Watson out of WC

[Neils]

Rugby World Cup: England wing Anthony Watson ruled out of the World Cup - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66608039

[baldpaul101]

No mention of what will happen to him now.
He is officially "unattached". Presumably England will pay his wages till the WC is over, but what then?
For me he's one of few proven world class players England have available, I hope he recovers soon & finds a club to play for.
Not only gutting for him that he will miss the WC but also worrying about what happens next

[Neils]

I thought there was an agreement in place that his part paid by the RFU and will play for Tigers - who presumably will make up the shortfall.

[FishingWasp]

Genuine, if pointed, question:-
Does the element paid centrally count towards Tigers cap? Or does this leave the door open for "manipulation" of the cap?

[baldpaul101]

My understanding was that he doesn't play for any club at the moment. Tigers couldn't afford to renew his contract as he wouldn't be available till after the world cup.

It was never clear what would happen after the world cup AFAIK

[baldpaul101]

This was the Telegraph article at the time. My bold, "re-sign" being the operative word. Would they want to re-sign him potentially with an injury?

Anthony Watson has become the first male England player to sign a training contract with the Rugby Football Union, paving the way for the wing to stay in the Premiership with Leicester Tigers after the World Cup.

Watson is listed as ?unattached? in the latest England squad update issued on Monday but Telegraph Sport understands the 29-year-old will be paid directly by the RFU through to the end of the World Cup after his previous contract with Leicester expired. Tigers are in pole position to re-sign Watson following the tournament.

French clubs, including Castres, had been circling Watson and it is thought the RFU was encouraged to make its move at the behest of England head coach Steve Borthwick, who wanted to keep him in the Premiership ? and thus available for selection ? after the World Cup. Watson was one of the few shining lights for England in a Six Nations campaign in which they finished fourth.

RFU insiders are at pains to emphasise this is not the same as a central contract like in Ireland, where the Irish Rugby Union directly pays the wages of its leading players. Instead it was an act of short-term expediency after Watson?s deal with Leicester came to an end. As Telegraph Sport previously reported, Watson struggled to find his market value in the Premiership as a result of the minimal salary-cap compensation clubs would receive during his lengthy absences in a World Cup season.

The move is not completely without precedent. Centre Ben Te?o was also offered a training contract before the 2019 World Cup, although that was rescinded when he was cut from Eddie Jones?s squad following his brawl with Mike Brown at a training camp in Treviso.

RFU and Leicester remain tight-lipped over deal
Yet the RFU is still playing with fire by signing Watson. Other Premiership clubs could perceive that the RFU is handing Leicester a unique advantage by paying for Watson?s absence during the World Cup. Such is the sensitivity of the subject that neither the RFU nor Leicester were prepared to comment upon the deal.

At the end of last season, Leicester were unable to re-sign Watson due to salary-cap restraints, but the training contract and Harry Potter?s departure to Western Force have opened up the fund for Watson to remain at Welford Road. Leicester have already bolstered their back-three options with the signings of Ollie Hassell-Collins and Josh Bassett from London Irish and Harlequins, while veteran full-back Mike Brown will remain at the club as cover during the World Cup.

[FishingWasp]

Thanks BP101. That makes it clear.... As mud.
Surely the RFU/PRL would not give Tigers (or any other club) an opportunity to effectively break the cap without breaking the cap, disadvantaging the other clubs? After all, they are so good at thinking announcements through beforehand (like the tackle height change) No wonder they are tight lipped.

[Neils]

Rumours Daly out as well. Team improving by the day if true.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Thanks BP101. That makes it clear.... As mud.
Surely the RFU/PRL would not give Tigers (or any other club) an opportunity to effectively break the cap without breaking the cap, disadvantaging the other clubs? After all, they are so good at thinking announcements through beforehand (like the tackle height change) No wonder they are tight lipped.

Surely ... really ... of course they would. But, if he has not signed for them yet, they will not take him on while injured.