Room 101: Adam Canning – Birmingham & Solihull fly-half

1. Lazy & complacent sports media
There are so many people stealing a living in sports media. I can’t stand listening to Talksport and hearing Alan Brazil building up to the weekend’s ‘Premiership‘ football matches. Can somebody please tell this man, no doubt sitting on a six-figure salary, that it hasn’t been called the Premiership since 2007. I don’t mind my mom or my girlfriend calling it the Premiership because it isn’t their overpaid job to know better. It is the Premier League by the way.
Knowing the age of a player seems to be too much to ask of them as well, especially on Match of the Day where you can regularly hear such insights as… “he’s such a talent for someone so young, what is he now – 17,18,19,20 – maybe even 21?”
TRP verdict:  That ‘ship’ has sailed straight into Room 101.
2. Confused nationalities
I genuinely can’t get my head around the concept of ‘Great Britain’, and I don’t think it’s because I missed History at school – it’s because it doesn’t make sense. How can one sports person represent England or Scotland at one tournament and then be representing Great Britain at the next. You can’t be two nationalities! England, Wales and Scotland are separate countries with separate identities; we should keep it that way and not pretend we’re one big happy family just to improve our chances at the Olympics or Wimbledon. I’ve got nothing against Scotland or Wales – they’re proud of their identities and rightly so, I just wish there was less room for confusion! I’m an Englishman with ‘United Kingdom’ on my passport that could represent ‘Great Britain’. I just don’t get it and never will, it drives me mad.
TRP verdict:  We’ll get Union Jack-all thanks from you, no doubt, but you’re in.
3. International ticket prices
Watching England at Twickenham has become unaffordable to the average working man. The RFU have priced so many people out of the game with extortionate ticket prices which seem to increase by at least £10 every year. A ticket to England v Argentina this autumn, sitting in the lower or middle tier will set you back £105. With travel, food and drink you’re looking at £200 for a day out at the rugby. I understand that while they keep selling out matches, basic business principles suggest that prices will continue to rise, however I think the RFU need to consider the wider rugby community further afield than London and the surrounding areas. I used to love a day out at Twickenham with my dad but sadly it can’t be justified anymore!
TRP verdict:  £200? Good god man, that’s loose change. How else does one keep the riff-raff out?