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(A View From The Stand)
A Coventry Rugby Blog - 2025/26



Bedford Blues 38 Coventry Rugby 31 - when the dream ends the reality is sometimes better...
With a minute to go before the break, Cov were 14 points clear and had they managed to defend their lines in the final play of the half, perhaps things might have been different. But urged on by a loud and understandably partisan crowd, Bedford's pack rumbled over the line and suddenly Cov were just 7 points clear and facing the steep slope (in rugby terms) second half, it always looked to be an uphill task from thereon in.
And so it proved.
1874tsmith
Jan 258 min read
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Coventry Rugby 41 Cornish Pirates 26 - 15 men on a dead man's chest, yo-ho-ho and a Happy New Year
Well, Roll My Breakfast,
'Cause I'm A Hungry Man.
I Said Shake Rattle And Roll,
I Said Shake Rattle And Roll,
I Said Shake Rattle And Roll,
I Said Shake Rattle And Roll;
Pirates were at first shaken, then rattled but it's Cov who remain on a roll as they go into the break with 7 wins from their last seven outings, showing the sort of form that should see them comfortably into the play-off places come the end of the season in May.
1874tsmith
Jan 38 min read
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Cambridge 19 Coventry Rugby 33 - bonus point win sees Cov continue winning run
...but Cov have slowly built up momentum and despite what was, for me, a pretty average display against Cambridge, they've consistently picked up points of late and look to be in a good place right now.
A significant amount of recognition should be given to Alex Rae and his coaching team. Despite facing criticism early on from certain quarters, they managed to ignore these external distractions and concentrate on their strengths, effectively responding to their critics
1874tsmith
Dec 28, 20258 min read
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Coventry Rugby 41 Nottingham 36 - Cov just edge it in festive thriller
After establishing a seemingly decisive position at halftime with a 24-7 lead and dominating the last 15 minutes with a four-try salvo, Cov lost their discipline resulting in a series of penalties that allowed an increasingly confident Archers' team back into a game that appeared all but over when the outstanding Allan Ferrie scored just 5 minutes into the second half, extending Cov's lead to 24 points.
1874tsmith
Dec 21, 20258 min read
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Cov Rugby 61 London Scottish 10 - yer bum's oot the windae if you think Cov are on the slide as hosts gie it laldy to peelie-wally Scottish
I'm not sure whether the stats would back this up, but it felt as if we kicked far less than we have at times this season and with far fewer handling errors going forward, we caused the Scottish defence all sorts of problems and in truth, they struggled to handle the pace and directness of our runners. The penalty count, 21-7 in favour of Cov, is indicative of the pressure that Scottish found themselves under and I thought they were a little lucky to get away with just a coup
1874tsmith
Dec 7, 20258 min read
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Richmond 17 Coventry Rugby 52 - Alex's half-time changes offer a Rae of hope
Post-match, there have been plenty of comments rightly praising the likes of Maunder and Thomas for their roles in changing the momentum of the game, but I've not heard or read anything regarding what was for me a very different, a very tactical, use of the bench. Had there been a couple of further injuries at the start of the second half, then Cov could have been really exposed but, as it was, the plan worked to perfection
1874tsmith
Nov 2, 20258 min read
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Coventry Rugby 36 Ealing Trailfinders 63 - how I wish you were here...
Alex Rae had suggested in his post-match comments (after the Caldy game) that the players would learn things about each other during the course of the week leading up to yesterday's game against Ealing and for most supporters who turned up yesterday, the performance as much as the result was of greatest importance. Just what had they learned and to what extent would it impact on the team's performance on the pitch?
1874tsmith
Oct 26, 20258 min read
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Chinnor 47 Coventry Rugby 26 - who (forgot to) let the dogs out...?
And I can't see colour, any colour will do I'll stick on you, that's why they call me "pit bull" 'Cause I'm the man of the land When they see me they say, who? Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who? Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who? Who let the dogs out? Who Let The Dogs Out - Baha Men It should have been the ideal photo to highlight Coventry's first away victory of the season, featured prominently in game reports and tagged atop the club's socials. It wo
1874tsmith
Oct 19, 20259 min read
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Worcester Warriors 29 Coventry Rugby 19 - the Second Sitting of the Last Supper
But for many fans of Champ clubs outside of Worcester, the current prodigal son of English rugby appears to have sold its very soul to the devil (in the form of the RFU obviously). And it has come to pass that for Worcester Warriors at least, deliverance from its previous sins is indeed at hand and that Bill Sweeney and his faithful disciples, the most unlikely of Messiahs, have given the club a golden ticket to the promised land.
1874tsmith
Oct 5, 202510 min read
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Coventry Rugby 67 Nottingham 5 - crowd get a glimpse of the future as Cov youngsters put Archers to the sword
those starting the game yesterday did more than enough to show that there's a core of young players that has the potential to take Cov forward to that next level, even without such as talisman as Kvesic.
Indeed, Kvesic had a fairly quiet game by his standards and it was the likes of Tom Ball, Chester Owen, David Opoku-Fordjour and Dan Green, when he came on, who caught the eye the most.
1874tsmith
May 18, 20258 min read
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Doncaster Knights 38 Coventry Rugby 24 - a tale of two halves as Donny power past stuttering Cov
Now I'm free, free fallin' (Free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a Free fallin', I'm-a free fallin', I'm-a) Yeah I'm free, free fallin'...
1874tsmith
May 14, 20258 min read
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Coventry Rugby 14 Cornish Pirates 21 - Pirates' take the spoils as Cov unable to breach the visitor's defences
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack Drink up me 'earties, yo ho Maraud and embezzle and even highjack Drink up me 'earties, yo ho A...
1874tsmith
May 5, 20258 min read
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Hartpury 31 Coventry Rugby 24 - second half resurgence has Hartpury reeling as Cov fall just short
Well life can be a little hard sometimes, you do what you gotta do A lot depends on the luck a man has and the cards that's been dealt to...
1874tsmith
Apr 22, 20259 min read
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Coventry Rugby 26 Ampthill 31 - Mob rule as Cov struggles to paper the cracks
Coventry Rugby didn't effectively manage supporters' expectations during that period. Although senior figures in the club have since stated that they anticipated the RFU's rejection of their Premiership bid and viewed it as a chance to identify areas for improvement before reapplying in the future, at the time of the bid, it seemed to be a sincere effort to compete for the Championship for the rest of the season and to seriously contend in the playoffs if Cov won the league i
1874tsmith
Apr 13, 20259 min read
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Coventry Rugby 49 Caldy 31 - tactical changes make the difference as Cov fitness tells
After 65 minutes Cov led Caldy by just 4 points and the result was still very much in the balance, with the visitors quick on the counter ..
1874tsmith
Apr 6, 20259 min read
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Chinnor 37 Coventry Rugby 45 - swing time at Kingsey Road as Chinnor lead Cov a merry dance
In the end, Cov deserved the win but they were pushed all the way by a Chinnor side that never gave up even when Cov had started to pull...
1874tsmith
Mar 30, 20259 min read
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Coventry Rugby 43 Cambridge 33 - seven try Cov flatter to deceive
They would be partially correct in saying it was entertaining, albeit possibly for the wrong reasons. Cov let Cambridge back into a game...
1874tsmith
Mar 23, 20258 min read
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Bedford Blues 27 Coventry Rugby 23 - when close just isn't good enough; U23 Academy v Oxford University Greyhounds
I look inside myself and see my heart is black I see my red door, I must have it painted black Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to...
1874tsmith
Jan 27, 20258 min read
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Coventry Rugby 24 Doncaster Knights 23: Cov hold on to secure much needed win - Coventry Academy prove far too strong for Hartpury
Following 3 straight losses and a series of disappointing displays even in victory, yesterday's win was a much-needed boost
1874tsmith
Jan 19, 20259 min read
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Nottingham Rugby 41 Coventry Rugby 26 - Archers on target as Coventry's frailties exposed again
All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces Bright and early for their daily races Going nowhere, going nowhere...
1874tsmith
Dec 29, 20249 min read
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