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Tom Fordyce

About Tom Fordyce (0)

I'm a journalist on 大象传媒 Sport Interactive, and spend most of my time writing sarcastic text commentaries on cricket and tennis. I used to be chief features writer and athletics editor, but the lure of watching Paul Collingwood scratch out battling knocks of 27 in meaningless biff-boff one-day internationals simply proved too strong.

I joined the 大象传媒 in 2000, about the same time as a load of other print journos also jumped off their sinking ships. Before that I was a features writer on Total Sport magazine (it closed through lack of sales) and a writer on the seldom-remembered Sported (terrible name, lovely magazine) which also closed because of low sales. Expect to see the 大象传媒 close through lack of sales before the year is out.

When not at work, I spend far too much time exercising and the rest of the time sleeping. My three favourite sportsmen of all time are David Hirst, Haile Gebrselassie and Kevin Pressman. I often waste hours wondering how different life would have been if Adam Gilchrist had been born English.

During the rugby World Cup I'll be blogging round France in a badly-packed campervan with my glamourpuss colleague Ben Dirs. Not for us the cosseted luxury of four-star hotels and complementary foot-spas - we'll be out roughing it with beer-soaked fans, uncomprehending locals and homesick Namibian flankers. Ben doesn't speak any French. I can't cook. It should be excellent.

Send us as much chat as you like on this blog - we'll be using it to link up with fans in France and talk to everyone elsewhere, not to mention organising general monkeying like games of touch rugby, barbecues after big matches, free lifts in our van and all-night petanque tournaments.


Ben Dirs

About Ben Dirs (0)

I joined the 大象传媒 Sport website as a callow (yet surprisingly leathery) youth in 2001 and spend many an hour wondering where the last six years of my life have gone. In that time, I have worked my way up from the position of office muggins to the giddy heights of "that bloke who talks a load of old rubbish about cricket and stuff", while clinging onto a shred of respectability (I tell myself during the dark middle overs of yet another turgid ODI) through my boxing writing.

I was a rather mediocre rugby player in my salad days, but, the odd round of golf aside, the last time I engaged in any exercise ("oh, do stop it Aggers鈥") was when I became involved in a nasty punch-up with a gang of hoodies in a Dixy Fried Chicken in Seven Kings in the summer of 2005.

I can only assume myself and Tommy Boy were chosen to drive round France in a camper van for seven weeks because, having both been subjected to a Jesuit education, we know a thing or two about suffering. I don't drive, I don't speak French, I smoke like Dot Cotton. On the plus side, I don't play the acoustic guitar. Tom's going to have an absolute belter.

While myself and Tom are winding our way through France and getting ourselves into all sorts of scrapes and such like, we'd like you to get involved as much as possible, whether it be telling us the best places to visit, the best places to watch the games, whether you're in need of a lift, or whether you just want to tell us we're a disgrace to the Reithian principles of the 大象传媒.


Bryn Palmer

About Bryn Palmer (0)

I'm a senior broadcast journalist working on 大象传媒 Sport's website, and responsible for looking after our rugby output. I'm 35, Welsh (don't hold that against me) and have been at the 大象传媒 since early 2002.

My journalism career started with the Press Association in Scotland 10 years ago, writing about everything from the Old Firm to curling, before I moved on to the newspaper.

I then spent a wonderful year travelling in Australia and New Zealand, freelancing for various British newspapers, and taking in the Sydney Olympics and the I've also covered the last two Rugby World Cups, including England's triumph down under four years ago.

Having grown up in south Wales, I'm obviously a Manchester United fan - since I was five, honestly - and have a soft spot for Hereford, who I used to cheer from the home end at Edgar Street. Rugby-wise my heart's with Wales, but I cheer on all the Celtic countries.

My body won't allow for rugby anymore but I still play five-a-side football, a bit of tennis and golf, and love skiing, snowboarding and water-skiing.


Mark Orlovac

About Mark Orlovac (0)

I'm one of the team that helps look after the rugby union section on the website and on digital text & Ceefax on TV.
But just in case any of the bosses are looking, I do write other stuff as well...

Despite going to a rugby-dominated school, I never played regularly (to be honest I wasn鈥檛 good enough) but somewhere in my mind I have an image of myself as a dogged, sniping scrum-half 鈥 a bit like Gary Armstrong.

Unfortunately, five knee dislocations led to the premature end of my sporting career in 1997 although I am sure I will be living out my dreams through my two sons 鈥 all I am asking for are Scotland and Lions caps.

I started my journalistic career at a local newspaper in Teddington, covering the likes of Harlequins, London Irish, Richmond, London Scottish and London Welsh, before joining the Beeb in 2000.

Away from work, I am a drummer in a 50s jive band and my claim to fame is that my uncle invented hit 80s quiz show 鈥楤ullseye鈥 (my eldest son is the very proud owner of a bendy Bully and before you ask, I can鈥檛 get you one).


Mike Carr

About Mike Carr (0)

I'm the Rugby Editor for 大象传媒 Radio Sport, along with my day job as Assistant Editor of Midweek 5live Sport.

At the moment it's all rugby, with my main role being the co-ordination of 5live's coverage of the World Cup. Over the next two months we'll be broadcasting a whole range of programmes and live commentaries with a wonderful line-up including the likes of John Inverdale, Matt Dawson, Gavin Hastings and Ian Roberston.

Rugby Union is my passion. I grew up watching my Dad play for (not a Shark in sight in those days) at Heywood Road. I didn't quite have the talent of my Dad - but I played a lot of junior rugby, plus a few years in the States coaching and playing in South Carolina and Louisiana.

I tried mixing it with the big boys at - but a knee injury cut short my unpromising career. Sale remains my team - but not a fan of Edgley Park! Strangely, as an Englishman, my favourite all time player is .

I did manage to get my boots back on in 5live's reinactment of Jonny's drop goal... as an Australian! Getting to tackle Matt Dawson was probably the highlight of my career - although it took a fair few takes!

Rugby is a wonderful social sport - it has given me friends for life (and a limp), and on 5live we want to capture the excitement in the stadiums, but also back home as people gather to watch the Home Nations in action. Your comments on our coverage will be most welcome.

For what's its worth I can't back against New Zealand. From the Home Nations Ireland and a fit O'Driscoll will make the semis.


Alastair Hignell

About Alastair Hignell (0)

I will be 52 during the opening week of Rugby World Cup 2007. This will be my sixth World Cup as a journalist, having acted as anchorman for 大象传媒 Radio in 1987, commentated in 1991 for ITV, for whom I anchored the 1995 coverage from South Africa, before returning to 大象传媒 Radio, and commentary, for the Rugby World Cups of 1999 and 1993.

As a sportsman in the 1970s, I played rugby for Bristol, Cambridge University( four Blues-1 as captain), Gloucestershire, the Barbarians and England (debut 1975 v Australia,14 caps 1975-79) and cricket for Cambridge University(4 Blues- two as captain) and Gloucestershire ( from 1974-83, capped 1977, century against the West Indies, 1000 runs in a season on 2 occasions).

After graduating with a History degree and a PGCE from Cambridge, I taught at Bristol Cathedral School and Sherborne before joining the 大象传媒 in 1985 as a junior sports trainee ( in the same batch, I am told, as John Inverdale, Mark Saggers and football commentator Ian Brown). I moved to HTV in Bristol in 1989 and worked on daily sports programmes as well as rugby documentaries until 1996, when I joined the fledgling Radio Five Live.

I have been married to Jeannie for 27 years and have 2 sons, Adam (25) and Daniel (24). I live in the West Country.

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999, but with a lot of help from my friends- especially 大象传媒 rugby correspondent Ian Robertson- and a lot of support from my family and the wider sporting world, I have managed to keep working. My electric scooter is now a familiar sight at all the world鈥檚 big stadia.

I am patron of the MSRC- all contributions always welcome, please give generously- and I help raise funds for my local MS Therapy centre at Nailsea near Bristol, which I attend weekly for treatment.


Alastair Eykyn

About Alastair Eykyn (0)

I spend the bulk of my working year reporting and commentating on rugby and tennis for Radio 5Live. I'm 32, English and joined the 大象传媒 in 2002.

My first proper job in journalism was with Independent Radio News. After 18 months of news reporting, I jumped ship to the sports desk where I spent four happy years covering rugby and cricket, taking in some tasty England tours to South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, along with the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Since moving to 5Live I have continued to cover the rugby, spending an entertaining month travelling with the ill-fated Scottish team to the World Cup in Australia in 2003. I now also commentate on the four tennis Grand Slams for the 大象传媒, and have covered the hockey at the Athens Olympics and the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

I am still coming to terms with the fact that I have missed the boat to hit a Test century at Lord's, lift the Wimbledon trophy or score a hat-trick of tries at Twickenham. I have to be content with some agricultural batting on the village green, a regular workout on a tennis court, and a hope that my two little boys achieve their own dreams of sporting glory.


Nick Mullins

About Nick Mullins (0)

I鈥檓 one of 大象传媒 Sport鈥檚 all-rounders. Over the course of a year you might hear me commentating from Centre Court at Wimbledon, the River Thames on Boat Race day or Tower Bridge on London Marathon Sunday.

My day job though is rugby union. I switched codes - from radio to television - in 2001 to help fill the gap left by Bill McLaren and this was the seventh year I鈥檝e talked my way through the Six Nations for 大象传媒 Sport.

I鈥檒l spend the majority of the tournament with my head in the 大象传媒 scrum, but when I come up for air I鈥檒l look to spend time with the guitar I鈥檓 learning to play, a large film collection and Erin and Rosie - my two young daughters.


Andrew Cotter

About Andrew Cotter (0)

I鈥檓 one of 大象传媒 Television鈥檚 rugby commentators. I come from Troon on the Ayrshire coast (south-west Scotland) but have lived in London for the past seven years - although I make frequent trips north to 鈥渧isit the family鈥 (play golf).

My grandfather J.L.Cotter played stand-off for Scotland in the 1930鈥檚, as far as I鈥檓 aware was the only minister to have pulled on the dark blue jersey.

My own international sporting recognition was far more limited, representing Scottish Schools at golf against England. Scotland lost.

I started commentating on rugby and golf on 大象传媒 Radio in 2000 before a Bosman-style free transfer to TV.


John Beattie

About John Beattie (0)

I was born in Borneo, and swinging from tree to tree helped me in later years as I ended up playing rugby for Scotland.

This was predicted, funnily enough, by my Malaysian headmaster who said, on the day I left to start his new life in Scotland as an eleven year old: 鈥淏eattie, you are the roughest boy we have ever had here - you will surely play rugby for your new country.鈥

I won 25 caps and went on two British Lions tours and on retiring slid into broadcasting even though Chartered accountancy was tugging at my heart strings..

I play guitar in a rock band for fun, coach West of Scotland rugby club, and host radio and TV programmes North of Hadrian鈥檚 wall.

I鈥檓, frankly, a bit alarmed that my son, also John, now plays international rugby as it doesn鈥檛 seem that long since the child was brought home in a blanket.


Ryan Jones

About Ryan Jones (0)

I play number eight for the Ospreys and the Welsh national team, although you won鈥檛 be seeing me at the World Cup because of a shoulder injury.

My first club was Risca RFC and I played for my hometown club Newport before I moved on to play for Bridgend.

Following the introduction of regional rugby, I signed for the now-defunct Celtic Warriors, and joined the Ospreys in 2004.

I have represented my country at under-18, under-19 and under-21 level, as well as making 16 appearances for the senior side, and also featured in the British Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005.

PS: I am 26, and last year, I was voted the sexiest man in Wales.


Rob Hodgetts

About Rob Hodgetts (0)

I'm what's known in rugby parlance as a utility back. Rugby and golf are my main positions - I blogged from Ireland during the Ryder Cup - but you'll see me pop up in all sorts of other areas, too.

My fondest rugby memories are Five Nations Saturdays in the OVT at Birmingham University, and sitting in the press box at Twickenham covering the 1999 World Cup semi-final between France and New Zealand.

All impartiality went out the window when France began their famous comeback, as the hardened hacks, and me, leapt to our feet to cheer on Les Bleus.

Work over, the party in the pub in Twickenham that night was legendary, with a cocktail of French, Kiwis and British all celebrating a sensational game together.

Now then, call me old-school, but I reckon all modern backs should be made to watch videos of the likes of and back in the days when sidesteps (as well as sideburns) were as important as big muscles. Those guys knew how to beat an opponent one-on-one. England backs take heed.


James Standley

About James Standley (0)

I joined 大象传媒 Sport working for the website back in 2001 and am one of a number of journalists who help out with the rugby union coverage.

I started my career on the before joining the-then Mirror Group after a brief spell at the Press Association.

After the failed re-launch of the Sporting Life I worked on a number of Mirror Group publications, including a memorable week on the news desk of the Sunday People.

Like most sports journalists I鈥檓 a frustrated player who lacked only the pace, power and ability to get right to the top.

A non-tackling fly-half, my rugby career was stymied at a young age by my inability to last a match without getting injured, although now I am officially a sporting veteran I am considering returning for one last fling.


Phil Harlow

About Phil Harlow (0)

My rugby 鈥榗areer鈥 peaked in the early 1990s as a member of the now-legendary Mitcham junior side which reached - and lost - the Surrey Cup final two years in a row.

Since those heady days I have turned out for Croydon and Chipstead in the Surrey Leagues as one of the least prolific wingers in England, while writing about infinitely more talented players in my day job on the 大象传媒 Sport website.

Since joining the Beeb, I鈥檝e also covered a variety of other sports including the World Snooker Championship, Wimbledon and rugby league鈥檚 Challenge Cup and Grand Final.

Outside of work, I love my music and purport to be a DJ - even if only five people have let me play in public to date. I got married in July (sorry girls) and am obviously blissfully happy.

As for claims to fame, I鈥檓 struggling. My mum used to teach Millwall midfielder Neil Ardley, and he was 鈥渁 nice lad鈥 apparently.


Sean Davies

About Sean Davies (0)

I'm a sports writer who has been working for the 大象传媒 out of the Cardiff office for the last seven years, specialising - whenever I get the chance - in rugby and boxing.

The Six Nations and Wales internationals have been the highlight of my sporting year for as long as I can remember. Although this working lark does seem to have cut back on my chances to enjoy the full range of the festivities, my liver thanks me for it and it's a privilege to get so close to the stories and the action.

I'm originally from Tredegar in the south Wales valleys. I have to confess to being a bit soft, though, as I never really took to regular visits to The Rec, and my real love for the game developed in the balmier climes of Swansea where I studied history.

I went through my university days there as Mike Ruddock built his great Swansea side of the early '90s, and it will take a lot to convince me that Wales have moved on since sacking the Grand Slam coach.


Bruce Pope

About Bruce Pope (0)

There are few better places than Wales to live and work if you love your sport - even if you happen to be an Englishman - so it's been a happy six years since they let me in the front door here in Cardiff.

I'm Devon-born and Dorset-raised but it wasn't till I ended up in Swansea at the end of my studies that I had a top-flight rugby team to support, just as the in the 90s.

Regional rugby and the amalgamation with Neath means the have inherited my loyalty.

I got my first taste of journalism during an exchange year in the USA, as a tennis reporter for the . After graduating and a year back-packing in Africa I started freelancing in London, working as a sports sub-editor for the likes of the and the .

It's always a hard task to put aside being an over-excited fan (and put down the beer glass) during big tournaments and take on the role of impartial 大象传媒 journalist, plus a Welsh girlfriend and an Irish mother mean I've got my feet in a few camps.


John Haughey

About John Haughey (0)

I work for 大象传媒 Northern Ireland as an internet sports journalist and given that we have a small team, I cover a wide variety of sports although my particular strengths in knowledge-terms would probably be Gaelic Games and Athletics - although others may beg to differ.

I've also enjoyed dipping my toe into the Rugby Union world since I joined the 大象传媒 in Belfast.

After university, I did a variety of jobs, including an interesting year TEFL teaching in Greece before returning to Ireland to study journalism for two years in Dublin.

At the end of my Masters at Dublin City University in June 1993, I was sent on a two-month placement at the Irish News in Belfast and I was fortunate enough to be kept on.

I was appointed as deputy sports editor in 1997 and then got the sport editor's job a year later.

Highlights during my Irish News stint were covering the World Athletics Championships in Athens and Seville in 1997 which mixed work and vacations.

I was a passionate Manchester United fan from the age of 9 until about five years ago and Alex Ferguson's refusal to allow Roy Keane to rejoin the Republic of Ireland squad during the early days of Brian Kerr's reign led to me severing all links with the Red Devils.

In terms of my own participation, Golf is my main sporting love. I was a six handicapper in my youth and it is a source of immense frustration that my game has deteriorated markedly over the last 20 years even though according to the Golfing Union of Ireland I still play off seven - university, work and the yips did for me.


Jim Stokes

About Jim Stokes (0)

I was always a man of letters ... I worked as postman for two years before changing tack.

My first job as a sports journalist more than 30 years ago, was as a sailing correspondent at the Belfast Telegraph, that is, until I became becalmed one weekend on and ended up writing about the wildlife.

That trend continued when I became rugby correspondent.

For 16 years, I was a dedicated traveller covering the game from the days of the amateur ethos to the present professionalism of playing by numbers and taking in four World Cups. And I finally succumbed to a change of life when I joined "Auntie" six years ago.

It was inevitable that I would end up as a sports journalist. Sport was my life from my early school days with rugby, football, basketball and cricket my tour de force.

I played rugby for my local Belfast team Malone, and captained the club back in the 1972/3 season and collected an Ulster Senior League medal and Ulster Senior Cup gong.

I was a bit of a rare breed who started life as a fly-half one season, and ended up playing number 8 the next. I don鈥檛 think the rugby world was ready for a side-stepping, dummying, two-footed kicker in the back-row who had a penchant for dropping goals from the base of the scrum.

During a short break from rugby, I played for the Northern Ireland Youth international team in the 1962 European Championships as a goalkeeper.

But some fella by the name of Pat Jennings strangely got to play in the final against England at Wembley.

They won 4-0. Soon after that, won two caps in the Home International series that year, drawing 1-1 with England at Boundary Park where George Best wore the Northern Ireland jersey for the first time.

Now, my engine just keeps on running, literally. I鈥檓 a regular jogger and cyclist, having done a couple of marathons and a stream of 10Ks. I can still give my 24-year-old twins a run for their money, much to their chagrin.


Lewis Wiltshire

About Lewis Wiltshire (0)

I'm the Production & Live Sports Editor at . It's a bit of a mouthful, but essentially means I'm responsible for a lot of the content on the 大象传媒 Sport website and other platforms, and the way it's produced.

If that's a bit waffly then basically if you have any query at all about any part of the output on our , digital text, or Ceefax then I'll always be happy to discuss it. And if I don't know the answer, I'll almost certainly know the person who does.

I'm absolutely passionate about what we do at 大象传媒 Sport and on the website, and I'm keen to make what we do more interactive so drop by any time and I'll get the kettle on.

You might also find me on , discussing aspects of our coverage but also occasionally dipping in and out of conversations about , which is my lifelong passion.


Alex Trickett

About Alex Trickett (0)

After six years as a journalist, I'm now a senior content producer, helping to run and evolve many of the interactive things we do. This means overseeing established areas like our blogs, , votes and .

But it also means trying out new things with cutting edge websites like , and .

I'm well aware that our office is not the sole domain for bright ideas though. So your thoughts, comments and questions are always welcome.

A born and bred Londoner, my sporting allegiances obviously lie in Liverpool (), New York () and Louisiana () and I'm a big boxing fan.

I'm also currently obsessed with the Amazon (rainforest not online shop), pan fried scallops and .


Alex Trickett

About Tom and Ben (0)

Tom Fordyce and Ben Dirs are travelling around France in a camper van for the duration of the Rugby World Cup.

They have a rough route planned but will be looking for inspiration along the way. If you have any suggestions for places or people they should visit, reply to their blog entries and let them know.

All of Tom and Ben's entries can be seen here.


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