In 2003, social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook were still on the horizon and Twitter was three years away. I remember watching the Rugby World Cup while chatting to a friend in Australia over MSN after we met on a writers' message board. (Side note: he never did pay up on the bet we made over the result of the final that year.) It was all very high tech at the time.
In 2007, social networking had grown, but Twitter had not yet launched itself as the powerhouse it is today. I don't think I chatted with anyone online during any of the matches, though I did send the same friend in Australia a Facebook message following his country's defeat to England in the pool stages.
Now, in 2011, Twitter has exploded, giving us unprecedented access to the everyday, mundane lives of anyone with an account. I follow celebrities, sports stars, lunatics and my parents. Yes, the last two can be interchangeable, but that's beside the point.
Rugby is probably one of the world's greatest sports as far as access to players is concerned. They're down to earth, funny people, and a lot of international players who will be involved in the World Cup in New Zealand have signed up to Twitter and have become a part of the action. Imagine the unprecedented access to the players that this will afford us!
Okay, New Zealand has already spoiled the party to some degree by placing a Twitter ban on their players effective today or tomorrow. Even the players aren't exactly sure when it starts. But you never know when they may have a chance to check their Twitter feeds to see what the world is saying about the tournament.
So, saddo that I am, and in need of a bit of a hobby, I have started a list of players, coaches and referees I know are on Twitter, which I am happy to pass on to anyone interested. Any corrections, additions or subtractions, please let me know, and I will update as and when there's anything to update!
Argentina
Horacio Agulla - @horacitoagulla
Felipe Contepomi - @felipecontepomi
Australia
Adam Ashley-Cooper - @AdamCoopy
Kurtley Beale - @kurtley_beale
Quade Cooper - @QuadeCooper
Digby Ioane - @digbyioane
Drew Mitchell - @drew_mitchell
James O'Connor - @JamesOConnor832
England
Delon Armitage - @delonarmitage
Chris Ashton - @ChrisAshton1
Tom Croft - @tomcroft6
Mark Cueto - @Mark_Cueto
Toby Flood - @tobyflood
Ben Foden - @ben_foden
Dylan Hartley - @DylanHartley
James Haskell - @jameshaskell
Lee Mears - @Mearsy02
Lewis Moody - @lewismoody7
Joe Simpson - @joesimpson9
Matt Stevens - @Matt_Stevens3
Steve Thompson - @Tommo33sg
Mike Tindall - @miketindall13
Manu Tuilagi - @Manutuilagi
Richard Wigglesworth - @rwiggy9
Ben Youngs - @benyoungs09
Fiji
Deacon Manu - @deacon_manu
Ireland
Rory Best - @RoryBest2
Tommy Bowe - @TommyBowe14
Tom Court - @TomCourt1
Sean Cronin - @SeanCronin2
Stephen Ferris - @StephenFerris6
Jerry Flannery - @jerryflannery
Jamie Heaslip - @jamieheaslip
Cian Healy - @ProperChurch
Rob Kearney - @KearneyRob
Geordan Murphy - @geordanmurphy
Paul O'Connell - @Paul_OConnell
Brian O'Driscoll - @BrianODriscoll
Ronan O'Gara - @RonanOGara10
Mike Ross - @MikeRoss03
Andrew Trimble - @andrew_trimble
Paddy Wallace - @paddywallace12
Italy
Mauro Bergamasco - @mauro1579
Martin Castrogiovanni - @castrito81
Andrea Masi - @andrea_masi
New Zealand
Cory Jane - @CoryJane1080
Piri Weepu - @PiriWeepu1049
Samoa
Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono - @Eliota_Sapolu
Junior Poluleuligaga - @JIP2EZY
Sailosi Tagicakibau - @losi11
Sakaria Taulafo - @STAULAFO
Scotland
Mike Blair - @mikeblair9
Kelly Brown - @kellydrbrown
Chris Cusiter - @chriscusiter
Alasdair Dickinson - @Ali_Dickinson
Max Evans - @maxevans13
Jim Hamilton - @jimhamilton4
Ruaridh Jackson - @ruaridh_jackson
Alastair Kellock - @AlastairKellock
Moray Low - @moray_low
Ally Strokosch - @thebigstroker
Gregor Townsend (backs coach) - @gregortownsend
South Africa
Juan h - @JuanDeJongh *
Bryan Habana - @BryanHabana
Francois Hougaard - @Francoishougi *
Butch James - @butch_james
Francois Louw - @FloLouw *
Victor Matfield - @VictorMatfield
Odwa Ndungane - @OdwaNdungane14
J P Pietersen - @jppietersen14
John Smit - @JohnSmit123
Morne Steyn - @mornesteyn
Tonga
Soane Tonga'uiha - @tongauiha
USA
Todd Clever - @ToddsClever
Paul Emerick - @paulemerickiv
Andrew Suniula - @Sunil_3
Roland Suniula - @Suniula
Tom Usasz - @timusasz
Chris Wyles - @ChrisWyles
Wales
Huw Bennett - @Huw_Bennett
Jonathan Davies - @Jon_fox121
Paul James - @Paul_James1
Adam Jones - @adamjones3
Alun-wyn Jones - @AlunWynJones
Ken Owens - @kenctsowens
Rhys Priestland - @Rhys_Priestland
Jamie Roberts - @Jamiehuwroberts
Shane Williams - @ShaneWilliams11
Nigel Owens (Referee) - @Nigelrefowens
And for light entertainment as Ben Youngs' interesting insights on life are passed on: @stuffbensaid
My aim is to blog throughout the World Cup, whether I'm in Birmingham UK or Cyprus. Yes, for two weeks of the World Cup I am relocating two time zones closer to New Zealand and to a much warmer climate. Check back soon!
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