Room 101: Nigel Melville – USA rugby CEO

1. Airport Security
With my job I spend a lot of time in airports (along with thousands of others), taking off my shoes, getting my computer out of my bag, emptying my pockets…then getting dressed again. Surely with all the technology available to us, we can work out a way to walk through a scanner without all that carry on…all because of a guy with bombs in his shoes and a man with exploding underpants! Let’s put our brightest minds to work on that problem rather than dreaming up the next best social media nonsense.
TRP verdict:  Check in to Room 101.
2. Dogs in bags
I think this comes from nearly sitting on one once and getting shouted at by its owner. Honestly, what’s the point of having a dog and then carrying it around with you in a bag? You can’t put anything in the bag because the dog would chew it. I don’t really understand it at all…do you buy a bag and the dog comes with it, or do you buy a dog and then get a bag to match it? Do they live long? I don’t think I have seen an old one. Frankly, it’s a ridiculous idea on every level. Clearly it’s not the dog’s fault so it’s the owners who think it’s cool to carry a dog around in a bag that I want to put in Room 101. Let the dogs run free!
TRP verdict:  Dogs in bags is a great idea; they have their own mobile commode to do their business in instead of fouling pavements. You’re out.
3. Rugby League
I’m no doubt going to upset quite a few people in my native Yorkshire where they love their Rugby League and think that everyone else should do in equal measure. But I don’t subscribe to that. Rugby League was only created in the first place so players could get paid. Now that Rugby Union players get paid, surely the need for Rugby League is no more! If people want more space on the field and don’t like kicking we have Rugby Sevens. Rugby League is therefore superfluous to society (just joking). I notice Rugby League has copied the Ref Cam idea, which, again, I think is unnecessary. Surely the referees have plenty to do without doing the job of the broadcasters and carrying a camera around with them. For those that want to be that close to the action, do us all a favour, get off your sofa, put your kit on and train to be a referee.
TRP verdict:  Why not….It’ll give the ‘Greatest Game’ brigade something else to whine about.