Comments on: Joseph: ‘I’ve got to prove my worth as a Lion’

By: Don P

Don P — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:18:32 +0000

I take yr points. However, surely the clubs, countries must present a united front on this matter & confront WR with this issue or take them to court to enforce contracts. After all, WR are the governing body & it must be in their remit to uphold the credibility, virtue of the game. Esp so @ present as Billy Beaumont is a WR hd honcho & Pichot is an innovative, all round gd egg according to various sources! Surely contracts must be enforceable, otherwise the game risks to sinking into corruption like soccer has.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 19:03:19 +0000

Agreed. It is so important that they are given opportunities outside of rugby. Saracens lead the field in this. They give everything to the players and the players give them everything. It is no coincidence that they have achieved what they have. Other clubs ought to take note.

By: Don P

Don P — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 13:49:31 +0000

Personality? I’d have Christian Wade in for his unique ability, agility & speed as well. Better side stepper, either way, than/since Jason Robinson? But then I’d have Danny Ciprianai, @ least in the squad, too.

By: Leon

Leon — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 13:44:41 +0000

As we have seen time and time again contracts don’t mean shit.
George North had it in his contract that he would be released for training whenever he was selected for Wales and Saints got a big fine from the EPL, as a consequence that is no longer the case. Picamoles had a 3 yr contract with Saints and is now off to Montpellier next season. Goosen was contracted to Racing but “retired” in order to move clubs. Solomona was contracted to a league club but quit league to take up union

As for WR they wash their hands of it, players must be released for games in international windows but not for training

By: Don P

Don P — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 13:23:50 +0000

Well an answer to the ‘control issue’ would be to neg appropriate contracts with relevant release clauses.The RFU/EPL could also neg same with the FFR offering reciprocal arrangements for their players in England.. & or lobby WR/other Unions to intervene with WR. Might get SH support. Plenty of their players ply their trade in the NH which only weakens their own respective comps.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 11:16:40 +0000

I think the better clubs in the premiership are aware of this issue and do something about it.

I know that Saracens take a keen interest in what their players will do afterwards and have many links with businesses that are used to give the players options and experience.

Such an environment is I think, one of the reasons why Saracens are a such a successful club. Other clubs would do well to take note.

By: Leon

Leon — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 11:01:56 +0000

Its not a question of distance but a question of control
The EPL has a good relationship with the RFU and agreements around player release and player welfare which don’t exist between RFU and FFR. Also if Eddie decides that he wants the next big thing to start getting club game time or for a player to make a positional switch he can have a chat with the club and make the request and they will try to accommodate it the French clubs would just say piss off its none of your business.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 07:55:51 +0000

That also links into wider issues when people leave sport, there are not that many that seem to go on to have successful lives after retirement. Although views are obviously skewed by media coverage, it seems many struggle to find something to match the highs they get in sport and turn to drink or gambling or drugs. If you think about football, it seems there is always a story about ex pros selling off their memorabilia as they’ve gone bankrupt. If your sole focus is sport for 20-30 years, it must be hard to move on to something else if you have no other interests.

By: Snewbs

Snewbs — Wed, 31 May 2017 17:31:44 +0000

If he wants personality then are you able to explain the repeated and continuing omission of Christian Wade?
The France issue is different to the personality question. Is there room in a team sport for individuality/personality? How about is there room in an international team for individuals? They have such a limited time together I comparison to a club side, does this come into the thinking of a coach? ‘Who’ll do what I tell them to the quickest regardless of what else they bring to the pitch?’
Still think it’s a shame that two young men are solely focused on work and nothing else. Can’t be healthy. What would they do if they got crocked next week?

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 31 May 2017 16:17:41 +0000

‘.. there would be a loss in quality of the premiership’. Well, this is the gr8 fear of course, but what of the reality? How many would actually go, or be good enough to go, esp with so much comp from the SH? Whatever. How do you account for NZ not (as yet @ least) not succumbing to yr theory with a stack of players here & in France. There will have to be a tipping point of course, as perhaps currently in SA’s case with 300 playing abroad, but then, they have a ‘positive discriminatory’ policy to contend with as well don’t they? Didn’t seem to affect them discernibly up until the last WC @ though. The clubs in England hold the real power, not the Union. And they’re driven by largely by self interest. Could give the ‘Frenchmen’ a try & see what happens?

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 31 May 2017 16:01:27 +0000

In respect of Ford, if he were really WC, he’s be in NZ by now wouldn’t he? He caves under pressure & makes wrong decisions. Guess Eddie thinks the same. JJ will need to shape up too. He was subbed in Dublin when it really mattered; @ the death in the 6N’s. Is it going to be easier in NZ than in Dublin? Who knows, but prob unlikely.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 31 May 2017 15:52:54 +0000

‘.. same policy’ – as England i.e., not TM!