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So a new Millennium dawned, or maybe it didn’t if you want to rehash that old argument, and with it came a new dawn for European rugby with the Italy joining the fold to create the Six Nations Championship.

Things couldn’t have started sweeter for the Azzuri as they announced their arrival in style with a comprehensive win over the defending and last 5 Nations Champions, Scotland. Led by Diego Dominguez and his hat-trick of drop goals they picked up a comfortable win.

Meanwhile at Twickenham, the hangover from Lens continued for Ireland as they shipped 50 points to England. Changes were needed fast and they duly arrived as Scotland were next up for Gatland’s side, whose job was on the line, 4 new caps and suddenly things were looking up as Ireland beat Scotland for the first time since 1988.

 2010 brings about another big number for the Engage Super League, as the sport’s premier competition reaches a new milestone and Super League XV kicks off. 15 years have passed since the competition was launched with much fanfare and fireworks in Paris, and we now enter another season with anticipation.

The competition received a lot of criticism last year from a lot of fans, though not all of them, about the slowed down play of the ball. Last season, teams such as Huddersfield and Hull KR, who weren’t regular playoff contenders in previous years, soared to the high heights of third and fourth respectively. The consensus of many is that they achieved this because of a slowed down play of the ball.

It is definitely true that the play of the ball was slowed down considerably in 2009, a step the RFL used to try and help England’s (ultimately failed) 2009 Four Nations campaign in order to promote ball handling skills. It was personally something I was against and whilst we competed with the Kangaroos for 65 of the 80 minutes in the final, we looked at our best when our quicker players like Roby, Eastmond and Tomkins got on the front foot. 

Read more: Let the Super League extravaganza begin

Rugby Fans living in the United States of America should be happy. BBC America has announced that they will be broadcast 5 live RBS 6 Nations Matches starting 06 February 2010.

It's not like one can't watch Rugby in the US with Setanta Sports being available as a premium channel and having it's own online presence as well as the internet service of Rugby Zone. However, now a standard cable and satellite channel will carry live Rugby into American homes.

“RBS Six Nations Championship, one of Europe’s biggest annual sporting events, will broadcast live on BBC AMERICA starting Saturday, February 6.  The cable channel will broadcast five live matches over the course of the legendary rugby tournament featuring England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Wales and Italy vying for the championship”

(BBC America. 21 January 2010. http://www.press.bbcamerica.com/press/newsdetail.jsp?news_id=156).

A man who splintered the defences of television sports commentary but kept a foot in touch like a rampaging wildebeest when it came to his adoring fans who swooned like the last daffodils of spring at his every verbal quip and analogy. A man who defined Rugby commentary and set the bar which since his sad departure from this earth has yet to be beaten.

And maybe it should be left that way for there simply cannot be another Bill McLaren.

Read more: RIP the "voice of rugby"