A busy November lies in wait

I like to be kept busy - it works for me, and on that basis November is looking good both on and off the pitch.
Off the pitch, my rugby-writing colleague at the Bath Chronicle has the small matter of a new addition to the family looming, so I will be kept busy covering Saracens v Bath, Bath v Ospreys, Worcester v Bath and the last home game of the month - Bath v London Irish.
But it such a shame that Steve Meehan's men have had such a poor start to the season, with last weekend's defeat to Newcastle rubbing salt in the wound.

On the pitch, though, November is also full on, starting on the 7th with a game in National Two South, followed by an evening encounter at Esher RFC on Tuesday, November 17th when England A take on New Zealand.
The Black Ferns take on England in three matches, the first - a full Test - at Esher on Saturday, November 14th, the second at Esher and the third - the second Test - at Twickenham on Saturday, November 21st.
And the great news for me is that England women's second test at TW1 is a double-header, as the men take on the All Blacks, with the women kicking-off afterwards at 4.45pm.
Both games are live on Sky and I'm extremely privileged to be appointed as an assistant referee at Twickenham, with the iRB's David Keane (Ireland) in the middle.

Any involvement with a match at the hallowed turf of HQ is an honour, and to be there on international duty when the Martin Johnson's men take on the mighty All Blacks is the stuff dreams are made off.

All we need now is for Bath to start doing the business on the pitch too - and they need to start producing some results quickly if they are to avoid mediocrity this season in the Guinness Premiership.