I have a blog over at Public Address. It's a nicer, kinder place where I try to put up more intellectual thoughts and reasoned arguments. Whereas the Dropkicks is a little more informal. A place where I can say things like:

What the Fuck Jamie Nutbrown!?!

Jamie Nutbrown decided to move away from Canterbury to see more playing time in 2006 (he was behind young Andy Ellis then). He came to Bay of Plenty who were happy to see a good player heading to them instead of the other way around.

Well two years later, and in the middle of a winning season, he's fucking off to Ospreys and the BOP Union is letting him!

Bay of Plenty have released Jamie Nutbrown from his contract to enable the halfback to accept an offer from Welsh club Ospreys.

Nutbrown was contracted until the end of this year but Bay of Plenty
Rugby Union interim chief executive Jeremy Curragh today said he was
reluctantly granted an early release in return for his commitment and
loyalty to the province.

Not to put too fine a point on it but bull-fucking-shit. This is why they let him go:

Ospreys have paid a release fee to Bay of Plenty.

And it had better be a large amount. The Bay need money to stay afloat and Nutbrown would've been a large chunk of their salary payments. But jeebus, has it really come to this? A european team, and not even a very good one, can just waltz about throw money at a New Zealand team and we give up our players?

This really has to stop. More on how that will happen tomorrow. But until then...Jamie Nutbrown you cock! Why are you abandoning the Bay of Plenty fans int he middle of the best season they've had in ages. Fuck you and your new shitty Welsh team, I hope you get booed on Friday night at the Mount you little traitor.

The MIGHTY Bay of Plenty rugby team traveled to Blenheim to play their first match of the Air New Zealand Cup. This is a flight that would usually take an hour or so.

However, due to the storms that were belting the country this week the flights were delayed and the team arrived 30 hours after they left Tauranga.

Then the game was played in a mud bath with the teams battling the conditions to a 8-7 BOP victory (that's the Tasman scrum to the right there).

The Steamers have now headed home to the warm east-coast weather Bay of Plenty where winter means you may need a jersey over your t-shirt, but you can still wear your jandals.

Scorers:
Bay of Plenty 8 (John Pareanga try; Delany pen) Tasman 7 (Mike Bright try; Miah Nikora con). HT: 7-5­

There is a God, well at least for Bay of Plenty fans like me. Sevens stars Zar Lawrence and Nigel Hunt have signed with the BOP team for the Air New Zealand Cup.

Bay of Plenty has seen quite a few Sevens players over the years and even the great Titch for a season and all simply because the great coach lives in Mount Maunganui. Never move Titch, never move.

The Bay of Plenty/Waikato Magic are finally showing their skills. Having recovered from a terrible team-wide illness in the early weeks of the competition the Magic have stormed back and look like the contenders they are supposed to be. Just check out this photo:

Not only is Joelene Henry showing an alluring amount of leg, she's floating the ball above her fucking hand!

The Magic kicked the Northern Mystics arse as they finally shook off an illness that had struck the whole team the last two weeks.

Irene van Dyk (New Zealand's favourite sportsperson) shot 82 percent (31/38) and her shooting partner, Maria Tutaia, 81 percent (25/31) against Vilimina Davu and Leana de Bruin. Which is pretty bloody impressive.

But the Magic's coach, Noeline Taurua, still thinks they can do more. Woah. Can you imagine if this was the Magic "just cruising"? Jeebus, look out Vixens! (especially with an injury to McMahon).

Also I think I should point out that I am completely against Dancing With The Stars in general, but especially when athletes are involved during their playing season!

The Magic 

FAQs

How come you didn't change your name like everyone else did?

Would you?  We're the Magic.  Never mind that those pretenders from up north practically copied us (The mystics?  What even does that mean?)

OK, then.  Are you going to win?

Well, we are being pretty widely tipped as the favourite.  Bit we just have three words for you...Irene Van Dyk.

Yeah, but, isn't she getting a bit old?

Well, she is described on our official website as the "elder stateswoman of the team" which seems kind of mean.  But it also says she is showing no signs of slowing down, so we'll go with that.

Why might you lose?

Um, didn't you read the last two answers? Also, Maria Tutaia, Casey Williams, Joline Henry, and a whole bunch of other women you've never heard of, but who look pretty in our nice black uniforms.

 No, seriously?

Well, we might be a tad overrated, or something, I suppose.  And this competition might be closer than anyone thinks. But we've got the heart, the power, and the magic, apparently, so we'll be OK.

In round one, the Magic play the Thunderbirds on Monday 7th in Rotorua.