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The relationship between Rory Lamont and rugby has always been uneasy. When it was good, it was really good: 29 Scotland caps, two World Cups, and stints in Europe's top leagues with Toulon, Sale and Glasgow.
When it was bad, it was really bad: whispering campaigns about his attitude, 16 operations, "double figure" concussions. By the time the game ran out of uses for him, the feeling was entirely mutual.
Three years ago this week, Lamont announced his retirement. The last of his many injuries, a lower leg fracture from the previous year, hadn't properly healed and the end came as a relief.
"I was thinking, 'finally it's over'. I felt like an animal being put out of its misery. I'd had a miserable year, people questioning my integrity, and I couldn't wait to crack on with my life and all the amazing things I was going to do."
Never did he picture becoming a recluse, battling severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Nowhere in the retirement brochure did it say he'd lose 25kg in four months and be unable to stomach solids for a further five. The bit about being so low he hoped he'd be run over by a bus? Not what he'd signed up for either.
Toulon (0) 21 / 29 (17) Sharks (Final Score)
Toulon and the Cell C Sharks did battle in a Super Rugby 2016 warm-up match at
Stade Mayol, Toulon, France at 21:45 SA Time (20:45 French Time, 19:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
The Cell C Sharks received a timely boost with confirmation that seasoned Springbok loose forward Keegan Daniel is returning to Durban.
Daniel, who has spent 2 seasons with Kubota in Japan, will be playing for the Sharks in the 2016 Super Rugby season.
With 199 caps for the Sharks, 59 of those as captain, he also led the team to Currie Cup glory in 2013.
Daniel, 30, played the last of his 5 Tests for the Springboks against Argentina at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, in August 2012.
Always a fierce competitor, he will bring strong leadership and experience to the team environment – which will greatly benefit the youngsters in the Sharks squad.
Saracens, Northampton, Exeter, Wasps and Leicester have joined 3 French teams in the European Rugby Champions Cup last 8.
Premiership title holders Sarries will host Saints, and Wasps will welcome Exeter to the Ricoh Arena.
Leicester face Stade Francais at home, having already played them twice in the pool stages, and Racing 92 will play reigning European champions Toulon.
It is the 1st time there is no Pro12 representation in the last 8 of the competition.
Sarries, Leicester and Racing 92 guaranteed themselves a home tie in the quarterfinals last weekend, while Wasps joined them after winning Pool 5 on Saturday, with 3-time defending champions and Toulon joining them as one of the best runners-up.
Stade Francais were confirmed as 1 of the 3 best runners-up after they beat the Tigers with a bonus point on Sunday, but the other 2 places went down to the wire.
Northampton's win over Scarlets on Saturday was enough to see them through as runners-up in Pool 3, and Exeter came through as winners of Pool 2 on points difference after beating Ospreys.
The Cell C Sharks' 5 missing international players — away in Japan completing their club duties — are expected back in Durban before the end of the month.
New vice-captain Marcell Coetzee, JP Pietersen, Namibian backrower Renaldo Bothma and new signings Willie le Roux and Jacques Potgieter will join the Sharks squad a week before they leave on their pre-season tour of France early in February.
A member of the Sharks management yesterday said that the squad to travel to France would be announced next week and a decision on whether the Japan-based players would be included for the 2 friendlies has still to be made.
The Sharks will play 2-time European champs Toulon on Friday 5 February, before taking on Toulouse 6 days later.
New Cell C Sharks captain Pat Lambie said that it was likely that all the tour members would be given an airing during the 2 games but added that taking on the 2 Top 14 French clubs would be a major challenge.
Head coach Gary Gold said he wanted tough opposition for his young charges ahead of a fresh season.
Leinster prop Cian Healy has been banned for 2 weeks for dangerous play during last weekend's European Champions Cup game against Toulon.
The 28-year-old Ireland international was charged with striking Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado with his knee during the 24-9 defeat in France.
The striking charge was found to be not proven but the incident was deemed to be foul play.
Healy misses the return fixture against Toulon and a Pro12 match with Munster.
Although there were no aggravating factors, judicial officer Roger Morris said the ban could not be reduced because Healy does not have a clean disciplinary record.
Unpaid player wages continue to mar the cash-strapped Eastern Province Rugby Union.
The union is facing a deadline from the South African Rugby Players Association (SARPA) to make player payments by Tuesday.
After problems over payments arose again at the end of October, SARPA issued a written 10-day notice for the Kings to pay outstanding salaries or face action against them.
The cash-strapped union was unable to pay players for several months earlier in the season after a lucrative sponsorship deal failed to materialise.
The union's president Cheeky Watson reportedly travelled abroad, where he was believed to be looking into delays over a long-touted new sponsorship.
The men from Port Elizabeth had a torrid Currie Cup season, winning only 2 matches to finish 2nd from bottom on the overall Log.
They will also compete as the 6th South African franchise in an expanded Super Rugby season from next season.
The Cell C Sharks will travel to France in February 2016, on a pre-season tour ahead of the start of their Super Rugby 2016 campaign.
There are 2 games lined-up for the tour, with a visit to Stade Mayol 1st up to take on 2-time European champs Toulon on Friday 5 February before they face Toulouse on Thursday 11 February.
The Sharks believe that these matches against 2 of the best European clubs in recent times, marks an ideal opportunity to fine tune their preparation for Super Rugby.
Australian flyhalf Quade Cooper reported for duty at European champions Toulon on Tuesday, having negotiated a special contract clause so he can play in the Olympics next year.
The 27-year-old flyhalf apologised to Toulon fans for the extended negotiations that even last week appeared compromised because of doubts about his international future.
"It has been a drawn-out process and I apologise for that," Cooper told a press conference alongside Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal.
Australia's selection rules only allow foreign-based players to be chosen if they have 60 caps. Cooper has 58 but made only 1 Rugby World Cup appearance because of the hot form of Bernard Foley.
Cooper said the 1st version of his Toulon contract did not mention being freed for national games, but it was renegotiated. Boudjellal said, and "if he is called he will be immediately freed."
Cooper said the talks with Boudjellal had focused on allowing him to go to the Olympics in Rio next August when Sevens rugby will be played for the 1st time.
Former Australian international prop Salesi Ma'afu could face jail after French prosecutors on Tuesday requested an 8-month prison sentence and a € 1 500.00 fine for an alleged assault.
The 32-year-old Toulon player, capped 14 times, is believed to have been involved in a heated argument over a parking place on 16 August and to have hit someone who attempted to intervene.
Ma'afu has not sparkled in pre-season friendlies since he joined the 3-time European champions from English side Northampton, and only came on for the last half hour of the opening day defeat to Racing-Metro.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has denied any wrongdoing on the part of the club or players with regard to allegations surrounding a criminal investigation.
Reports in French media have stated that pharmacists illegally distributed products to the French Top 14 club's players.
Prosecutors in Marseille confirmed on Tuesday that they have launched an investigation into the practices of a number of pharmacies in Toulon following a notification from AFDL, France's anti-doping authority.
However, Boudjellal has held a press conference to rubbish the reports.
Australian international prop Salesi Ma'afu is in custody over an alleged assault, a police source said on Monday.
The 32-year-old Toulon player, capped 14 times by the Wallabies, is believed to have been involved in a heated argument over a parking place on 16 August and is reported to have hit someone who attempted to intervene.
Ma'afu has not sparkled in pre-season friendlies since he joined the 3-time European champions from English side Northampton, and only came on for the last half hour of the opening day 22 / 27 defeat to Racing-Metro on Friday.
Springbok utility back Frans Steyn is set to join Montpellier in the French Top 14 and reunite with his World Cup winning coach Jake White.
Steyn is one of many recruits from South Africa and Australia in a completely revamped Montpellier outfit under the guidance of coach White.
White, who had coaching roles at the Sharks and Brumbies as well as the South African national side, has confirmed 20 new signings for Montpellier – with a number of them from places where he used to ply his trade.
The 28-year-old Steyn is no foreigner to France having had a spell at Racing Metro from 2009 – 2012.
His versatility at flyhalf, centre and fullback should be particularly useful to Montpellier, given the many departures announced this off-season for the French club.
The French scene is notorious for big-money signings a look is taken into the major comings and goings in the Top 14 for the season ahead.
European champions Toulon of France and Super Rugby winners the Highlanders of New Zealand are hoping to face-off in Hong Kong on 6 February.
The 1-off fixture brings together triple European champions Toulon with the Highlanders, who landed their 1st Super Rugby title this month.
"Toulon and the Highlanders have sent off a request for agreement from their respective federations," Philippe Spanghero, a spokesman for the organisers, told AFP.
"When that's obtained we'll put together a proposal to World Rugby to get all the required authorisation," he added.
The latest instalment in the Quade Cooper transfer saga has been an exchange of words between the Toulon boss and the Australian coach.
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal launched a relatively tasteless tirade against the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and its prized asset Quade Cooper, whom he threatened would end up as "the 2nd most indebted State after Greece".
The eccentric Frenchman said that the 150 000 Euros that has been mooted as Cooper's buyout of his contract was in fact for the promise of a contract – Boudjellal claims that Cooper has actually put pen to paper, which would make that void and has allegedly threatened legal action if Cooper does not show up for his medical soon.
Boudjellal told Midi Olympique: "The moron of the Australian federation who does not understand the case needs to know that the promise of employment is no longer the question."
Reports suggest that Wallaby star Quade Cooper has pulled out of a big-money move to France.
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is set to confirm the Wallabies playmaker has signed a 4-year deal to remain in the country, opting out of his lucrative contract with glamour French club Toulon, Fairfax Media reported.
The media outlet said an announcement was expected to be made on Monday, confirming Cooper's re-signing with the ARU, after his Reds team severed ties with him last month amid acrimonious contractual negotiations.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika gave nothing away to reporters on Sunday following his team's last-gasp 24 / 20 win over South Africa in The Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane the previous night.
But Cheika has reportedly been a significant figure in the ARU's talks with Cooper and his management and has repeatedly underlined the importance of keeping the skilful flyhalf in Australia.
Queensland Rugby Union has advised Quade Cooper that they are withdrawing their contract offer and will not attempt to retain him for the 2016 season and beyond.
It is understood that when Cooper travelled overseas in April he signed a pre-commitment to join French side Toulon at the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. However, he had previously – and then continued to – demonstrate a genuineness on wanting to remain with the Reds and the Wallabies.
Since that time, his management has been in negotiation with QRU and Australian Rugby Union (ARU). However, due to events over the last few weeks, QRU CEO Jim Carmichael said the organisation was no longer willing to participate in what has been an ongoing process with Cooper's management.
DHL Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen met with Director of Rugby Gert Smal on Monday morning, to sort out the events that transpired in France last week.
Vermeulen visited French Top 14 club Toulon late last week and was unveiled to the local media as their new signing – a move which certainly caught Western Province Rugby by surprise.
DHL Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen has not improved significantly enough to feature in the 1st Round of Super Rugby playoffs.
The Stormers host the Brumbies at DHL Newlands on Saturday and the burly Springbok will not be considered.
Should the Stormers beat the Brumbies at Newlands, they would travel to Sydney to face the Waratahs in the semifinals.
Vermeulen, who has missed the Stormers' last 2 games with a bulging neck disc that at one stage threatened his World Cup prospects, is making "good progress" on the road to recovery.
However, coach Allister Coetzee said that the improvement is "not enough" for this week.
"Hopefully, going forward, there is still an opportunity for him," Coetzee told a media scrum at the team's training base.
Even with the Top 14 Final looming, the French media rumour mill has gone into overdrive about Southern Hemisphere players heading north for the next season.
Waratahs superstar Israel Folau is the latest Wallaby linked to a move to cash-flush French club Toulon.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal, who has never been scared to wield his substantial cheque book to lure big names to Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, has already made substantial acquisitions for the 2015 / 2016 season.
According to the French sporting newspaper Midi Olympique Boudjellal and his people are already speaking to Folau.
If the 2-time European champions convince the Wallaby fullback to head to France after the World Cup, in England in September and October, he will join a long list of high-profile recruits.
Already said to be heading to Toulon for the new season are Ma'a Nonu (from the Hurricanes), Jonathan Pélissié (from Montpellier), France Thibault (from Oyonnax), Salesi Ma'afu (from Northampton Saints), Samu Manoa (from Northampton Saints), Mohamed Boughanmi (from Béziers), Julien Caminati (from France Grenoble), Quade Cooper (or so they claim, from the Reds), James O'Connor (another unconfirmed arrival – from the Reds), Charles Ollivon (from Bayonne), Anthony Etrillard (from Bayonne) and Paul O'Connell (from Munster).
Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal took aim at the Stade Bordeaux spectators for showing "disrespect" to 1 of the game's greatest players.
Stade Français stunned triple European champions Toulon 33 / 16 last Friday to reach the French Top 14 Final.
Led by the irrepressible Italian back row forward Sergio Parisse, Stade scored tries through flanks Rapahel Lakafia and Antoine Bourban, before a freak late score from wing Julien Arias gave a flattering skew to the final score – as they reached their 1st Final since defeating Clermont 23 / 18 in 2007.
It was a sad end for a number of veteran stalwarts, whose club careers ended with this defeat – including South Africa's Bakkies Botha, along with Ali Williams and Carl Hayman of New Zealand.
Outgoing Toulon coach Bernard Laporte took aim at the players, for a lack of commitment, but the club President, Boudjellal, turned anger on the spectators.
Duane Vermeulen's reported move to France appears all the more likely after the Springbok and Stormers No 8 rejected a contract offer from the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
Vermeulen would have been the highest earning Springbok had he accepted SARU's offer.
His decision to reject the offer from SARU adds fire to reports earlier this year that linked him with a move to French club Toulon.
Big-spending French giants Toulon are finding the going tough in luring Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth to France after this year's Rugby World Cup.
Reports late last year indicated that Etzebeth could join Toulon as a replacement for compatriot Bakkies Botha, who is set to leave the reigning European champions.
The problem though for Toulon is that Etzebeth is still contracted to Western Province until the end of the 2016 season – and the union is reluctant to let him go.
Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal has confirmed their interest in Etzebeth, but admitted that they are finding the going tough to attain Etzebeth's services, with Western Province believed to be upset over the matter.
With Quade Cooper almost certain to honour his agreement with Toulon, Reds coach Richard Graham has revealed the Australian team may seek a new flyhalf from abroad.
Toulon, showing a picture of the Wallaby flyhalf wearing a Toulon jersey and shaking the hand of club president Mourad Boudjellal, only for the Australian and Queensland Rugby Unions to insist they were still in negotiations with the player and nothing was set in stone.
But according to weekend reports, Cooper will indeed be joining the French club after this year's World Cup, with the deal to be formalised in public within the next fortnight.
On Monday, Graham was sticking to the official line that Cooper's future in Brisbane was still uncertain but admitted that the club were exploring options for his replacement, including the possibility of bringing in a foreigner.
The Reds believe the Australian Rugby Union's revised contracting system could convince star playmaker Quade Cooper to remain in Brisbane.
Cooper's future remains a hot topic of conversation, following the announcement by Toulon than the 53-Test veteran had signed a 2-year contract with the French club.
Cooper, the Reds and the ARU vehemently denied his departure is a done deal – accusing the Top 14 club of jumping the gun.
It is now reported that Cooper has been offered a 4-year flexible contract by the ARU, which will allow him to play in Japan during the off-season and return for Super Rugby to remain eligible for the Wallabies.
Reds coach Richard Graham, addressing a media scrum in Brisbane on Monday, said they remain optimistic that Cooper will not take up the Toulon offer.
Australian wing Drew Mitchell's brilliant late try ensured Toulon became the 1st club to win 3 successive Premier European titles as they beat French rivals Clermont 24 / 18 in a thrilling European Rugby Champions Cup final at Twickenham.
Clermont were 11 / 3 up midway through the 1st half, yet turned round at the break with Toulon leading 16 / 11 – after Leigh Halfpenny's remorseless boot and a converted try by Mathieu Bastareaud saw the champions into the lead.
But Nick Abendanon's converted try for Clermont just after the hour cut Toulon's lead to a point only, only for Drew Mitchell to have the last word.
Toulon and Wales fullback Halfpenny punished Clermont's indiscipline with 4 penalties and also kicked a conversion in a 14-point haul.
Matt Giteau said he would love to return to Twickenham with the Wallabies at this year's World Cup after guiding Toulon to a 3rd straight European title.
Giteau was at flyhalf in an all-star international backline featuring Wales's Leigh Halfpenny and South Africa's Bryan Habana as Toulon beat French rivals Clermont 24 / 18 in the European Rugby Chamions Cup Final at Twickenham on Saturday.
Having made his Test debut as a 20-year-old at Twickenham back in 2002, Giteau effectively called time on his 92-cap Australia career when he signed for Toulon after failing to be included in the Wallabies' squad for the 2011 World Cup.
But he was given a route back into the international arena when the Australia Rugby Union announced last month it was relaxing its hardline stance barring overseas-based players from representing the Wallabies.
"I signed over here knowing I wouldn't play Test rugby again," said Giteau after Saturday's match. "Now the rules have changed, it's a possibility. I had no idea it was coming, but I'm happy it has.
"It's very exciting for Australian rugby that they've changed that (the eligibility rules). For me in particular, it doesn't change a great deal until I'm contacted."
He will soon return home to South Africa to focus on his family and his livestock farm, but life after rugby can wait a few more weeks. Bakkies Botha wants to go out in a blaze of glory with Toulon.
With a Rugby World Cup triumph in 2007, 3 Super Rugby championships with the Bulls and 2 European titles with Toulon, not to mention Tri-Nations, Currie Cup and Top 14 honours – few can match the Springbok 2nd row enforcer's illustrious achievements.
But in the twilight of his career and savouring the prospect ahead of the "calmness of the bush", Botha, perhaps befitting a deeply religious man, prefers to focus on the team, rather than his individual contribution.
Toulon, the Mediterranean port city he has called home since 2011, hope to be crowned kings of Europe for a 3rd successive year when they take on French rivals Clermont in the European Rugby Champions Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday.
"I'm really happy that I came to Europe to test myself in this league and I want to end my career hopefully making it into 2 finals (Champions Cup and Top 14)," said the 36-year-old lock.
Toulon's Australian star back Matt Giteau admits rivals Clermont are the favourites for the all-French European Champions Cup Final on Saturday, but he adds the 2-time defending champions won't give up their crown easily.
The 32-year-old said Clermont deserved to be favourites because they were the best side this season – both in Europe and domestically – in what is a rematch of the 2013 Final, which Toulon won.
"Clermont are a wonderful team," said Giteau, whose form looks set to earn him a recall to the Australian national side after the Australian Rugby Union relaxed its rules on players playing abroad.
"For me, they are even the best team this year," continued Giteau, who if he stays fit is likely to reach the 100 cap mark later in the year as he was just 8 short when he was surprisingly dropped for the 2011 World Cup and subsequently moved to Toulon.
The battle for the inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday won't just be a European affair, but a truly global occasion.
Between them the 2 finalists, RC Toulon and ASM Clermont Auvergne, boast an amazing 52 international players from 13 different countries.
Between them the 2 32-man squads have 1,838 Test caps.
Leading the way are the back-to-back champions, RC Toulon, with a massive 1,189, including 100-plus cappers in Bryan Habana and Martin Castrogiovanni.
Clermont, who lost to their Top 14 rivals in the 2013 Final in Dublin, have 649.
Toulon have quashed rumours that they have signed Irish captain Paul O'Connell, but it is believed that the Reds & Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper has made the move.
It was reported that the French giants were chasing another Galácticos signing for the second row, with current legends Bakkies Botha and Ali WIlliams set to retire at the end of the season.
O'Connell's contract with the IRFU expires in June of 2016, but it was speculated that Toulon were eager for him to be released from his contract to join them after the World Cup.
Since then, a strong statement has been released insisting 'any alleged contacts between the player and the french club are pure speculation'.
Meanwhile, French paper L'Equipe has said that Toulon have captured the signature of the mercurial Cooper on a 2-year deal.
Cooper, if reports are to be believed, would join a burgeoning Australian contingent at Toulon with Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell already there.
Toulon have already brought in All Black Ma'a Nonu ahead of next season with Samu Manoa, Salesi Ma'afu and Napolioni Nalaga also joining the reigning European champions.
2 Time defending champions Toulon will bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of European titles against Clermont after beating Leinster 25 / 20 following extra-time in Sunday's Champions Cup semi-final.
Toulon's Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny kicked 6 penalties and converted a Bryan Habana interception try for a personal haul of 20 points in an ultimately thrilling match that went to extra-time after finishing 12 / 12 after regulation time.
Leinster had Ian Madigan to thank for 5 penalties, while Sean O'Brien scored a late try that made for a nerve-racking climax.
Turnovers, ruck penalties and handling errors saw out a tight if uninspiring, pressure-laden 1st-half during which Toulon failed to convert their territorial domination into points.
The European Rugby Champions Cup semifinals takes place this weekend.
On Saturday, Clermont Auvergne host Saracens at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne at 16:15 French Time (15:15 BST, 14:15 GMT).
On Sunday, Toulon host Leinster at Stade Felix-Mayol, Toulon at 16:15 French Time (15:15 BST, 14:15 GMT).
Clemont Auvergne vs Saracens:
Saracens knocked Clermont Auvergne for 6 at the European Cup semifinal stage last season, will it be repeat or redemption this time around?
The 46 / 6 triumph booked McCall's men a place in last seasons' Millennium Stadium finale against Toulon. They set new semifinal records for the most points scored by a team (46), the largest winning margin (40) and the most tries scored (6). Surely lightning cannot strike twice between the Pool 1 rivals, who each scored a victory over each other in the early Rounds.
Saracens have their defensive leader, Brad Barritt, back in the side after a knee injury kept him out of action for a month. England playmaker Owen Farrell crossed for 1 of Saracens' 6 tries last year and is set to make an impact off the bench after he was sidelined for 3 months in the last meeting between the pair.
A bumper weekend of European cup action saw the semifinalists for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup decided across 3 days.
After an enthralling set of games on Sunday, we now know that Clermont will play Saracens in Saint-Etienne, while Toulon will face Leinster in Marseille in what are set to be 2 titanic battles.
Champions Toulon remain in the hunt for what would be a 3rd successive European title. No side has ever achieved that before but Toulon unquestionably have the players to do so.
They were too smart and too strong for a stubborn Wasps outfit at the Stade Mayol on Sunday, winning with Juan Smith and Bryan Habana watching on from the stands due to injuries. Both are expected however to be in contention for the semifinals.
Bakkies Botha did start in the second row as Toulon won 14 out of 15 lineouts, contributing to their success. Another trophy or 2 for the cabinet remain on the horizon for the Springbok legend ahead of his retirement. Michael Claassens was on the bench.
Defeat for Wasps of course also meant defeat for Ashley Johnson, as the former Cheetahs back rower's side fell short despite a late rally in the 2nd half. Twice European champions in the past, Wasps are certainly on the up again.
Toulon will face Leinster in the semifinals after Zane Kirchner's side knocked out Francois Louw's Bath in Dublin. The former Bulls back was called from the bench early on at the Aviva Stadium and nearly scored a try in the corner not long after his arrival.
With 3 of the 4 quarterfinals taking place on french soil, and all 3 of those against English opposition it could feel somewhat like the Hundred year war for the Premiership sides.
In the only non Anglo-French encounter, Bath travel to Leinster while the remaining fixtures sees Clermont Auvergne take on Premiership table-toppers Northampton Saints, Racing Metro will play last year's finalists Saracens, and finally champions Toulon will face Wasps.
The record books show that in 72 quarterfinal encounters in Europe's top flight, 54 have been won by the home club – a staggering 75% success rate for those sides on home soil.
Premiership clubs make up half the Champions Cup quarterfinalists, although all have to play away from home.
English teams have a 20% success rate away from home in the tournament, winning only 4 times in 20 quarterfinal games to date.
For the 9 away matches against French opposition, the success rate is as low as 11%, with only 1 win – Northampton Saints' 7 / 6 victory over Biarritz Olympique in San Sebastian in 2007.
The only other English away victories in the last 8 have been Leicester Tigers over Leinster Rugby at Lansdowne Road in 2005, Bath at Leicester in 2006 and Saracens against Ulster at Kingspan Stadium last season.
The 3 French clubs in the Champions Cup quarterfinals have never lost at home in the last 8 of Europe's top flight.
Toulon and Clermont have won home quarterfinals in the past 2 seasons, while Racing Metro have reached the knockout stage for the 1st time in their history.
The odds are definitely stacked against the English clubs, but that does not mean that any of the French teams will take them lightly.


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Tea at The Ritz and the Victoria & Albert Museum
Posted by Edelweiss Patterns on September 19, 2013
Hello, Ladies!
I've been absent from the blog for a few days simply because I've been seeing so many new places, but I just had to post some pictures of what I did today! To begin with, our costume study group made the short journey from our hotel to the Victoria & Albert Museum, which is quite possibly one of the grandest places on planet earth. This museum has the most exquisite collection of costumes from various centuries, and I was so thrilled to see the sumptuous evening gowns and afternoon dresses which were on display there! Here are just a few of the finest gowns we saw:
After meandering through this glorious array of day dresses and evening gowns, I headed to The Ritz for afternoon tea, which (when taken at The Ritz), is quite a sumptuous affair! The Ritz is the place to have tea in London, and all the reports I'd heard of its grandeur had not been exaggerated in the slightest. This gorgeous place is filled with marble pillars, crystal chandeliers, and oversized sprays of flowers. I wore a newly-made 1950s dress (one I finished just in time for this trip), along with a lavender lace bolero I sewed for the occasion.
So that was my day today, and now it's time to get to bed so I have energy for Kensington Palace tomorrow, where we will be studying gowns worn by Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Princess Diana.
Until next time, happy sewing!

subset: commoncrawl


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School closure information related to the Etiwanda Fire:
— Alta Loma School District: Baynan Elementary School is closed.
— Central School District: All schools in regular session.
— Cucamonga School District: All schools in regular session.
— Chaffey Joint Union High School District: Los Osos, Etiwanda, Rancho Cucamonga and Alta Loma high schools are closed.
— Etiwanda School District: Day Creek Intermediate, Caryn Elementary and Golden Elementary schools are closed.
— Chaffey College: Rancho Cucamonga campus is closed.


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February 18, 2014 •
Politics, Pondering Life •
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There's been no shortage of outrage over the IOC awarding the 2014 Olympic games to a country with such blatant disregard for human rights as Russia. I concur. Russia should never have been given the games. Today's unlawful...
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Clue: Seedy dwelling
We have 1 possible answer for the clue Seedy dwelling which appears 3 times in our database.
Possible Answers:
Related Clues:
- Ignoble digs
- Dirty digs
- Small, nasty home
- $500 apartment near the Loop, probably
- Lowly digs
- Not a great place to live
- *Seedy hotel room
- Deserter's retreat?
- Rodent entrance
- Evidence of vermin in part closing wings of alert hospital
- Sign of infestation at top of house, in part
- Cramped quarters upset her a lot
- Price for a short holiday in vermin-infested accommodation
- Small room pretty inadequate -- look around inside it
- Squalid room upset her a lot


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Perhaps, hopefully it'll sought itself out. Thanks for you time and effort regardless. Hopefully he'll be ok, will post some updates on his condition in the future.
Thank you!
Hopefully these help!
Thanks for your replies, she's just getting some more pics as i type. Don't think its Ragwort as that's a known no no around horses as you say, so she reckons she'd regonize it if that were the case. Will post another pic shortly.
Hey, a friend of mine's pony has recently digested a plant which we've been unable to identify so far and the pony appears to have suffered a bad reaction to said plant, if anyone could identify the said plant you'd be a big help, thanks in advance!


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Flash has performance issue and flash spins can easily be made .. the SDK one just isnt supported by logic and your fails miserably.
And lets also be honest and stop bashing for the sake of bashing by understanding that this is, and always has been Apple's model - tight control over the user experience - and it has served them well. While they don't have the biggest market share they certainly have extremely loyal followers and consistently high approval ratings, and they have achieved that through UI consistency. This has been the way with MacOS so why should they change their model for the iDevices because "you + a few" want them to?
That logic and argument are very sound when you look at it from the perspective of Apple's business model. I regularly see people labelled as Apple Zealots or Fanboys and talk about the RDF created by Jobs just because people have a positive view of Apple, but if you stand back and look at Apple logically as a corporation, taking away your pre-conceived notions and ingrained hatred of them (in other words your own RDF), you'll see that they consistently follow a pattern that has made them one of the most recognised brands in the world with over 30 billion in the bank and a very loyal customer base. The majority of users use Apple stuff because they want to, not because they have no other choice, unlike other competing products. And you don't have to like that pattern, it's a free world (for the moment) and nobody's forcing you to use their products.
But for them it's not a bad position to be in, so what makes you think they should or would change it because a few geeks don't like it?
yes, apple has a tight control over their products and it has served them well, i see no reason why they should change and i do not see how you though this is what i was saying. My complain is not with apple's business model, my complain is with apple follower's willingness to act like a a free extension of apple PR arm.
If you think apple like tight control and you are happy with it, why not simply say so?
Apple doesnt like flash. The reason given initially for why it was not allowed was because it was a memory hog and apple fanboy took this explanation and run with it. Adobe made flash compile to native code and the problem now with flash is with its cross platform nature and the fanboys are running with this explanation too. Why not just say "its a runtime control issue"? why can debate what purpose this control serves but we can atleast agree it is primarily a control issue and all other explanation are spins.
I do not have an ingrained hatred of apple..every company has a PR arm, apple's arm seem to extend to their customers and i was drawing attention to this extension, why you though i was attacking apple and its successful business model is beyond me.


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our souls are as hollow.
8 comments:
- Amanda said...
yeah these make me melt...i first saw these on KOS, and can't even fathom owning them. i feel the hollow soul thing- it's like want want want but it's about things that make you happy. we live in a material world and that's just how it is. did you get these?? sold out already...crazy
- August 1, 2009 at 10:24 PM
- dirtyflaws said...
i completely agree.
and no, i didnt get them :( its probably a good thing i found them when they were sold out...i have a feeling i just might have if they weren't.
- August 2, 2009 at 7:38 AM
- Miriam said...
ohhh were can i find these???
- August 2, 2009 at 9:23 AM
- dirtyflaws said...
oaknyc.com xx
- August 2, 2009 at 9:30 AM
- Blaike Alexandra said...
hahaha amazing name choice!
- August 2, 2009 at 11:05 AM
- Dana Davis said...
Oh my! I must own these. pure perfection.
- August 2, 2009 at 2:16 PM
- Wends said...
o my goodness!
these are better than those repetto ones, i couldn't help stroking THEM...
- August 3, 2009 at 6:02 AM
- La Garçonne Noir said...
I think we should start a support group.
Good luck to you and your credit cards.
- August 10, 2009 at 3:53 AM


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Skip to comments.How to Fix Voter Fraud and the Media
Posted on 11/20/2012 6:54:40 PM PST by rightjb
Continued at: Why Conservatives May Never Win Another Election
(Excerpt) Read more at politijim.com ...
Voter ID will fix (for the most part) voter fraud. Only economic pressure of the MSM can change anything. Better to stick to getting voter IDs required.
I trust they are marxist politicians and "journalists" lined up against that wall.
Just saw this, started reading it, thought it might interest you. I haven't finished it yet.
The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;
The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;
The person having the greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. ; But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.
The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.
Ping for later.
What seems to have caused you to excerpt your own material?
The article makes perfect sense.
Until the election process is cleaned up, you can elect all the Rubios (or any other 'ideal' candidate, eligible or not) you want, the obamas will always COUNT enough votes to defeat you.
After they have stolen the election, you can cry foul all you want, no one WITH the power will do anything to help you who cry foul afterwards.
The real problem with media bias is the major Universities that teach journalism. I don't know if they get public funding from the Government but if they do the Republicans in Congress need to try and stop it. We can't be aiding the abettors.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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|Oracle FAQ
|Your Portal to the Oracle Knowledge Grid
Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> RE: Getting a Clob into a Long
The original question was about taking the value in a LOB column and putting it in a LONG. If the value is more than 32K in size, there is no way to do that using PL/SQL or SQL in Oracle. A program will need to be written using OCI calls (or an interface to OCI calls - which I presume is what Perl does) or Pro*C or another similar language.
It is possible in PL/SQL to RETRIEVE all the data in a LONG column, even if the data is more than 32K, but it is not possible to INSERT into a LONG column when the data is more than 32K.
-----Original Message-----
Jared Still
Ah well, it can be done directly with 100% PL/SQL.
You just need to convert the long via the to_log() function.
It does require that you use a global temporary table as an intermediary, but it can be done. =20
I'm citing from memory, so you best look at the to_lob() function in the SQL reference manual.
Of course, you could do it with Perl and DBI. It would=20 be quite a bit easier than PL/SQL, as it avoids the=20 intermediary table.
On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 18:16:28 -0400, Bobak, Mark
>=20 >=20
-- http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-lReceived on Tue Oct 19 2004 - 19:22:40 CDT
Original text of this message


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Latest posts by techwriter (see all)
- 15 Questions to Ask After You Finish a Technical Document Project - February 12, 2018
- THY's Perfect Information Design - February 9, 2018
- Waterfall vs. Agile Models in Technical Documentation - February 7, 2018
"Unparallel Construction" is the bane of commercial copy.
Sentences, and sometimes whole paragraphs of copy, lose their direction and fail to communicate their core message if they are composed with unparallel components.
Here is a current example.
As I was driving this morning I heard the following radio commercial:
First sound clip — a pizza shop, taking orders over the phone. The customer keeps adding ingredients to his order… "pepperoni, extra cheese, anchovies, onions, mushrooms, …"
A lively sound clip with good actors. Pleasant to listen to.
Second clip – we switch to the anchor, who explains to us that there are TWO types of people in the world: those who order pizzas loaded up with multiple toppings like the customer we've just heard, and… those who would not put a slice of pizza into their mouths no matter what.
So far so good. We clearly understand the initial set up. TWO types of people – the pizza lovers versus pizza haters.
Okay. We are already wondering if this is some sort of pizza commercial…
But then comes the Grand Disconnect, thanks to the obviously faulty and unparallel construction of the whole copy.
We are next told that, SIMILARLY (?), there are also TWO types of HEARTBURN! And such-and-such brand of over-the-counter anti-acid medication takes care even the worst of them!
Hello?! "Two types"?
WHAT two types of heartburn? Since the whole analogy is based on the conceptual parallel established with the previous dichotomy (pizza lover vs. pizza haters) the intended parallelism breaks down.
Yes, people who order their pizzas with massive toppings may and do get a heartburn. We know that.
But why should the other group have heartburn as well if they are not eating pizza at all? It just doesn't make any sense.
Those two dichotomies are not parallel at all since the former cannot cause the latter.
That's why this commercial confuses the listeners rather than make an easy and obvious point.
All throughout the commercial I found myself wondering why people who avoid pizza at all cost do get a heartburn JUST LIKE (?) the hard-core pizza lovers.
The first set-up intro of the commercial is totally wasted.
Instead, the commercial could again start with that great opening sound clip of a worker taking a pizza order with mega toppings, but then would immediately switch to the PROBLEM created by that order: a massive heartburn.
SOLUTION? Our wonderful anti-acid medication of course. Okay, it's a bit boring. There is no great punch line there, I admit. But at least it makes sense and does not confuse the listener.
By setting up this Rubic Cube of unparallel dichotomies, the commercial really bites more than it can chew and listeners are the ones who get a heartburn while listening to it and trying to decipher the enigma thrown at them.
It's great for exercising your brain while driving on the road. But probably it's not very good for selling a whole lot of anti-acid pills.


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Welcome to Breakthrough Graphics!
Your local Colorado Springs small business for Graphic Design and Web Design!
Your source for:
Breakthrough Graphics specializes in all levels of marketing. We offer Logo Development, Business Cards, Brochures, Postcards, Door Hangers, Vinyl Banners, Powerful CMS Website Design and Maintenance Programs, Direct Mail Services, Magazine and Newspaper Ad Builds, Full Magazine Production, Email Campaigns, and so much more. Let us be your "one stop shop" in creating that perfect look for your company and keeping that look throughout all levels of your marketing. Please enjoy this website and contact us with any questions you may have. We look forward to meeting and working with you.


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If you are eager to create a bracelet made with paracord, this is the perfect place for you to see in detail the paracord bracelet instructions. As you know the paracord material is a very durable cord that can hold an object that weighs up to 550 lb. Wouldn't it be great to have a bracelet not only decorative but also for survival purposes. Our goal in this article is to learn how to make a paracord bracelet.
Before you even buy paracord bracelet products, it is great to see this step by step guide to create a paracord bracelet with a side release buckle. If you do this in a bigger dimension you can use this also as a dog or cat collar. This tutorial will also show you where you can get the paracord knots materials like what kind of rope, side release buckles, etc. In addition you will also discover lots of paracord projects, links and references that are paracord related.
You need these materials: paracord 1/8″ diameter cord, ruler or tape measure, scissors, side release buckle and a lighter. You can have different size of paracord rope but for this instructions we will use 10 feet of paracord rope to begin with so that is about 10 inch of bracelet. This is how you calculate it. An inch of knotted bracelet is one foot of cord.
Check this great detailed step by step paracord bracelet instructions at Instructables.com created by Stormdrane.
Video created by tovamos816
2 Responses to "Paracord Bracelet Instructions"
I really need to make one of those jigs. My hands start cramping up after about 20 minutes


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I first heard the song "A Change in my life" in the movie "Leap of Faith" starring Steve Martin who played the role of "Jonas Nightingale," a fraudulent "Christian" faith healer whose story is somehow taken from the a page of every modern day televangelist whose money making ministries bears a striking similarity to the fictional Jonas Nightingale. Sadly, I didn't get to watch the movie in HDTV.
Well as much as I am tempted to write a stinging commentary regarding these modern day prophet of profits, I will reserve that for another post, for now I will just talk about the song "A Change in my life"
By the way if you haven't watched "Leap of Faith" click here to get it at my Guerilla blogger eStore.
In the movie, the song "A change in my life" was sung by "The Angels of mercy" which in my opinion did a great job in singing the song as well as other songs. I don't know if there is a real singing group "Angels of mercy," but they did a fantastic job as Jonas Nightingale's choir.
"A change in my life" is composed for the singing acapella group "Rockapella" who by the way has other excellent acapella songs, which I will feature later on. You could get some Rockapella albums at my Guerilla blogger estore.
I've searched far and wide for the song and who would expect that I would find it in youtube ? I've always loved acapella and I was fascinated by the song.
I don't know of the composer of the song is a Christian but the lyrics convey a Gospel message. The lyrics of "A Change in my life" are as follows:
I – Standing cold and scared on top of blue hill,
There came one moment, when I lost my will.
I prayed for mercy, please lord take me away.
Oh give me sunshine where I only see grey.
My past had a hold on me, it can't be denied,
And the changes don't come easily.
Chorus: I've been lonely, I've been cheated,
I've been misunderstood
I've been washed up, I've been put down,
And told I'm no good
But with you I belong,
Cause you help me be strong,
There's a change in my life,
Since you came along.
II – Now I don't mind working so hard every day.
And I don't pay no mind to what people say.
'Cause after all the pain I've been through
Lord knows I'd give up everything
Just to love only you
All my life I'd held my head bent in shame,
But now I've found you, and with you
I'll remain, Lord knows.
Repeat Chorus
A man gets crazy when his life is all wrong,
And a heart gets weary when it doesn't belong.
When the road gets rocky Lord
You've got to keep on.
Let the new light come shining on through.
If you still haven't heard the song "A Change in my life", check out the youtube video below for a clip from the movie "Leap of faith"
For a complete version of "A Change in my life" as sung by Rockapella click on the youtube video below:


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Evaluation is methodologically diverse using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including case studies, survey research, statistical analysis and model building among other.
Dr. Rosita Santos cited Stufflebeam (1983) who developed a very useful approach in educational evaluation known as the CIPP or Context, Input, Process, Product approach (although this model has since then been expanded to CIPPOI (where the ast stand for Outcome and Impact respectively).
The CIPP systematizes the way to evaluate the different dimensions and aspects of curriculum development and the sum total of student experiences in the educative process. The model require the stakeholders be involved in the evaluation process. In this approach, the user is asked to to go through a series of questions in the context, inputs, process and product stages. Some questions are listed below:
1. Context
What is the relation of the course to other courses?
Is the time adequate?
What are the critical or important external factors?
Should courses be integrated or separate?
What are the links between the course ad research/extensions service?
Is there a need for the course?
Is the course relevant to job needs?
2. Inputs
What is the entering ability of students?
What are the learning skills of students?
What is the motivation of students?
What are the living conditions of students?
What is the students' existing knowledge?
Are the aims suitable?
Do the objectives derive from aims?
Are the aims SMART?
Is the course content clearly defined?
Does the content match student abilities?
Is the content relevant to practical problems?
What is the theory/practice balance?
What resources/equipment are available?
What books do teachers have?
What books do the students have?
How strong are the teaching skills of teachers?
What time is available compared with the workload for preparation?
What KAS related to the subject, do the teachers have?
How supportive is the classroom environment?
How many students are there?
How many teachers are there?
How is the course organized?
What regulations relate to training?
3. Process
What is the workload of students?
How well/actively do students participate?
Are there any problems related to teaching?
Are there any problems related to learning?
Is there an effective 2-way communications?
Is knowledge only transferred to students, or do they use and apply it?
Are there any problems which students face in using/applying/analyzing the knowledge and skills?
Are the teaching and learning affected by practical/institutional problems?
What is the level of cooperation/interpersonal relations between teachers/students?
How is discipline maintained?
4. Product
Is there one final exam at the end or several during the course?
Is there any informal assessment?
What is the quality of assessment (what levels of KSA are assessed?)
What are the students' KSA levels after the course?
How do students use what they have learned?
How was the over-all experience for the teachers and for the students?
What are the main lessons learned?
Is there an official report?
Has the teachers' reputation improved or been ruined as a result?
The guide questions are not answered by the teacher only or by a single individual. Instead, there are m,any ways in which they can be answered. Some of the more common methods are listed below:
1. discussion with class
2. informal conversation or observation
3. individual student interviews
4. evaluation forms
5. observation in class/session of teacher/trainer by colleagues
6. video-tape of own teaching (micro-teaching)
7. organizational document
8. participant contract
9. performance test
10. questionnaire
11. self-assessment
12. written test
Friday, May 22, 2009
Evaluation Method: The CIPP Model
Posted by Dr. Olga C. Alonsabe at 6:49 PM
2 comments:
For those with a talent for helping others and teaching, becoming a trainer may be the perfect career progression. You may want to do that by getting training yourself so that in the near future you will be recognised in your chosen field. To become a qualified trainer, it is advisable to get a certificate iv in training and assessment.ReplyDelete
Acceptez le fait que certains jours vous êtes le pigeon, et Somedays vous êtes la statueReplyDelete
Quiz Bowl Questions
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text: @ tony @liz correct me if i'm wrong, but i thought shawn's warrant was for a felony & out of washinton...oregon can't set a hearing for a washington case. he should have been extradited to washington, not released with an oregon notice to appear. maybe washington doesn't really want him. i'm still perplexed ~robb On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 7:58 PM, Liz Henry <lizhenry at gmail.com> wrote: > They don't really care about the warrant when it's out of state. > > Also it is not unusual to for a person go to county jail for a couple of > days and get released and then have to come back for a hearing. > > > - Liz > > > > On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 8:49 PM, Tony Longshanks LeTigre < > anthonyletigre at gmail.com> wrote: > >> If I had to guess....they probably arrested him, booked him, held him in >> custody for a few days until he saw the judge, then released him on >> reconnaissance w/ a future court date. Not that strange since he's clearly >> been up & down the West coast of late dodging warrants & whatnot. >> >> >> On Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 5:42 PM, Robert Benson <sf99er at gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> wow, just checked out the pastebin http://pastebin.com/sv4gnPeC what a >>> disturbing pathology. it seems exceptionally strange that he was arrested >>> on 3/19 in oregon & then showed up at nb on 3/23 after having been notified >>> of his banishment. >>> >>> outstanding questions in my mind are: >>> 1) was the arrest in oregon a spoof? (i doubt it) >>> 2) has washington dropped the case for some cause, causing his oregon >>> release from custody? >>> >> -- *occupysf.org* *twitter.com/sf99er* *youtube.com/sf99er* *ustream.tv/channel/occupysflive* * * *First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win*. - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi *But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.* - Declaration of Independence* * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://www.noisebridge.net/pipermail/noisebridge-discuss/attachments/20130325/a37bf89b/attachment.html>


text:
Make a royal match
How did William and Kate meet? Which princess married — and then divorced — an Olympic medalist? Whose wedding gown was adorned with 325,000 beads? Test your knowledge of all things royal with these games.
Bachelors and bachelorettes, royal-style
Choose the right partner for these 10 royal brides and grooms:
Queen Victoria was 18 when she inherited the throne in 1837. She reigned for 63 years and seven months, longer than any other British monarch.
Whom did she marry? Queen Victoria bucked royal tradition and married for love instead of national alliance. She married her first cousin, Prince Albert, and they had nine children.
Edward VIII reigned for 325 days in 1936, one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British history.
Whom did he marry? Edward abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American. Thereafter, he was known as the Duke of Windsor.
Prince Albert, Duke of York became King George VI following the abdication of his brother in 1936. He ruled until his death in 1952.
Whom did he marry? Prince Albert married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, a descendant of the Royal House of Scotland, in 1923. After her husband's death, she became known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI.
Whom did she marry? In 1947, Princess Elizabeth married Lt. Philip Mountbatten, the son of a Greek prince and the great-great grandson of Queen Victoria. He is now known as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Princess Margaret, the Queen's younger sister, married in May 1960.
Whom did she marry? Under pressure from the royal family, Princess Margaret abandoned her romance with an older divorced man and married Antony Armstrong-Jones, a British photographer. Their marriage dissolved in May 1978.
Prince Charles is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. He is heir apparent to the throne.
Whom did he first marry? In 1981, Prince Charles married the late Lady Diana Spencer, a one-time kindergarten teacher who was born into British aristocracy but considered a commoner because she didn't descend from royalty. They separated in 1992 and their marriage was disolved in 1996. In 2005, Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles. After the wedding, she became known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
Princess Anne is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. She is now known as the Princess Royal.
Whom did she marry? Princess Anne married Lt. Mark Phillipsin 1973. Phillips was a member of the British team in the three-day event at the 1972 Munich Olympics where Britain won the team gold medal. Their marriage was dissolved in 1992 and the princess remarried later that year.
Prince Andrew is the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Known as the Duke of York after his marriage, he was the first child in 103 years to be born to a reigning monarch.
Whom did he marry? Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in 1986. Sarah and Andrew are sixth cousins, sharing common ancestors in the fourth Duke of Devonshire and his wife, dating from the mid-18th century. They divorced in 1996.
Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, was given the title the Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn on his marriage in 1999.
Whom did he marry? Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones, a former public relations executive.
Prince William is the elder son of the Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. He is training to be a search and rescue pilot with the Royal Air Force.
Who's his lucky bride? Prince William will marry Kate Middleton on April 29. The two met while attending St. Andrews University in Scotland.
Publish your results on Twitter:
You got 80% of the questions right.
You're a royal brainiac! You know all about British monarchs and their marriages.
Good job! You know most of the royal matches,
but could brush up on royal history a bit.
Doh! Time to start studying up on your British history.
How the marriages fit into the family lineage
A look at which royal matches lasted
and which ones didn't.
SOURCE: Staff reports. GRAPHIC: Kat Downs, Laura Stanton and Karen Yourish - The Washington Post.
Published April 25, 2011.
Will and Kate's wedding day
Take a tour of Westminster Abbey and travel the post-nuptial route back to Buckingham Palace with 3-D graphics, panoramas and historical images.
Related stories


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Princess Ekaterina Galitzine (née von Carlow)(1891-1940), First wife of Prince Vladimir Galitzine; daughter of Georg Alexander Herzog von Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Sitter in 1 portrait
Princess Ekaterina Galitzine (née von Carlow)
by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate glass negative, 26 August 1925
NPG x158426
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- Prince George Galitzine (son)
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Viewing before-and-after photos and videos of some of Weight Loss Institute of Arizona's LAP-BAND® patients will help you will see actual results our doctors have achieved and get a better sense of the possible outcomes following surgery.
In addition to these resources provided for our online visitors, many more photos are available when you come in for a consultation at our Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Arrowhead and Tucson, Ariz., weight loss centers.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary. Photos in our online gallery and patient success videos are of actual LAP-BAND® patients of our practice who have provided consent to display their pictures or videos online.
If you like the results you see in these photos and videos, request a consultation to learn more about how bariatric surgery can help you achieve your ideal weight.