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



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
4 days ago8 min read


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 268 min read


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 199 min read


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 510 min read


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 188 min read


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 148 min read


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 58 min read


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 229 min read


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 139 min read


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 69 min read


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 309 min read


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 238 min read


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 278 min read


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 199 min read


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


Coventry Rugby 14 Hartpury 13 - Cov pushed all the way to earn the points with last gasp converted try
The waterfalls trinkling like bells to my ear The earth rolls out before me through smiles and tears A country lost, a soul discovered...
1874tsmith
Dec 8, 20247 min read


Ampthill 21 Coventry Rugby 27 - no walk in the park but Cov deservedly takes the spoils
Can't let this moment This moment slip away 'Cause things like this don't happen to us everyday So take this moment And put it in a...
1874tsmith
Dec 1, 20248 min read


Leicester Tigers 19 Coventry Rugby 33 - Tigers tamed by first half mauling as Cov stretch winning run to seven
We'll be back in the high life again All the doors I closed one time will open up again We'll be back in the high life again All the eyes...
1874tsmith
Nov 10, 20249 min read


Nottingham 15 Coventry Rugby 34 - Cov ease past Nottingham in final quarter as Opoku's good luck is Martin's misfortune
‘Cause baby, you’re a firework Come on, show ’em what you’re worth Make ’em go, “Oh, oh, oh” As you shoot across the sky Baby, you’re a...
1874tsmith
Nov 2, 20248 min read


Caldy RFC 15 Coventry Rugby 17 - mental toughness sees Coventry over the line
Rome was not built in a day Opposition will come your way But the hotter the battle you see Is the sweeter the victory now You can get it...
1874tsmith
Oct 20, 20249 min read
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