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31
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: New CCFC signing hint over Ricoh Arena deal
« on: May 16, 2019, 10:10:22 AM »Imagine the first negotiation meeting to arrange the lease deal. The very first question Wasps would have asked SISU is "Have you stopped all legal proceedings?" I suppose they could have answered "yes" and think they are technically correct or that their lawyers could argue they are technically correct. But these negotiations have been going on for weeks and SISU never mentioned to Wasps that they've submitted a complaint to the Euro Commission... Why not, if it's all above board and isn't legal action and etc etc. Just more bad faith and attempts to mislead.
Not sure SISU would have been in the meetings. It would be Wasps, Otium and CCFC. They could only answer for themselves and may not have known.
SISU will sit with a halo on saying "we weren't part of the negotiations so didn't have to tell."
Richardson is IMHO being honest in his statement. Had he known about SISU he would not have opened discussions.
32
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Borthwick turned us down
« on: May 15, 2019, 09:35:58 AM »
Full text from the Times
Steve Borthwick rejects move to Wasps
Steve Borthwick has shown his long-term commitment to England by turning down an approach by Wasps to join their coaching staff after the World Cup this autumn.
The England forwards coach, however, could be the only member of the coaching staff left after the World Cup in Japan because almost all of his colleagues are due to leave. Eddie Jones, the head coach, is contracted for two more seasons, although his future is so uncertain that the RFU has publicly discussed his possible replacement.
Wasps have been looking for a senior coach to work under Dai Young, the director of rugby, only to be thwarted by international unions. First Shaun Edwards, the Wales defence coach, turned down a job offer from Wasps to join France after the World Cup ends in early November. Borthwick is understood to have been one of the favoured candidates for the position but, having given it serious consideration, the 39-year-old former England captain decided to stay put.
After the World Cup, England are set to lose Neal Hatley, the scrum coach who is joining Bath. The contract of Scott Wisemantel, the attack coach, runs out after the tournament and he is likely to return to Australia. John Mitchell, the defence coach, is also on a contract that runs out after the World Cup.
There is no certainty whether Jones will stay or go, although departure is the more likely option. This would leave Borthwick as the lone man standing.
Borthwick’s rejection of the Wasps job suggests that he intends to remain with England. There are few senior roles available in the coaching market and the Wasps job is one of the best available.
It would not have been a great surprise if, after four years with the national side, he wanted to embrace the day-to-day challenge of club rugby, which is the same decision that was made last summer by Paul Gustard, then the England defence coach, who quit his position in favour of joining Harlequins as the head of rugby. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding who will be joining Borthwick on the England coaching staff when the World Cup finishes on November 2.
This gives England only three months to have their next coaching team in place for the start of the 2020 Six Nations Championship. England’s preparations for the Six Nations and the years after the World Cup appear to be some way behind their international rivals.
One option was officially ruled out yesterday when the RFU confirmed that Dean Ryan was to leave his position as its head of international player development to join Dragons, the Welsh Pro14 club, as director of rugby.
The RFU thanked Ryan yesterday for his “commitment”, even though he left after only three years in the job and made a number of highly respected age-grade coaches redundant.
Steve Borthwick rejects move to Wasps
Steve Borthwick has shown his long-term commitment to England by turning down an approach by Wasps to join their coaching staff after the World Cup this autumn.
The England forwards coach, however, could be the only member of the coaching staff left after the World Cup in Japan because almost all of his colleagues are due to leave. Eddie Jones, the head coach, is contracted for two more seasons, although his future is so uncertain that the RFU has publicly discussed his possible replacement.
Wasps have been looking for a senior coach to work under Dai Young, the director of rugby, only to be thwarted by international unions. First Shaun Edwards, the Wales defence coach, turned down a job offer from Wasps to join France after the World Cup ends in early November. Borthwick is understood to have been one of the favoured candidates for the position but, having given it serious consideration, the 39-year-old former England captain decided to stay put.
After the World Cup, England are set to lose Neal Hatley, the scrum coach who is joining Bath. The contract of Scott Wisemantel, the attack coach, runs out after the tournament and he is likely to return to Australia. John Mitchell, the defence coach, is also on a contract that runs out after the World Cup.
There is no certainty whether Jones will stay or go, although departure is the more likely option. This would leave Borthwick as the lone man standing.
Borthwick’s rejection of the Wasps job suggests that he intends to remain with England. There are few senior roles available in the coaching market and the Wasps job is one of the best available.
It would not have been a great surprise if, after four years with the national side, he wanted to embrace the day-to-day challenge of club rugby, which is the same decision that was made last summer by Paul Gustard, then the England defence coach, who quit his position in favour of joining Harlequins as the head of rugby. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding who will be joining Borthwick on the England coaching staff when the World Cup finishes on November 2.
This gives England only three months to have their next coaching team in place for the start of the 2020 Six Nations Championship. England’s preparations for the Six Nations and the years after the World Cup appear to be some way behind their international rivals.
One option was officially ruled out yesterday when the RFU confirmed that Dean Ryan was to leave his position as its head of international player development to join Dragons, the Welsh Pro14 club, as director of rugby.
The RFU thanked Ryan yesterday for his “commitment”, even though he left after only three years in the job and made a number of highly respected age-grade coaches redundant.
33
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Sale the new Saffracens
« on: May 14, 2019, 11:05:39 AM »
It's a Shark's shirt I think.
More Saffas to come
https://www.planetrugby.com/du-preez-twins-sign-loan-deals-at-sale-sharks/
More Saffas to come
https://www.planetrugby.com/du-preez-twins-sign-loan-deals-at-sale-sharks/
35
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: 2 Tickets to the Quins Game
« on: May 13, 2019, 10:14:00 AM »
Home found for them.
37
Wasps Rugby Discussion / OT Just who are Saracens fans - and where are they all? From the Telegraph
« on: May 10, 2019, 06:04:54 PM »
Telegraph Sport Rugby Union
Just who are Saracens fans - and where are they all?
There are expected to be fewer than 5,000 Saracens fans at Saturday's Champions Cup final
It is hard work finding a Saracens fan. They might be the most successful English rugby club of the last decade, with the chance to be crowned European champions for a third time against Leinster this weekend, but take a walk in the streets around their Allianz Park home and there is almost zero chance of spotting a Sarries shirt. Indeed, beyond a few electronic billboards advertising season tickets on the West Way and North Circular, it feels the club might as well not exist.
To find 'Sarries country' you must delve deep into that odd hinterland where north London suburbs blend into Hertfordshire green belt. The fans you find there seem a passionate bunch, albeit characterised by a certain civilised gentility. Ask why this turbo-charged club, boasting some of the world's finest rugby players - including England captain Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and the Vunipola brothers - remains something of a fringe interest when it comes to support, and the answers tend to be the same: the area's big football clubs, Tottenham and Arsenal, suck support away.
Indeed, for many Saracens fans, football was their first love. Fraser Collett-Gorton was a lifelong Arsenal supporter but a combination of falling for rugby culture and the soaring prices of Premier League season tickets have made him a Saracens devotee - even if he is careful to point that his enthusiasm has limits. “I wouldn’t describe myself as fanatical, that has certain connotations that I am not comfortable with it," he says. "But I would say that I am passionate about Saracens."
Saracens' problem is that followers like Fraser are an endangered species. There are expected to be fewer than 5,000 fans travelling to Saturday's Champions Cup final at St James’s Park in Newcastle, with the majority of the sell-out crowd of 51,500 expected to be wearing either the blue of Leinster or the red of Munster, the latter having bought tickets in advance and will attend regardless of their side's 32-16 defeat to Saracens in the semi-finals.
Saracens cannot be accused of not trying to swell their ranks. A travelling fans' group - Sarries on Tour - was set up by Collett-Gorton and Claire Gonzalez, another who converted to rugby after many frustrating years supporting Newcastle United, in a bid to boost the numbers of travelling fans.
One striking aspect of the club's support is the number of women - and in particular single women - who attend matches. "With Sarries on Tour we get a lot of single women coming with us," Collet-Gorton says. "It is difficult to know why but Saracens is very friendly and a very sociable environment. I think women feel safe and comfortable coming to games by themselves. There is a lot of women in the Sarries on Tour group that come on their own and they make friendships because of it. It's not about looking for love but fair enough if they find it!”
John Trigg, Chair of the Saracens' Supporters Association, who are officially linked to the club, puts it another way. “I am not sure if they would set up a dating agency in the club but I dare say they could if they wanted to!”
Frenchwoman Veronique Landew, another who swerves the 'fanatic' label in favour of “Saracens aficionado”, believes the “convivial” atmosphere at Allianz Park, where supporters can sip on craft beer and chow down on wood-fired pizza, has helped broaden the club's appeal.
The club is certainly keen to target a younger demographic and have made inroads into their local community through setting up Saracens High School and initiating projects such as working with young offenders, but attracting supporters from outside middle-class backgrounds has been a struggle.
“I sometimes think that is rugby's downfall," adds Gonzalez. "I think rugby is still seen by a lot of people as being a public school thing in England. I would like to see that change - I have met people, and not just Saracens fans but others, who are very snobby about the sport in general.”
In the mean time, it is about taking baby steps. One of Gummer's more innovative projects is a recent deal to play their London derby against Harlequins at Tottenham’s new stadium, part of an effort to tap into that area's working-class background. “We are trying to reach out to new audiences and if we can get the football audience in north London some exposure to rugby that might help us to grow rugby in this area,” he says.
"We hope to create content that would appeal to both sets of fans. We have a lot of similarities, we both work with Nike as a brand, we both have leading England players. There are so many nice parallels that would work well from a marketing perspective.”
An advertising campaign featuring two England captains in Owen Farrell and Harry Kane would be the definition of an easy sell. But in the mean time, Saracens and their band of 'aficianados' will have to keep punching above their weight, off the field at least.
Just who are Saracens fans - and where are they all?
There are expected to be fewer than 5,000 Saracens fans at Saturday's Champions Cup final
It is hard work finding a Saracens fan. They might be the most successful English rugby club of the last decade, with the chance to be crowned European champions for a third time against Leinster this weekend, but take a walk in the streets around their Allianz Park home and there is almost zero chance of spotting a Sarries shirt. Indeed, beyond a few electronic billboards advertising season tickets on the West Way and North Circular, it feels the club might as well not exist.
To find 'Sarries country' you must delve deep into that odd hinterland where north London suburbs blend into Hertfordshire green belt. The fans you find there seem a passionate bunch, albeit characterised by a certain civilised gentility. Ask why this turbo-charged club, boasting some of the world's finest rugby players - including England captain Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and the Vunipola brothers - remains something of a fringe interest when it comes to support, and the answers tend to be the same: the area's big football clubs, Tottenham and Arsenal, suck support away.
Indeed, for many Saracens fans, football was their first love. Fraser Collett-Gorton was a lifelong Arsenal supporter but a combination of falling for rugby culture and the soaring prices of Premier League season tickets have made him a Saracens devotee - even if he is careful to point that his enthusiasm has limits. “I wouldn’t describe myself as fanatical, that has certain connotations that I am not comfortable with it," he says. "But I would say that I am passionate about Saracens."
Saracens' problem is that followers like Fraser are an endangered species. There are expected to be fewer than 5,000 fans travelling to Saturday's Champions Cup final at St James’s Park in Newcastle, with the majority of the sell-out crowd of 51,500 expected to be wearing either the blue of Leinster or the red of Munster, the latter having bought tickets in advance and will attend regardless of their side's 32-16 defeat to Saracens in the semi-finals.
Saracens cannot be accused of not trying to swell their ranks. A travelling fans' group - Sarries on Tour - was set up by Collett-Gorton and Claire Gonzalez, another who converted to rugby after many frustrating years supporting Newcastle United, in a bid to boost the numbers of travelling fans.
One striking aspect of the club's support is the number of women - and in particular single women - who attend matches. "With Sarries on Tour we get a lot of single women coming with us," Collet-Gorton says. "It is difficult to know why but Saracens is very friendly and a very sociable environment. I think women feel safe and comfortable coming to games by themselves. There is a lot of women in the Sarries on Tour group that come on their own and they make friendships because of it. It's not about looking for love but fair enough if they find it!”
John Trigg, Chair of the Saracens' Supporters Association, who are officially linked to the club, puts it another way. “I am not sure if they would set up a dating agency in the club but I dare say they could if they wanted to!”
Frenchwoman Veronique Landew, another who swerves the 'fanatic' label in favour of “Saracens aficionado”, believes the “convivial” atmosphere at Allianz Park, where supporters can sip on craft beer and chow down on wood-fired pizza, has helped broaden the club's appeal.
The club is certainly keen to target a younger demographic and have made inroads into their local community through setting up Saracens High School and initiating projects such as working with young offenders, but attracting supporters from outside middle-class backgrounds has been a struggle.
“I sometimes think that is rugby's downfall," adds Gonzalez. "I think rugby is still seen by a lot of people as being a public school thing in England. I would like to see that change - I have met people, and not just Saracens fans but others, who are very snobby about the sport in general.”
In the mean time, it is about taking baby steps. One of Gummer's more innovative projects is a recent deal to play their London derby against Harlequins at Tottenham’s new stadium, part of an effort to tap into that area's working-class background. “We are trying to reach out to new audiences and if we can get the football audience in north London some exposure to rugby that might help us to grow rugby in this area,” he says.
"We hope to create content that would appeal to both sets of fans. We have a lot of similarities, we both work with Nike as a brand, we both have leading England players. There are so many nice parallels that would work well from a marketing perspective.”
An advertising campaign featuring two England captains in Owen Farrell and Harry Kane would be the definition of an easy sell. But in the mean time, Saracens and their band of 'aficianados' will have to keep punching above their weight, off the field at least.
38
Wasps Rugby Discussion / 2 Tickets to the Quins Game
« on: May 09, 2019, 06:48:16 PM »
For once in my life I won a prize in a competition! 2 tickets to the Quins game. Unfortunately I am unable to use them so they are up for grabs.
East Stand Block E17 Row HH seats 10 and 11.
Any takers?
East Stand Block E17 Row HH seats 10 and 11.
Any takers?
39
Wasps Rugby Discussion / England squad for U20 world cup - 2 Waspies
« on: May 07, 2019, 03:08:28 PM »40
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Last Minute Change for Wasps.
« on: May 06, 2019, 09:34:08 AM »
Some thoughts an where we have "issues"
WLR is a conundrum.
He was an absolute star for his Franchise and for the Boks. He then became flakey and we signed him when he was out of favour in ZA and was playing poorly. He was doing many of the same things he is doing now. seeming to be impetuous, making ill-judged passes and putting his team and team mates in trouble.
Fast forward to today. He played some blinding rugby for us in the past couple of seasons, as he did in ZA both for his Franchise and for the Boks when at the top of his game now is back to his bad self.
Who is the real WLR? I think he has a kind of short attention span type problem and when things don't go his way he disintegrates.
We lost JG through injury early in the season. We had no leadership in the backs. Yesterday was a prime example of losing control of a game through lack of leadership. Once Launch had gone off we had no leadership in the forwards either.
Maybe next season we will have JG back to his best. However we must identify a (more) leader(s) in the backs.
Miller, nice guy...
Bassett not really worth his place at the moment
JdJ not a leader but a grafter
Gaby off
Watson not a leader
Simpson off, thank God as past his best
Lima not based on anything I have seen so far
Robbo possibly if he plays again
Searle not got the "je ne said quoi"
Our new Italian unlikely
Fekitoa Possible but I fear not
Vellacott depends on Robbo
Bouj .....next
We need as a minimum a Fraser Waters (Brad Barrett for the EE) and ideally a Kinga, Umaga?
WLR is a conundrum.
He was an absolute star for his Franchise and for the Boks. He then became flakey and we signed him when he was out of favour in ZA and was playing poorly. He was doing many of the same things he is doing now. seeming to be impetuous, making ill-judged passes and putting his team and team mates in trouble.
Fast forward to today. He played some blinding rugby for us in the past couple of seasons, as he did in ZA both for his Franchise and for the Boks when at the top of his game now is back to his bad self.
Who is the real WLR? I think he has a kind of short attention span type problem and when things don't go his way he disintegrates.
We lost JG through injury early in the season. We had no leadership in the backs. Yesterday was a prime example of losing control of a game through lack of leadership. Once Launch had gone off we had no leadership in the forwards either.
Maybe next season we will have JG back to his best. However we must identify a (more) leader(s) in the backs.
Miller, nice guy...
Bassett not really worth his place at the moment
JdJ not a leader but a grafter
Gaby off
Watson not a leader
Simpson off, thank God as past his best
Lima not based on anything I have seen so far
Robbo possibly if he plays again
Searle not got the "je ne said quoi"
Our new Italian unlikely
Fekitoa Possible but I fear not
Vellacott depends on Robbo
Bouj .....next
We need as a minimum a Fraser Waters (Brad Barrett for the EE) and ideally a Kinga, Umaga?
41
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Last Minute Change for Wasps.
« on: May 05, 2019, 04:57:02 PM »
Got what we deserved. Nothing.
42
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Willie le Roux interview: From Wasps to Japan, but will it be for the Rugby Worl
« on: May 05, 2019, 02:24:53 PM »Willie le Roux interview: From Wasps to Japan, but will it be for the Rugby World Cup?
You would hardly describe Willie le Roux's playing style as cautious, but when the the electric Wasps full-back discusses his potential involvement with the Springboks later this year, he is understandably tentative.
Still just 29, Le Roux broke back into South Africa's side last year, fulfilling his role as one of the wiser heads in a young backline.
Le Roux is heading to Japan whatever happens, leaving Wasps at the end of the season after two and a half years to join Jake White's Toyota Verblitz.
The only question is when will he arrive: in December once his Rugby World Cup is over with South Africa - the final takes place on the first of November - or in August having missed out on selection. The former seems far more likely, despite Le Roux’s humility, after a run of excellent performances last year.
"There is so much talent in South Africa and all over the world so it is going to be tough to pick 31 players to go to Japan. I would not want that job," he admits.
Le Roux's return to the Springbok fold last summer, having not played Test rugby for over a year, found him selected in a back three with two debutants in Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sbu Nkosi against England. Dyantyi went on to be named Breakthrough Player of the Year and Le Roux reestablished himself as one of the world's premier full-backs.
It has been quite the resurgence. Le Roux's form had tailed off dramatically towards the end of his time in South Africa with the Sharks before he thrived at Wasps. Rassie Erasmus, the new Springbok head coach, effectively gave Le Roux a license to take risks, without major consequences.
"That first Test against England it was both of the wingers’ first starts and we found ourselves 25-3 down after 20 minutes. I don’t think they know what happened. But we came back and those new guys scored a couple of tries. Unbelievable talents. In South Africa, you never know what is coming next. My advice to them is to always fun.
"I played Super Rugby for the Sharks and they said other people were playing better, and I took that on the chin. I knew what I had to work on. I was not good enough for Springbok rugby at the time.
"I went in last summer trying to be my old self, to have fun. Not bothered what people say. They say you can do one good thing and five bad things, I am always going to try, I am not going to stop. I was just having fun and Rassie gave me an opportunity, and said to express myself. It is nice if a coach backs you like that."
Moving to Wasps has revitalised Le Roux's career and his gratitude towards the club is genuine. He arrived in Coventry at the start of 2017 and five months later found himself starting in the Premiership final against Exeter. The outcome of that game still haunts him, when Wasps defeated were in extra time under the baking Twickenham sun.
"It was my first season, only four months and into a final. The semi-final, a sell-out at the Ricoh with us winning in the last minute against Leicester was unbelievable," Le Roux recalls.
"And then we came so close at Twickenham, leading with two minutes to go. It is mental how it works out. I still think about it. It would have been nice to win a trophy."
Wasps were back in the play-offs last season with Le Roux at the peak of his powers, providing 21 assists.
Before this weekend's matches they were still mathematically in the mix for the semi-finals, but this will be remembered as a testing campaign for Wasps, hindered by injury with an overall air of transition.
The win over Exeter Chiefs a few weeks back was a lightning bolt, reminding us all of how good Wasps can be at their imperious best.
"It is tough. We are not going as well as we went in past seasons but it is not down to a lack of effort. New guys have come in, we have had loads of injuries, could never get the same team every week.
"Nine and ten combinations are very important and we have had three different nines and 10s so far. That is the core of your team.
"The calls have not gone our way. Sometimes you think the referees call it your way, but this season it feels like none of them have gone our way. Sometimes that is just how it goes.
"I haven’t left yet. I still have a job to do here and that job is to reach the semi-finals, finishing in the top four. I still believe we can do it." When he eventually does say goodbye, Le Roux will depart as a vastly improved player compared to two years ago
43
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Shaun and Wales parting company confirmed
« on: May 02, 2019, 10:34:20 AM »45
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Could we be in a similar place?
« on: April 30, 2019, 03:14:26 PM »You can see his in football - my team (been a supporter since the late 60's) Fulham got to the final of the Europa Cup, beating Juve 4-0 along the way with a coach who was experienced but just happened to be in the right place at the right time (for Fulham) and not really for England!
Interesting. There are quite a few Wasps supporters I know who are Fulham supporters as well. I started in the late 50's with Johnny Haynes, Graham Leggat, George Cohen and of course Jimmy Hill!!