iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 29/06/2026

sounds about as I expected Neil, thanks though 😆

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 29/06/2026

Been a while since I last logged in over here... is it still a welcome relief from the cess pools elsewhere on social media?

100

Absolutely. And the men's tournament has already thrown up some surprises so I'll be holding my breath to see who even goes through.

the growth they showed through the tournament was superb! I have high hopes for the men's team too.

to be fair I generally use the other site to catch updates from clubs who aren't so great at using other socials, so quiet isn't necessarily bad by any stretch 😀

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 30/11/2025

Haven't been over here in a while. The other site seems to be ever more a cesspool, but it still seems very quiet over here on the Blue side...

140

What should we speak of When we are old as you? When we shall hear The rain and wind beat dark December, how In this our pinching cave shall we discourse The freezing hours away? We have seen nothing. #Cymbeline #ShakespeareSunday

media.tenor.com

a man and a woman are shaking hands in front of a crowd of people in a theater .

ALT: a man and a woman are shaking hands in front of a crowd of people in a theater .

071

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 30/11/2025

It's been a long time since I last did a #ShakespeareSunday post, but when waking up to this view it would seem silly not to!

A view of the Swan theatre and river Avon through the window of a room at the Arden Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon.

180

I don't think it's a bad pick at all. I think they will be right up there and my gut feel is the top three will all be within a few points of each other.

For me I can see a world where they wobble out of the gate (depending on how the World Cup hangover hits them) and this league is so small one wobble can cost a place or two. For what it's worth I think they will still be deadly in the playoffs.

Do you think I've been too kind or too harsh?

100

Predicting how the PWR will finish this season

You're too kind, thanks so much for sharing. I agree with you on the net losses/gains and I've had a punt at guessing where each team will finish the (regular) season here: open.substack.com/pub/pwrpoint...

open.substack.com

Bookmark this now so you can remind me how wrong I am...

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 16/10/2025

My latest #PWRPoint is live now sharing a few of the new faces in the league to be excited about for the coming season. open.substack.com/pub/pwrpoint/p…

open.substack.com

001

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 30/09/2025

Some of you may have seen former Lightning player Abby Duguid's post on Instagram this morning. It inspired me to write a little post... open.substack.com/pub/pwrpoint...

open.substack.com

Not everything in women's rugby is rosy right now!

A stark reminder of the reality many players face

021

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 29/09/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who has already subscribed. Currently working on a few ideas for the next couple of weeks as we wait for the season to start!

030

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 28/09/2025

There's a dearth of written coverage of the PWR, and that will only become more obvious as journalists who covered the Rugby World Cup all disappear now the tournament is over. To help plug the gap I'll be writing regularly on a new substack, and I'd love you to check it out! pwrpoint.substack.com

pwrpoint.substack.com

PWR Point | Matt Merritt | Substack

Previews, reviews and insight into the PWR. Click to read PWR Point, by Matt Merritt, a Substack publication. Launched 18 minutes ago.

042

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 30/08/2025

She's in the Irish guards but I think that is coincidence. I think she just joined them to play some rugby. Has been there a good few years. I saw her play for them in late 2021.

020

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 30/08/2025

London Irish Emerald too, she's ace

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 07/08/2025

A few people, across various platforms, have asked me where I'll be working for the Rugby World Cup in a few weeks. Unfortunately the work I was expecting to pick up has fallen through, so I won't be out and about at games, but I'll enjoy the tournament from my sofa.

020

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 28/07/2025

I was pleasantly surprised it recognised me as human to be honest 😂

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 28/07/2025

at least the face scan doesn't reveal how old it estimates you are... mine was the fastest processing I have ever seen 🤣

130

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 28/07/2025

Ever have that feeling, when you are coming to the end of a job and just turning up each day feels like a herculean effort? Would quite like to just go and start my new thing now!

031

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 22/07/2025

Not sure how it would pan out but a team of prime Ma'a Nonu vs 15 prime Seilala Mapusua would be a fun experiment

030

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 23/06/2025

Wouldn't be at all surprised if they are holding off to announce on a specific date.

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 22/06/2025

Went to see Jon Batiste last night as part of Meltdown Festival. Honestly one of the most impactful concerts I have ever seen. The man is phenomenal and the way he melds genres (and songs) has to be witnessed to be understood.

030

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 07/06/2025

There are few signs that bring me as much joy as this... Away for the next week, normal business resumes on the 16th.

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 21/05/2025

The full roster for @Adam27Keefe's testimonial is now in place, featuring current and former @BelfastGiants, some NHL stars and a few family members too. sitinthecheapseats.blogspot.com/2025/05/full... 📸courtesy of Press Eye

000

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 20/05/2025

Hockey two nights in a row... I could get used to this.

000

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 19/05/2025

I wouldn't blame you one bit... I still struggle to care a lot of the time since Irish went to the wall.

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 16/05/2025

P.O. Morin departs Belfast Giants for Bordeaux Boxers. A classy operator and level head on the ice, he'll be missed in Belfast. #EIHL

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 15/05/2025

Struggled to get invested in any excitement about the Maple Leafs playoff run... but at least that means I'm less upset about last night's result.

Jack Jacome returns for a second season at Guildford Flames. “He is a guy who puts every bit of energy that he has into every moment of every shift and he generates a lot of success just on sheer effort.” - head coach Paul Dixon #EIHL 📸: John Uwins

They must have been in on it... It would have been part of the submission to host. I agree on Welford Rd particularly, seems a shame for such a stories ground not to be included.

My understanding is that all the venues applied to be part of the process. I do wonder whether the spread is patchy because in some areas they had no applicants.

Ah, nice work and some great stats. I agree it feels like this is the last big barrier we will go through. Feels like any major sales gains now will be at a local level encouraging walk ups and last minute orders.

Oh yeah. My welfare point is more when I see emails repeatedly at 2am from someone who was also emailing me at 8am. I just like to ensure they don't feel they have to be working all those hours due to deadlines/pressure. If they woke up in the night and had an idea, no worries.

100%. I am a morning person, in fact on commuting days I am up at 4am and on a train at 5 so use this time to respond to emails. Not to push anyone else to be up & working but because it works for me. Some of my team work late & take late afternoon/early evening for family time. More power to them.

120

People set the weirdest boundaries (not you, the folk saying it's unacceptable to email late). For me I don't mind when people send an email, I will reply to it at a time convenient to me. My only concern is welfare when I see emails from people in the early hours of the morning etc

If you see this, post a beach photo from your phone. St Ives Harbour

020

Nice. The cast for that is Mind-blowing!

Matt Merritt @inthecheapseats.co.uk · 13/05/2025

Like most things, it's made better (or in this case, tolerable) by John Goodman.