score of their adversary. Einherfell's loss has eliminated them from contention, leaving Team Dilber at the very bottom and Dalimbar and Nieubasria on the rise in Group B.
LAFONTAINE raises an eyebrow at BLUBBERMAN's reference.
BLUBBERMAN: In Group C, Larxia canned Hertfordia in a 17-3 landslide mirroring the overwhelming loss the Hertfordians themselves dished out to Giovanniland previously. Karma really does come back to bite you in the rear! And finally, Blue Bubble edged out a win against Hanita Grasce, defeating them 22-20 and knocking them out of contention. Things could've been different if Hanita Grasce won, especially because of Giovanniland's poor performance so far, but they turned out how they did and that's the only thing that matters.
LAFONTAINE: You're really trying to antagonise literally every other nation in the cup, aren't you.
BLUBBERMAN: They're competitors - why shouldn't I? Finally, let's turn to Group D! Cambria lost against United Adaikes, their eastern neighbour in Polaris, in a 19-24 match that demonstrates that even big countries don't get an automatic ticket to victory. And in the other match, Nagaraningrad delivered a brutal 22-8 smackdown to Qostaoyae, putting the latter at the very bottom of their group and at great risk of not being able to continue in the competition! The Qostaoyans will have to work incredibly hard if they want to survive by the skin of their teeth. And that's it for Match Day 3! This is the chan-
LAFONTAINE: Wait a minute - I'm getting emails from corporate. Huh, the editor-in-chief himself. Wait, what is this? SDCSN stock price tumbling...journalistic integrity mired by scandals...formal complaints coming in from foreign countries and even Santo-Dominians...Government considering suspending broadcast licence...CUT THE BROADCAST! This is a disaster. BLUBBERMAN, IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, NOW! Corporate has some stern words for you!
The broadcast ends abruptly as BLUBBERMAN is forcibly dragged off set by LAFONTAINE and other interns. The camera pans away and the ad break begins.

The team walk back into the changing room, Aina following in. Ness was clearly kicking herself, and Lekan was clearly not in a good mood.

Aina looks at them all "For all that is my heart, cheer up!" She wasn't exactly the quietest "yes okay we lost, but we gave them a fight for it - 6-3 is a good score. We held our own, and we were hard on them." She snarls, showing her often hidden feistness. 
Kasper walks in, nodding to the end of her sentence he overheard "you're a strong team. Untested, unrivalled. One of the best things we have to our advantage right now is that no one knows us or how we play. It worked wonders in the Esferiad, so let's get that same thing again." He points out
Ness looks at the team "You have a point... we just feel like crap for losing."
Kasper shrugs "Its your first game, its bound to be difficult. You know how the other teams play though. Adapt and improvise." 
Aina thinks for a moment "I will revise the team for our next match, so we are at our strongest for as long as possible. You guys are great at what you do, don't let our first match bring you down."
Lekan sighs, having actually perked up a bit. He drums the tune of a well known song on a locker door, and one of the others start humming along as they start getting changed.
Aina walks out, followed by Kasper. "What are you thinking?" She asks him. He thinks for a moment on his reply "well, the guys just need confidence. But that comes with playing. Be the confidence they need, and the rest will fall into place.". She nods "agreed. Tell Jax and James that the team are coming out of this stronger and ready to try again.". Kasper smiles "I will... take care alright?". Aina rolls her eyes, returning the smile, "you need to stop caring about me and start caring about you"
Kasper laughs, and walks off, already calling the studio.

Welcome to Day Three!
Zoran vs Teralyon saw the hosts reminding the tournament as to why they won the last RWC and why they deserve the ranking they have.
Santos-Dominius vs Denieria, along with Qostaoyae vs Nagaraningrad, went as predicted, good matches to watch with the winner being the higher ranked squad coming in. 
Dilber vs Dalimbar was a triumph for the Dalimbari. Not as impact-worthy as Zoran's continued climb in ranking points, but solidifies their second rank position.
The awakening of Niuebasria continues against Einherfell. It will be interesting to see if Nieubasria can carry this momentum against their next opponents, Dalimbar.
The shock of the day came from Larxia beating H&J. Larxia seemed to be able to pin down the first champions of Rugby World Cup, and this puts H&J at their worst rankings since Day 5 of RWC1, from a height of 61.04 at Day 4 of RWC2.
Blue Bubble seems to have more drive in them than what pre-match Rankings were giving them. They had a tough game with Hanita Gracse, edging them out by two points. 
Cambria vs United Adaikes was a clash of the titans. UA was able to hold off the Cambrians, but probably closer than what the UA squad would have envisioned. Rankings alone, UA was almost 6 rank points above Cambria, yet despite the rankings, the Cambrians are a plucky skilled team which can cause hell for their opponents.
Away     Home Teralyon (45.09) 15 27 Zoran (59.55+3) Santos-Dominius (46.40) 17 13 Denieria (42.54+3) Dilber (48.07) 05 23 Dalimbar (57.60+3) Nieubasria (46.40) 31 16 Einherfell (43.03+3) Larxia (51.30) 17 03 Hertfordshire and Jammbo (57.91+3) Blue Bubble (43.34) 22 20 Hanita Gracse (44.20+3) Cambria (50.57) 19 24 United Adaikes (56.40+3) Qostaoyae (43.14) 08 22 Nagaraningrad (43.59+3) Day 3 Rankings:
Zoran - 58.06 Dalimbar - 56.84 United Adaikes - 56.63 Larxia - 55.22 Hertfordshire and Jammbo - 53.99 Big Bad Badger - 53.97 Libterraria - 52.82 Saint Mark - 52.22 Recuecn - 51.23 Fujai - 50.71 Giovanniland - 50.46 Cambria - 50.34 Bobki - 50.29 Min-Su - 50.15 Fhaengshia - 49.90 Kurabis - 49.24 Dilber - 48.83 Mediobogdum - 48.77 Nieubasria - 48.33 Santos-Dominius - 48.23 Teralyon - 46.58 Blue Bubble - 46.11 Nagaraningrad - 44.90 Nark - 42.59 Qostaoyae - 41.83 Hanita Gracse - 41.43 Einherfell - 41.10 Denieria - 40.71

Results of the 3rd Match Day of the Group Stage
Group A Teralyon 15–27 Zoran Santos-Dominius 17–13 Denieria (NPC) Group A Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Zoran 2 2 0 0 37 22 +15 6 2 Santos-Dominius 2 2 0 0 35 23 +12 6 3 Saint Mark 2 1 0 1 32 24 +8 3 4 Teralyon 3 1 0 2 44 62 −18 3 5 Denieria (NPC) 3 0 0 3 44 61 −17 0 Eliminated Group B Dilber 5–23 Dalimbar Nieubasria 31–16 Einherfell (NPC) Group B Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Dalimbar 2 2 0 0 37 12 +25 6 2 Nieubasria 2 2 0 0 56 35 +21 6 3 Fujai 2 1 0 1 21 14 +7 3 4 Dilber 3 1 0 2 39 51 −12 3 5 Einherfell (NPC) 3 0 0 3 19 60 −41 0 Eliminated Group C Larxia 17–3 Hertfordshire and Jammbo Blue Bubble 22–20 Hanita Gracse Group C Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Larxia 3 3 0 0 37 9 +28 9 2 Hertfordshire and Jammbo 2 1 0 1 22 17 +5 3 3 Blue Bubble 2 1 0 1 25 26 −1 3 4 Giovanniland 2 1 0 1 14 26 −12 3 5 Hanita Gracse 3 0 0 3 30 50 −20 0 Eliminated Group D Cambria 19–24 United Adaikes Qostaoyae 8–22 Nagaraningrad Group D Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 United Adaikes 2 2 0 0 36 29 +7 6 2 Cambria 3 2 0 1 56 55 +1 6 3 Nagaraningrad 3 1 0 2 32 24 +8 3 4 Min-Su 2 1 0 1 18 15 +3 3 5 Qostaoyae 2 0 0 2 32 51 −19 0  
For the 4th matchday, if you want to, talk about your national/premier rugby stadium in your country.

3 years ago
Aina exhaled as she releases the string. Another perfect shot. Kasper claps as he stands up to give her advice. She hands him the bow.
"How's Kassakira?" 
He takes the bow and readys the arrow. "She is doing well, the international viewing ban was lifted thanks to her work." 
She nods as he takes aim, watching from his side "Yeah.. the Rugby world cup seems really cool..." she replied, sounding like there was hidden behind her words
He releases, the arrow just touching her previous shot. "I know you put a lot of effort into Rugby, and your parents prefer Archery."
She takes the bow back off him, clumsily clicking the arrow in. "Yeah. I prefer Rugby. I've been trying to add muscle so I can play better."
He smiles as he watches her take aim, and reaches to correct her "I can speak to your parents if you want. Better off disappointing them with this than-" 
She huffs, letting him correct her "that seems like a good idea. I see a lot of stuff about Rugby online and I think it would be a better route for me..." she lets go and the shot hits both arrows before falling to the ground.
He doesn't take the bow "I agree. Leave this Archery stuff to me." He smiles, petting her head. "I'll always be in your corner Aina."
"Thank you, I hope I can play in the 1st world cup we are in." She thinks out loud, ducking out of his affection.
Now
Aina exhaled as she watches her team take a shot. It was improving. She stands up to give advice as Kasper appears behind her. She smiles.
"How's the team?" 
She looks back at them as they play "They are doing well, the first game is giving them strength through the disappointment."
He nods as they watch a tackle "That's good. I was surprised to hear that you took the coaching position."
She doesnt look at him as she speaks "Well... someone had to do it. I'm a team player afterall." There was obviously a hidden message behind her reply.
He puts a hand on her shoulder "You're on my number 1 for this year by the way. Playing or not." 
She smiles, shaking off his hand. "Thanks. For being in my corner still." 

24th June, 1412
Felix Cage, the the Head Coach of University of Nexilia, was in New Larxia for the National Rugby College League, with his team from UN, one of the top universities in the nation. Now UN was a great university, but their Rugby team had been lacking in quality, so much so that the last time the team had won the league was 14 years ago. That was the reason Cage was hired by UN, to improve the quality of the sports program in the University.
He was on a leisurely morning stroll in the Memorial Park on the southern side of New Larxia. While jogging in the park, he went through secluded area of the park, which most people avoided due to the criminal activity on that side of the park, but ignorant to that fact, Cage kept on with his run. While running, a masked figure suddenly jumped out of a bush, brandishing a knife towards Cage, intentions clear. Now even though he was a rugby coach, he wasn't as strong as he used to be, so he tried to quietly give his wallet to the mugger, not wanting to cause any kind of trouble, when suddenly, another figure tackled the masked man to the ground in a blur, knocking out the thief.
This was when Felix Cage first met the then 18 year-old, legendary Larxian Captain, Jake Kirk. No he wasn't the mugger, he was the guy who tackled the mugger and save Cage's life, and Cage being Cage, focused more on the tackle than the fact that he saved his life.
"That was a strong tackle! Where'd you learn to tackle like that?" Felix inquired.
"Ohh that? I have been training to be fit enough to play Rugby for the past three years, a lot of coaches turned me away because I couldn't afford to pay," Kirk replied dejectedly, reminded of his past failures.
"With that tackle they should be paying you!" Cage exclaimed.
"Can you please not? I've given up trying, I can't pay and no coaches would take me without it. Who are you anyway?" Kirk replied, visibly agitated.
"Of course I have to. I'm Felix Cage, the Head-Coach of the University of Nexilia Rugby Team. Why don't you drop in at Manitoro Grounds two days later. My team is training there for the NRCL. Come and train a little, if you're good enough, we'll try to get you in. It is up to you. I'm gonna need your name by the way."
"Thank you very much for the opportunity!! My name's Jake Kirk. Once again, you have no idea what this means to me. Thank you very much," an elated Jake replied.

"Another Great Win!! Well Done Guys!" manager Eddie Hansen said, overjoyed.
"We were great out there against Hanita Grasce, a 14-3 win is great and it puts us in an amazing spot at the top of the table, but we need to buckle up for the remaining matches as we face Hertfordia and Giovanniland in the remaining Group C fixtures," Kirk said, cautiously encouraging the team.
"I expect y'all in the movie room first thing tomorrow morning. We will study the Hertfordians in this tournament. They completely mopped the floor with the Giovannilandians, so we will have to study them thoroughly and come up with some counter tactics, and some surprise tactics of our own."
"Then we will move onto the training grounds, and try to deploy those tactics, and see how they work with our set of players. Is that clear everyone?"
"Yes Gaffer. Let's go get a good night's sleep and prepare for day after tomorrow."
 
 

24th June, 1412
Felix Cage, the the Head Coach of University of Nexilia, was in New Larxia for the National Rugby College League, with his team from UN, one of the top universities in the nation. Now UN was a great university, but their Rugby team had been lacking in quality, so much so that the last time the team had won the league was 14 years ago. That was the reason Cage was hired by UN, to improve the quality of the sports program in the University.
He was on a leisurely morning stroll in the Memorial Park on the southern side of New Larxia. While jogging in the park, he went through secluded area of the park, which most people avoided due to the criminal activity on that side of the park, but ignorant to that fact, Cage kept on with his run. While running, a masked figure suddenly jumped out of a bush, brandishing a knife towards Cage, intentions clear. Now even though he was a rugby coach, he wasn't as strong as he used to be, so he tried to quietly give his wallet to the mugger, not wanting to cause any kind of trouble, when suddenly, another figure tackled the masked man to the ground in a blur, knocking out the thief.
This was when Felix Cage first met the then 18 year-old, legendary Larxian Captain, Jake Kirk. No he wasn't the mugger, he was the guy who tackled the mugger and save Cage's life, and Cage being Cage, focused more on the tackle than the fact that he saved his life.
"That was a strong tackle! Where'd you learn to tackle like that?" Felix inquired.
"Ohh that? I have been training to be fit enough to play Rugby for the past three years, a lot of coaches turned me away because I couldn't afford to pay," Kirk replied dejectedly, reminded of his past failures.
"With that tackle they should be paying you!" Cage exclaimed.
"Can you please not? I've given up trying, I can't pay and no coaches would take me without it. Who are you anyway?" Kirk replied, visibly agitated.
"Of course I have to. I'm Felix Cage, the Head-Coach of the University of Nexilia Rugby Team. Why don't you drop in at Manitoro Grounds two days later. My team is training there for the NRCL. Come and train a little, if you're good enough, we'll try to get you in. It is up to you. I'm gonna need your name by the way."
"Thank you very much for the opportunity!! My name's Jake Kirk. Once again, you have no idea what this means to me. Thank you very much," an elated Jake replied.

"Another Great Win!! Well Done Guys!" manager Eddie Hansen said, overjoyed.
"We were great out there against Hanita Grasce, a 14-3 win is great and it puts us in an amazing spot at the top of the table, but we need to buckle up for the remaining matches as we face Hertfordia and Giovanniland in the remaining Group C fixtures," Kirk said, cautiously encouraging the team.
"I expect y'all in the movie room first thing tomorrow morning. We will study the Hertfordians in this tournament. They completely mopped the floor with the Giovannilandians, so we will have to study them thoroughly and come up with some counter tactics, and some surprise tactics of our own."
"Then we will move onto the training grounds, and try to deploy those tactics, and see how they work with our set of players. Is that clear everyone?"
"Yes Gaffer. Let's go get a good night's sleep and prepare for day after tomorrow."
 
 

24th June, 1412
Felix Cage, the the Head Coach of University of Nexilia, was in New Larxia for the National Rugby College League, with his team from UN, one of the top universities in the nation. Now UN was a great university, but their Rugby team had been lacking in quality, so much so that the last time the team had won the league was 14 years ago. That was the reason Cage was hired by UN, to improve the quality of the sports program in the University.
He was on a leisurely morning stroll in the Memorial Park on the southern side of New Larxia. While jogging in the park, he went through secluded area of the park, which most people avoided due to the criminal activity on that side of the park, but ignorant to that fact, Cage kept on with his run. While running, a masked figure suddenly jumped out of a bush, brandishing a knife towards Cage, intentions clear. Now even though he was a rugby coach, he wasn't as strong as he used to be, so he tried to quietly give his wallet to the mugger, not wanting to cause any kind of trouble, when suddenly, another figure tackled the masked man to the ground in a blur, knocking out the thief.
This was when Felix Cage first met the then 18 year-old, legendary Larxian Captain, Jake Kirk. No he wasn't the mugger, he was the guy who tackled the mugger and save Cage's life, and Cage being Cage, focused more on the tackle than the fact that he saved his life.
"That was a strong tackle! Where'd you learn to tackle like that?" Felix inquired.
"Ohh that? I have been training to be fit enough to play Rugby for the past three years, a lot of coaches turned me away because I couldn't afford to pay," Kirk replied dejectedly, reminded of his past failures.
"With that tackle they should be paying you!" Cage exclaimed.
"Can you please not? I've given up trying, I can't pay and no coaches would take me without it. Who are you anyway?" Kirk replied, visibly agitated.
"Of course I have to. I'm Felix Cage, the Head-Coach of the University of Nexilia Rugby Team. Why don't you drop in at Manitoro Grounds two days later. My team is training there for the NRCL. Come and train a little, if you're good enough, we'll try to get you in. It is up to you. I'm gonna need your name by the way."
"Thank you very much for the opportunity!! My name's Jake Kirk. Once again, you have no idea what this means to me. Thank you very much," an elated Jake replied.

24th June, 1412
Felix Cage, the the Head Coach of University of Nexilia, was in New Larxia for the National Rugby College League, with his team from UN, one of the top universities in the nation. Now UN was a great university, but their Rugby team had been lacking in quality, so much so that the last time the team had won the league was 14 years ago. That was the reason Cage was hired by UN, to improve the quality of the sports program in the University.
He was on a leisurely morning stroll in the Memorial Park on the southern side of New Larxia. While jogging in the park, he went through secluded area of the park, which most people avoided due to the criminal activity on that side of the park, but ignorant to that fact, Cage kept on with his run. While running, a masked figure suddenly jumped out of a bush, brandishing a knife towards Cage, intentions clear. Now even though he was a rugby coach, he wasn't as strong as he used to be, so he tried to quietly give his wallet to the mugger, not wanting to cause any kind of trouble, when suddenly, another figure tackled the masked man to the ground in a blur, knocking out the thief.
This was when Felix Cage first met the then 18 year-old, legendary Larxian Captain, Jake Kirk. No he wasn't the mugger, he was the guy who tackled the mugger and save Cage's life, and Cage being Cage, focused more on the tackle than the fact that he saved his life.
"That was a strong tackle! Where'd you learn to tackle like that?" Felix inquired.
"Ohh that? I have been training to be fit enough to play Rugby for the past three years, a lot of coaches turned me away because I couldn't afford to pay," Kirk replied dejectedly, reminded of his past failures.
"With that tackle they should be paying you!" Cage exclaimed.
"Can you please not? I've given up trying, I can't pay and no coaches would take me without it. Who are you anyway?" Kirk replied, visibly agitated.
"Of course I have to. I'm Felix Cage, the Head-Coach of the University of Nexilia Rugby Team. Why don't you drop in at Manitoro Grounds two days later. My team is training there for the NRCL. Come and train a little, if you're good enough, we'll try to get you in. It is up to you. I'm gonna need your name by the way."
"Thank you very much for the opportunity!! My name's Jake Kirk. Once again, you have no idea what this means to me. Thank you very much," an elated Jake replied.

"Another Great Win!! Well Done Guys!" manager Eddie Hansen said, overjoyed.
"We were great out there against Hanita Grasce, a 14-3 win is great and it puts us in an amazing spot at the top of the table, but we need to buckle up for the remaining matches as we face Hertfordia and Giovanniland in the remaining Group C fixtures," Kirk said, cautiously encouraging the team.
"I expect y'all in the movie room first thing tomorrow morning. We will study the Hertfordians in this tournament. They completely mopped the floor with the Giovannilandians, so we will have to study them thoroughly and come up with some counter tactics, and some surprise tactics of our own."
"Then we will move onto the training grounds, and try to deploy those tactics, and see how they work with our set of players. Is that clear everyone?"
"Yes Gaffer. Let's go get a good night's sleep and prepare for day after tomorrow."
 
 

Hello and good morning to everyone watching this special Rugby Report! I am Karlo Nakamura-Edrense, the main host of this program that aims to keep Giovannilandians informed of the latest happenings of the 3rd Rugby World Cup, and today I bring you news about Matchday 2. We'll talk about the second match played by our rugby team, how it went, as well as other teams' performances and what to expect next.
Giovanniland 0-19 Hertfordshire and Jammbo (Halftime: 0-8)
The Rugby Match — Matchday 2 saw our team play against the Andolian team of Hertfordshire and Jammbo and lose with a score of 0-19, an unfortunate defeat for a match expected to be roughly equal. In the first half of the match, Giovanniland attempted many times to score first, but those attempts did not lead into any points. Instead, Hertfordshire and Jammbo opened the score when they were awarded a penalty after Giovannilandian player Alessandra Giovene-Tarrutio was offside and did not make an effort to return onside. The Hertfordians further increased their score after scoring a try near the end of the first half.
The scoring was 0-8 when teams returned, so the Giovannilandian players tried to score and level the game, but those goals eventually failed. The second half wasn't great for Giovanniland either, with Hertfordshire and Jammbo scoring another try 10 minutes into the second half, with two drop goals following in minutes 58' and 71'. These eleven points widened the gap to 19 points between the two teams, and despite Giovannilandian attempts to score even a few points, the score finished with no points for the Giovannilandian team.
Following the match, head coach Aquila Pinario-Oddo commiserated with the team over the defeat, and also announced a few changes in the main lineup. The Giovannilandian team will train during the bye in Matchday 3 to bounce back from the defeat, their next match being against group leader Larxia.
Elsewhere in the Cup — I'll also talk a bit about the other games of Matchday 2. In group A, the match of Zoran vs Saint Mark was a close encounter between two Auran nations, with Zoran prevailing 10-7. Meanwhile, the other match saw Denieria lose 17-19 to Teralyon, whereas Auran team Santos-Dominius enjoyed a bye. In Group B, our continent is only represented by Dilber, who won 15-3 against Einherfell. However, all eyes were cast down the other match, Dalimbar vs Fujai, pitting against each other two nations with tough political relations. The Dalimbar Union da Rugby eventually won 14-7 against the Landslag. 
In Group C, besides Giovanniland's match, Hanita Gracse played against Larxia, the latter winning 14-3 against the former, while our Lavender Island neighbors Blue Bubble had a bye. This means that both teams have achieved the same results as their respective first matches—Larxia winning twice, and Hanita Gracse sadly losing twice. Last but not least, Group D had two very close matches! Cambria prevailed over Nagaraningrad by just one point, the final result being 8-7, while the Adaikesians' victory against Min-Su had a final score of 12-10, meaning a difference of only two points.
Odds and Ends — In other sports-related news, many sport fans around Esferos have enjoyed reading or watching their favorite news broadcasters or publishers talk about the 3rd Rugby World Cup, but one particular news outlet has had many people raising eyebrows. Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3, or SDCSN3 for short, is a known television channel from Auran nation Santos-Dominius that is currently providing news about the Cup. However, their head sports correspondent Approctoflecticus Blubberman has been more known for their news reporting gaffes recently.
In the latest SDCSN broadcast, Blubberman talked about Matchday 2 results. However, they also raised some offensive opinions about our Zoranian neighbors, stating that "all that war and destruction must've hardened them - maybe a bloody civil war is good for rugby training." This is an unnecessary remark that serves nothing but to incite unneeded turmoil, whereas the intent of the Rugby World Cup is to bring nations together and celebrate the rugby sport. Due to these remarks, the Giovannilandian Rugby Confederation strongly urges Blubberman to apologize for making these inciteful comments, and the SDCSN to consider another head sports correspondent to take their place. 

RWC3 Commentary: Match Day 2, Post-Match
Presented by SDCSN3 head sports correspondent Approctoflecticus Blubberman and SDCSN Assistant Editor-in-Chief for Ethics & Standards Hector Lafontaine
[OOC Disclaimer: The following RP is presented as a script. Imagine as if these characters said and did these things on live television, which is then compiled into a clip and put on the SDCSN Sports website.]
BLUBBERMAN: Hello, everyone! From Spirit Park in Divando Gadoatalesv, Zoran, we at Santo-Dominian Cable-Satellite Network Channel 3 bring you live coverage of the 3rd Rugby World Cup! Our RWC3 coverage is brought to you by our generous sponsor today, FriLife! It's the insurance conglomerate that profits egregiously from you being in a constant state of fear and paranoia! As always, I Approctoflecticus Blubberman shall be your host for the entire duration of the 3rd Rugby World Cup. Accompanying me is Mr Hector Lafontaine, Assistant Editor-in-Chief for Ethics & Standards for SDCSN3's online news section. Mr Lafontaine is a great chum of mine, so please give him a warm welcome!
LAFONTAINE: We are not acquainted in any way, shape or form. I am here for supervisory purposes.
BLUBBERMAN: Ignoring that expression of difficult truth, I'm going to get straight to talking about today's RWC3 news! Match Day 2 has concluded and the results of today's matches have hence been released. Although Team SD had today off as a rest day, I have been told that I don't do enough reporting to justify my current salary, so I'm going to cover the other matches in order to ensure that I can buy my 2nd mansion in lakeside Friberne.
LAFONTAINE: Nobody needed to know how undeservingly rich you are.
BLUBBERMAN: But it's a personal cause that merits promotion! Anyways, let's talk about Group A. In a rather predictable match, Zoran has defeated Saint Mark in a 10-7 victory for the defending world champion. Seems like Saint Mark couldn't deliver the upset I had hoped to see, but the Zoranians were always going to be tough opponents for any team to deal with. All that war and destruction must've hardened them - maybe a bloody civil war is good for rugby training?
LAFONTAINE's jaw drops. He takes out his notepad and scribbles quickly.
LAFONTAINE (muttering): Yet another extremely offensive remark...backlash from Zoranians possible, maybe even inevitable...serious consequences expected...I wonder how he managed to ascend to his current position...
BLUBBERMAN: In other news, Teralyon has proven that they're a force to be reckoned with, winning a 19-17 victory against Denieria. So those Teralyans aren't that bad after all. But still, they lost to us Santo-Dominians previously, so they still have quite a way to go before they can reach the top.
LAFONTAINE: Why do you insist on rubbing their defeat in their faces?
BLUBBERMAN: Because we won? Come on Mr Lafontaine, be a little patriotic. Anyways, moving onto Group B. Einherfell is now in a bad place following a 3-15 loss to the eccentric team from Dilber, with the former now at the very bottom of the group in terms of overall ranking. The landmine-happy Dalimbari have blown the friendly Fujansk sky high, it appears, with Team Dalimbar winning a 14-7 victory against their neighbour in Polaris. I love the Fujansk, but this is quite the humiliation.
LAFONTAINE: I feel like you just want the people who lost to feel as bad as possible.
BLUBBERMAN: Why shouldn't I do that? It's the only way they'll improve.
LAFONTAINE: That's literally public shaming. You know better than that.
BLUBBERMAN: Whatevs. Not my fault they lost. Anyways, let's turn to Group C. Woah! Seems like Group C saw some crushing, one-sided matches today. The Larxians triumphed over Hanita Grasce in a 14-3 victory, proving that their savviness with technology translates to savviness with sports. And the team from icy, desolate and rural Hertfordia swept the floor with the sporty Giovannilandians in an awe-inspiring 19-0 match! Gotta say good job to the Hertfordians - they really vanquished their opponents! How will Giovanniland ever recover from this shameful, utterly disastrous performance? I simply don't know!
LAFONTAINE: You better rein it in, Blubberman. Talk about Group D and then wrap it up, stat.
BLUBBERMAN: ...Fine. In Group D, the matches today were the complete opposite of Group C. Both Group D matches were quite close, actually. The Cambrians narrowly won over Nagaraningrad in a 8-7 victory that defended their honour, while Team United Adaikes won a similarly close 12-10 victory over Min-Su. Don't really have much to say, even Nagaraningrad and Min-Su held their own in their own respective matches, unlike the losers in the other groups.
LAFONTAINE: Okay, that's enough. End it!
BLUBBERMAN: Okay, okay. And that is it for us today! This is the channel for live and direct coverage of the 3rd Rugby World Cup! I'm Approctoflecticus Blubberman, and it's been really nice to mock other countries in order to incentivise them to improve. That's my personal philosophy in regards to sports. Stay tuned to SDCSN Channel 3 for coverage of RWC3, and see you whenever stuff happens!
The camera pans away and the screen fades to dark as LAFONTAINE and BLUBBERMAN seemingly argue.

Gooooooooood mooooooorrrrrnnniiiinnnggggg Rugby!
Just before Rugby World Cup 3 kicks off in Zoran, the Department of Sports of the Free State of Dalimbar is proud to bring back Rugby Rankings. In the past two editions, we have delved into the stats to show how important even the most boring of games can be. Just because a game is tied, doesn't mean nothing happened. And by golly, we've seen quite a few Davids beat their Goliaths. Or... sometimes the David just got pummeled into the ground.
In past years we gave newcomers to the tournament an automatic 50.00 ranking. However, to not artificially inflate or otherwise make the rankings incomprehensible, going on forward Rugby Rankings will award newcomers an automatic 45.00 to start. This is not the worst ranking so far, that still is 42.59 at press time. However, this means that new teams will need to work hard to prove themselves compared to well-established teams. And they certainly can!
For Rugby Ranking edition 3, we have removed teams that only competed in RWC1 from the ranking list. We will be keeping RWC2 teams which did not submit a team for RWC3, to show how other teams (especially the newer ones) rank relative compared to some of the favourites from last time.
With all that being said, here's the pre-start rankings.
Zoran - 57.66 Dalimbar - 55.56 United Adaikes - 54.15 Big Bad Badger - 53.97 Giovanniland - 53.79 Hertfordshire and Jammbo - 53.74 Saint Mark - 53.14 Libterraria - 52.82 Fujai - 51.44 Recuecn - 51.23 Min-Su - 51.00 Bobki - 50.29 Dilber - 50.08 Fhaengshia - 49.90 Larxia - 49.68 Kurabis - 49.24 Mediobogdum - 48.77 Cambria - 48.70 Santos-Dominius - 45.00 Blue Bubble - 45.00 Qostaoyae - 45.00 Hanita Gracse - 45.00 Nagaraningrad - 45.00 Denieria - 45.00 Einherfell - 45.00 Teralyon - 45.00 Nieubasria - 43.73 Nark - 42.59

What a way to start Rugby World Cup 3!
First off, Nieubasria. Won. A. Game. Ok, so, they have won one match in the entire history of Rugby World Cup, being on Day 2 of RWC2. But that was against Nark, the team with the worst record. This time, it was Dilber, host of the previous Rugby World Cup, to lose to Nieubasria. How high does Dilber need to be for that to happen?! Or, is this a sign of a new team to emerge from Nieubasria?
Welcomes and salutations to the onslaught of new teams! Only one managed a victory, that being Santos-Dominius against Teralyon. The rest will need to quickly adjust to the big-leagues if they want to survive the tournament. 
Away     Home Saint Mark (53.14) 25 14 Denieria (45.00+3) Teralyon (45.00) 10 18 Santos-Dominius (45.00+3) Fujai (51.44) 14 00 Einherfell (45.00+3) Dilber (50.08) 19 25 Nieubasria (43.73+3) Giovanniland (53.79) 14 07 Hanita Gracse (45.00+3) Larxia (49.68) 06 03 Blue Bubble (45.00+3) Min-Su (51.00) 08 03 Nagaraningrad (45.00+3) Cambria (48.70) 29 24 Qostaoyae (45.00+3)  
Day 1 Rankings:
Zoran - 57.66 Dalimbar - 55.56 Giovanniland - 54.63 United Adaikes - 54.15 Saint Mark - 54.11 Big Bad Badger - 53.97 Herfordshire and Jammbo - 53.74 Fujai - 53.75 Libterraria - 52.82 Min-Su - 52.40 Recuecn - 51.23 Larxia - 51.34 Cambria - 50.56 Bobki - 50.29 Fhaengshia - 49.90 Kurabis - 49.24 Mediobogdum - 48.77 Dilber - 47.41 Nieubasria - 46.40 Santo-Dominius - 46.40 Hanita Gracse - 44.16 Denieria - 44.03 Einherfell - 43.69 Teralyon - 43.60 Nagaraningrad - 43.60 Blue Bubble - 43.34 Qostaoyae - 43.14 Nark - 42.59

Day Two of RWC3 saw the big teams come out to play. 
Zoran, the reigning champion and host, proved that their victory in RWC2 was not a fluke, with their win over a strong Saint Mark side. The grudge match between Dalimbar and Fujai saw the militant Dalimbari victorious.
But frankly, the main match of the day was Hertfordshire and Jammbo vs Giovanniland. The squad from Giovanniland walked in the favourites, with a ranking of 54.63 and holding home advantage. H&J was not far behind, at 53.74. However, in play, H&J dominated, blanking their opponents 19-0. The rank change was absolutely significant, with H&J gaining 4.17 rank points, Giovanniland dropping the equivalent amount. 
These rankings show us who has a good chance of being the ultimate victors, but there will be surprises in this tournament. Rankings sizes squads up against their opponents, tries to factor for advantage while at the same time not necessarily rewarding the beating up on smaller teams. It's the rugby way.
Away     Home Denieria (44.03) 17 19 Teralyon (43.60+3) Zoran (57.66) 10 07 Saint Mark (54.11+3) Einherfell (43.69) 17 19 Dilber (47.41+3) Dalimbar (55.56) 14 07 Fujai (52.75+3) Hanita Gracse (44.16) 03 14 Larxia (51.34+3) Hertfordshire and Jammbo (53.74) 19 00 Giovanniland (54.63+3) Nagaraningrad (43.60) 07 08 Cambria (50.56+3) United Adaikes (54.15) 12 10 Min-Su (52.40+3) Day 2 Rankings:
Zoran - 59.55 Hertfordshire and Jammbo - 57.91 Dalimbar - 57.60 United Adaikes - 56.40 Big Bad Badger - 53.97 Libterraria - 52.82 Saint Mark - 52.22 Recuecn - 51.23 Larxia - 51.30 Fujai - 50.71 Cambria - 50.57 Giovanniland - 50.46 Bobki - 50.29 Min-Su - 50.15 Fhaengshia - 49.90 Kurabis - 49.24 Dilber - 48.07 Mediobogdum - 48.77 Nieubasria - 46.40 Santos-Dominius - 46.40 Teralyon - 45.09 Hanita Gracse - 44.20 Naraningrad - 43.59 Blue Bubble - 43.34 Qostaoyae - 43.14 Einherfell - 43.03 Denieria - 42.54 Nark - 42.54

Results of the 2nd Match Day of the Group Stage
Group A Denieria (NPC) 17–19 Teralyon Zoran 10–7 Saint Mark Group A Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Saint Mark 2 1 0 1 32 24 +8 3 2 Santos-Dominius 1 1 0 0 18 10 +8 3 3 Zoran 1 1 0 0 10 7 +3 3 4 Teralyon 2 1 0 1 29 35 −6 3 5 Denieria (NPC) 2 0 0 2 31 44 −13 0 Group B Einherfell (NPC) 3–15 Dilber Dalimbar 14–7 Fujai Group B Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Fujai 2 1 0 1 21 14 +7 3 2 Dalimbar 1 1 0 0 14 7 +7 3 3 Dilber 2 1 0 1 34 28 +6 3 4 Nieubasria 1 1 0 0 25 19 +6 3 5 Einherfell (NPC) 2 0 0 2 3 29 −26 0 Group C Hanita Gracse 3–14 Larxia Hertfordshire and Jammbo 19–0 Giovanniland Group C Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Larxia 2 2 0 0 20 6 +14 6 2 Hertfordshire and Jammbo 1 1 0 0 19 0 +19 3 3 Giovanniland 2 1 0 1 14 26 −12 3 4 Blue Bubble 1 0 0 1 3 6 −3 0 5 Hanita Gracse 2 0 0 2 10 28 −18 0 Group D Nagaraningrad 7–8 Cambria United Adaikes 12–10 Min-Su Group D Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Cambria 2 2 0 0 37 31 +6 6 2 Min-Su 2 1 0 1 18 15 +3 3 3 United Adaikes 1 1 0 0 12 10 +2 3 4 Qostaoyae 1 0 0 1 24 29 −5 0 5 Nagaraningrad 2 0 0 2 10 16 −6 0  
For the 3rd matchday, if you want to, talk about pre-match/tournament superstitions, beliefs, and/or acts your player(s)/team does. Be creative (but with the bounds of realism)! 

10th November, 1409;
"The Falcons have done it. After 28 years in the league, they have finally won the coveted trophy and have been crowned the best team in all of Larxia!!" a commentator could be heard on the TV in the background in the house of 15 year-old, Jake Kirk.
"Dad, one day I'll be up there, lifting that trophy high above everyone's head, and you'll be so proud of me!" an over-excited Jake told his father as they were celebrating their favourite team winning the league.
"Oh you wanna play Rugby do you? Son, we're struggling to make ends meet, I have had to take out loans just for you tuition. I don't think we can afford the Rugby. Trust me no one would be more happier than me even if you play at that stage," his Dad, Matthias Kirk replied, trying not to dishearten Jake as much as he could.
"But Dad!!! Please, I'll work on the side if I have to, but please do something," Jake pleaded to his father, who was showing signs of hesitation.
"I'll try my best to get some sort of arrangement about flexible payments, but I want you to be prepared in case no one agrees," Matthias warned Jake.
"Okay Dad. Thank You just for trying!! Love you so much," Jake replied with as much gratitude as his 15 year-old self had in his body. He was truly overjoyed at this.
"Well then, Let's get to training you and getting you ready. We'll have to show off your talents well if we want to have any chance of getting good coaching."
"Yes!! Let's Go DAD!!", Jake replied with enthusiasm as they went to a park near their house to throw the ball around.
They used to spend hours on the weekends playing Rugby, passing the ball, and Jake used to play a lot with some of his closest (and quite relevant to the story) friends.
 
(OOC: @United Adaikes thanks for the really good RP prompt. I will be making this a series that will go along with the WC, which will show how my Captain Kirk got into the team.)

10th November, 1409;
"The Falcons have done it. After 28 years in the league, they have finally won the coveted trophy and have been crowned the best team in all of Larxia!!" a commentator could be heard on the TV in the background in the house of 15 year-old, Jake Kirk.
"Dad, one day I'll be up there, lifting that trophy high above everyone's head, and you'll be so proud of me!" an over-excited Jake told his father as they were celebrating their favourite team winning the league.
"Oh you wanna play Rugby do you? Son, we're struggling to make ends meet, I have had to take out loans just for you tuition. I don't think we can afford the Rugby. Trust me no one would be more happier than me even if you play at that stage," his Dad, Matthias Kirk replied, trying not to dishearten Jake as much as he could.
"But Dad!!! Please, I'll work on the side if I have to, but please do something," Jake pleaded to his father, who was showing signs of hesitation.
"I'll try my best to get some sort of arrangement about flexible payments, but I want you to be prepared in case no one agrees," Matthias warned Jake.
"Okay Dad. Thank You just for trying!! Love you so much," Jake replied with as much gratitude as his 15 year-old self had in his body. He was truly overjoyed at this.
"Well then, Let's get to training you and getting you ready. We'll have to show off your talents well if we want to have any chance of getting good coaching."
"Yes!! Let's Go DAD!!", Jake replied with enthusiasm as they went to a park near their house to throw the ball around.
They used to spend hours on the weekends playing Rugby, passing the ball, and Jake used to play a lot with some of his closest (and quite relevant to the story) friends.
 
(OOC: @United Adaikes thanks for the really good RP prompt. I will be making this a series that will go along with the WC, which will show how my Captain Kirk got into the team.)