Ben Isaacs

Rule No 1: Always get the book in shot

@ThatChris1209 It’s such a weird one

Most interesting thing about the Russini thing is who paid to have the original pictures taken. Everything, angles and motivations, stems from that. I’m broadly uncomfortable with the way the whole saga’s been reported and managed

@PhilRugby @mathewjonesy So their issues with benefactors is that they won’t necessarily do as the WRU tells them

@mathewjonesy @tweetsfromben The words were "straw that broke the camel's back", as the two benefactor owned clubs then continued to refuse to sign PRA25 and threatened legal action, which one of the clubs followed through on

The “I want 4 teams & it’s up to the WRU to find a way to pay for it” brigade don’t seem to understand their argument doesn’t stop at 4 If they think the WRU can magic up enough money, why stop at 4? Why not 5? 8? Maybe 10? Because that’s how “magic money tree” thinking works

@tweetsfromben Home games to be played at Cardiff

A merger between the Ospreys and Scarlets would be a disaster. Every merger between local rivals in Welsh rugby has ended in failure

@mathewjonesy @PhilRugby Is your issue that WRU chose Y11 over the “Hollywood” bid?

@PhilRugby @tweetsfromben You have argued that Y11 have been interested in Cardiff for a long time, and been open about this behind closed doors. The WRU save Cardiff but need a buyer. They also have a plan (yet to be published) to reduce the number of teams. That’s my argument.

@mathewjonesy @PhilRugby Y11 have been making moves in the shadows for a long time

@PhilRugby @tweetsfromben Thank you for these. These are obviously speculation pieces (the second one is honestly not worth the screentime taken to read it). The first piece merely rules out Y11’s involvement, but i accept their speculated interest has been published (must have been a quiet week).

@mathewjonesy @PhilRugby I don't know what to tell you here. You might be the only person within WRT to not be aware of Y11's shenanigans trying to acquire Cardiff after Peter Thomas died but that just means I envy you

@PhilRugby @tweetsfromben I can’t find this information anywhere. It also seems absent from the mainstream punditry discourse (which is what most rely on). It doesn’t mean you’re wrong, but I can’t read about it. Are there any published sources that confirm Y11’s interest of Cardiff before the restructure

@mathewjonesy @PhilRugby The Y11 stuff has been talked about WIDELY for literally years. Not just their interest in Cardiff but also Ealing etc. They are not to be trusted at all. Whereas the “Hollywood” consortium were giving interviews about their interest a couple of months after the WRU took control

@tweetsfromben @PhilRugby Please share your source that details Y11’s immediate interest of Cardiff. Y11 was identified as an interested bidder in January 2026, 9 months after Cardiff went into administration. I’m happy to be proven wrong if you have a source to share.

@PhilRugby @mathewjonesy The widely reported cycle of events?

@tweetsfromben @mathewjonesy Be fair. Mathew may not have known about the full cycle of events.

@PhilRugby @mathewjonesy “Analysis”

@mathewjonesy @tweetsfromben Your timeline ignores the pre-pack, Mathew. Hence it is incorrect. The WRU "we can afford 4" was based on £41m from the club owners over 5 years. They refused this sum. You've also ignored Y11 wanting Cardiff before Helford. So much is missing from your analysis.

@HailMaryland Won’t be a new helmet logo because the W is already on the draft cap

This font doesn't scream "Commanders" to me. And that "Raise Hail" sounds like a corny Dan Quinn term. I'm cautiously optimistic about Wednesday though. I like the White and the Stars. Hopefully we finally establish an identity with this new uniform and potential logo!

@mathewjonesy @PhilRugby I honestly don’t know if your post was a parody if so sorry for not realising immediately

@mathewjonesy @PhilRugby So the Hollywood group and Y11 DIDN’T immediately approach WRU after Cardiff’s owners failed? The reports at the time were inaccurate? This is quite the scoop you have!

@NettThom @ospreylian3 What if the Ospreys lived on as a pro women’s team (potentially playing in English league) and/or a men’s team in SRC?

@ospreylian3 Sorry not for any form of merger as I’ve said on many occasion, no Ospreys then I walk away from all Welsh rugby

The WRU are keen to avoid a tender at all costs, sounds like if the Ospreys and Scarlets won’t merge then both clubs could go in June 2027 when the existing PRA expires and the WRU will set up their own West Wales region. I’d rather a merger than a plastic WRU owned region.

Amazing paragraph from this interview with a game collector in this month's @RetroGamer_Mag

@tweetsfromben You mean like Cardiff going bust - They merged with nobody.

“It would have been absolute box office.” Earlier this month, @AndyDaviesSport and @tweetsfromben ranked the top 10 Super Bowls we never had. In 4th, Ben looked at the possibility of a Joe Montana vs Steve Young Super Bowl. Just imagine the media coverage🤯 #49ers #Chiefs ⬇️

@PhilRugby @mathewjonesy If your car failed its MOT but someone wanted to pay your good money for it would you sell it or have it scrapped? (Also the person who wants to buy your car wants to replace one that they are happy to have scrapped)

@mathewjonesy I'd support that if there was nobody lined up to buy it, yes. But as there are buyers, which would mean income to the WRU, why should that be overlooked? And why should it be overlooked that Y11 prefer Cardiff to the Ospreys? Your theory is fine but it falls when reality hits

“It’s difficult to really explain how good it was.” Earlier this month, @AndyDaviesSport and @tweetsfromben ranked the top 10 Super Bowls we never had. In 5th, Ben looked at the missed opportunity for the number one defense to play the number one offense in Super Bowl 35. ⬇️

“I can’t co-sign that one, but it is funny.” Earlier this month, @AndyDaviesSport and @tweetsfromben ranked the top 10 Super Bowls we never had. In 6th, Andy looks at what could have been the funniest QB matchup in Super Bowl history…