The RFU have confirmed that a review has been launched into kit man Dave Tennison, after reports emerged over the weekend that he had urged players to invest in shares whose price subsequently plummeted.
In a further embarrassing episode that the RFU could quite do without at the moment, it is understood that Tennison sent several emails out to the England squad during the summer urging them to invest in LGO Energy.
Players that did so allegedly include Sam Burgess, Dave Wilson and Danny Care, who are now out of pocket to the tune of £100,000 after the price of the shares fell dramatically after the investment.
The RFU confirmed on Sunday night that Tennison’s role was under review, and it is almost certain that he will be relieved of his duties. The kit man made the suggestion via email to England players over the summer, still urging them to invest in a final email just two days before their World Cup opener against Fiji.
Contrary to Mr Tennison’s tip, the share price plunged from £3.27p in early July to £1.30 when the tournament kicked-off mid-September. They now stand at just 50p — meaning those who bought in have lost the majority of their money.
The reports emerged initially in The Sun on Sunday, with a source of the paper – who is ‘close’ to the squad, apparently – telling a reporter: “In all they piled in well over six figures and now unless the share price has a spectacular recovery, they’ve lost most of their money.
“This was going on in the background in the long build-up and during the tournament. It was a constant theme and caused no end of niggles and moaning. It was terrible for morale and pretty scandalous.
“A few of the boys put in money to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds. Sam Burgess invested the most and was furious when the price went down so much.
“The guys who invested heavily in it on this bloke’s advice were pretty irate about it. These fellas are not skint — but they’re not footballers and can’t afford to be losing that much money.”
Tennison now faces the sack, with the RFU confirming that head coach Lancaster had no idea that this was going on. “The RFU takes the allegations extremely seriously,” said a spokesman. “It is an internal matter and we are taking the appropriate action.”
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
It just gets worse and worse
What next?
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You couldn’t make this sh*t up could you? So much for the professional and focussed camp SL promised, but what on earth were the players thinking of?
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At least they didn´t invest in “Burgess Union Futures”. They´d have dropped a packet on them!
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It’s being reported that President Funbus sounded out Cheika for the England role. Whilst I don’t think we have a chance if getting him, it does at least reassure me that Lancaster and Co are on the way out. According to same story Stu has indicated he wants to leave. Hallelujah.
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I don’t think I’ve ever got so much joy from reading one comment!!!
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I really really hope you are right. Whilst I am convinced SL needs to go; I’m still unsure on who we are going to bring in. Eddie Jones would be my first choice personally. I’d also like to see Rob Baxter involved in some way; possibly as forwards coach?
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I agree with you on Jones, great track record, and used to having to compromise – can’t imagine he had it all his own way with Japan, so will hopefully be prepared for the club country limitations in England. Probably more straight fwd to buy him of a club contract rather than cause friction with ARU. However in wouldn’t be against poaching Ledesma for scrum coach!
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Jones obviously knows how to absolutely maximise the resources he has at this disposal; something we need!
Ledesma would be great. Do wonder whether it is the emergence of Sio more than anything else that has made him look good though? As soon as he was gone it went back to the old Aus scrum with Slipper having a nightmare.
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And there I was thinking RWC 2011 was a disaster for England but no…..how wrong I was. Even I had to admit I got that one wrong by Oct 3rd 2015.
Then I thought getting dumped out of Pool A was a disaster for England.
But no sooner had the ABs flown home than we heard that ‘Super Saviour Sam’ is doing runner but towards the Aussies and not their Union try line.
Now there are allegations of some sort of financial corruption involving a member of the England Rugby’s support staff.
How much more do you think we can take on this side of the Severn?
We were already P+ssing ourselves laughing after the loss to us in Sept and now we are going to die laughing well ahead of Christmas at this rate.
The RWC 2015 England Story……..the ‘gift’ that keeps giving.
PLEASE PLEASE keep Super Stu et al at all costs!!!
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I received an email giving me stock tips the other day too as well as a nice email from a Nigerian solicitor concerning a relative I had never heard of’s will. Well i have responded to both and soon the money should come rolling in.
Seriously on what basis would you take investment advice from your kit man, players deserved to lose their money. Its like dropping 50k on a three legged pony because some bloke down the pub told you he was quick
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Biggest ‘non-story’ of the year so far. We could probably all paper a reasonably sized room with the unsolicited tips we’ve received over the years be they for shares, race horses, football, cricket, rugby results and even the weather. Had the tipster been a member of the coaching team or management there might have been a case to answer – but the kit man? get real guys.
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Kit man. Stadium announcer. Bloke who mows the grass. Nigerian princess who’s husband dies in a car crash leaving £30,000,000 that needs your help to get it out of the country.
It doesn’t really f***ing matter who the tip was from if the result is a massively pissed off team who have lost stupid amounts of cash just before the World Cup, does it?
So much for the culture being the one thing SL was on top of and in touch with eh?
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I’m seriously thinking about becoming Irish if they’ll have me!
So is this the real reason Sam has gone back down under? It’s a total farce.
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s revelations. I’d give the players involved a trip to Coventry for the 6N. Let’s find players who genuinely are focussed on playing rugby for England and who can give us back a little bit of pride and hope for the future.
Surely the review board has to act with decisiveness over a situation that is removing any and all credibility from the England set up?
SL and crew out, certain players out for now if not for the long term and a top class coaching team installed no matter what it costs. Then.leave them alone to get on with the job.
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