Sione Vailanu bounces back from Rugby World Cup omission

[Rossm]

Bobby Bridge reports:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/sione-vailanu-tonga-wasps-rugby-16930694

Surprisingly, we are only currently going to miss just two to the WC: Joe Launch and Matteo Minozzi. That should put us in good shape for the start of the season.

[andermt]

Found this over on the Sarries site, which someone there took from the Bristol Post.

From Bristol Post. Premiership players at the World Cup. Ammunition for the critics!

Saracens: 15
Duncan Taylor – Scotland
Sean Maitland – Scotland
Vincent Koch – South Africa
Juan Figallo – Argentina
Jamie George – England
Jack Singleton – England
Mako Vunipola – England
Maro Itoje – England
George Kruis – England
Billy Vunipola – England
Owen Farrell – England
Elliot Daly – England
Titi Lamositele – USA
Rhys Carre – Wales
Liam Williams – Wales

Leicester Tigers: 8 9 BP can't count!
Tomas Lavanini - Argentina
Dan Cole – England
Ellis Genge – England
Ben Youngs – England
George Ford – England
Manu Tuilagi – England
Jonny May – England
Sione Kalamafoni – Tonga
Telusa Veainu – Tonga

London Irish: 8
Motu Ma’atu – Samoa
TJ Ioane – Samoa
Allan Dell – Scotland
Gordon Reid – Scotland
Steve Mafi – London Irish
Bryce Campbell – USA
Alivereti Veitokani – Fiji
Adam Coleman – Australia

Harlequins: 7
Michele Campagnaro – Italy
Joe Marler – England
Kyle Sinckler – England
Paul Lasike – USA
Tevita Cavubati – Fiji
Semi Kunatani – Fiji
Vereniki Goneva – Fiji

Northampton Saints: 7
Ahsee Tuala – Samoa
Cobus Reinach – South Africa
Courtney Lawes – England
Lewis Ludlam – England
Piers Francis – England
Api Ratuniyarawa – Fiji
Dan Biggar – Wales

Bath: 6
Sam Underhill - England
Joe Cokanasiga – England
Jonathan Joseph - England
Ruaridh McConnochie - England
Anthony Watson – England
Francois Louw – South Africa

Exeter Chiefs: 6
Stuart Hogg – Scotland
Luke Cowan-Dickie – England
Henry Slade – England
Jack Nowell – England
Nic White – Australia
Tomas Francis – Wales

Bristol Bears: 5
James Lay - Samoa
Jordan Lay - Samoa
Chris Vui - Samoa
Alapati Leiua - Samoa
Siale Piutau – Tonga

Gloucester: 5
Chris Harris – Scotland
Jake Polledri – Italy
Callum Braley – Italy
Franco Mostert – South Africa
Willi Heinz – England

Sale Sharks: 5
Valery Morozov – Russia
Faf de Klerk – South Africa
Tom Curry – England
Mark Wilson – England
AJ MacGinty – USA

Wasps: 2
Matteo Minozzi – Italy
Joe Launchbury – England

Worcester Warriors: 2
Ed Fidow – Samoa
Joe Taufete’e – USA

[matelot22]

Interesting that Tigers are so well represented for England despite hardly hitting the heights of late.

[Heathen]

Interesting that 3 clubs - Sarries, Tigers and Bath supply 19 members of the England squad.

[Rifleman Harris]

Interesting how Sarries loose almost as many as the 2nd and 3rd clubs combined and still stay below the Salary Cap! I know it's been done before, but seen in these terms they do stand out as quite an outlier.

[BG]

Also.. how many former interntionals are still in the Sarries squad that aren't going to the WC.

[Neils]

Also.. how many former interntionals are still in the Sarries squad that aren't going to the WC.

Quite a few "Goode" ones.

[mike909]

Also.. how many former interntionals are still in the Sarries squad that aren't going to the WC.

Quite a few "Goode" ones.

Goode, Skelton, Isiekwe, Calum Clarke, Ben Spencer, Wrigglesworth, Damian Willemse, Barritt, Viliami Hakalo, Loz,

All recent internationals, all 10 of them.......(per Wiki)

Plus Ben Earl - England squad 2019, Malins, Eng U -20's, Tompkins, Saxons and U-20's, Lewington, Saxons, Gallaghar - mere U-20's WC winner.

[matelot22]

How I laughed at this post on DW from SarrieSaint:

I think that's part of walking the walk as well as talking the talk when it comes to looking after your players and their futures. Wiggy has shown he wants to go into coaching and has been supported by the club in that aim. More recently being given time to work with Ealing Trailfinders and now with Canada as the role came up.

Yes, we know how they look after their players and their futures!!!!!

[Tervueren]

It will pay dividends

[BG]

How I laughed at this post on DW from SarrieSaint:

I think that's part of walking the walk as well as talking the talk when it comes to looking after your players and their futures. Wiggy has shown he wants to go into coaching and has been supported by the club in that aim. More recently being given time to work with Ealing Trailfinders and now with Canada as the role came up.

Yes, we know how they look after their players and their futures!!!!!

I noticed the comment and rolled my eyes.

Most clubs will support senior players transition into either coaching or another career but that tends to take place in their own time.

Its very generous of Sarries to give a 1st team player off at the start of the season (maybe he's injured) to go to Japan to help with another team whilst Sarries start their season.. but Sarries are a very generous club.

Talking about the WC, reports are coming out that Howley has been asked to leave the squad and fly back to Wales with immediate effect for breaking World Rugby betting rules