Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: Steve from Cov on July 21, 2020, 07:24:51 PM
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On his way to the Dragons?
Shame.
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Leaves us light.
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https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-lock-rowlands-poised-join-18637419
By the sounds of it he's waiting for us to sign a replacement before leaving.
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We won't have a lot to play with in terms of salary, as I expect he isn't one of the higher earners. This article looks like it reflects reality, personally I am really disappointed but I have faith that Lee will have a plan, as it won't have come as a total surprise if the article is true.
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Perhaps sacrificing Rowlands for Tibo? Or will he also follow Rowlands and join his respective international team?
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Good player, gives his all but equally replaceable. Cardall looks good and we brought in Miles. I think we'll survive
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We need a enforcer, Gaskell, Tibo, and Cardell all useful but we need a heavyweight in the engine room to boss the mauls and cover when Launchers is not available. Someone who has been around the block and in their early thirties would be ideal.
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Christian Scotland-Williamson has just been waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he was a tight end. I think he'll probably head back to the UK and will be looking for a job. He's 6ft 9inches and weighs 6 pounds short of 20 stone. If we haven't got anyone lined up to replace Will, would we be interested and would we need him?
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This is a big loss, not many locks around that are that size with his skill set.
I would be throwing the money at keeping Tibo, who clearly is in this mould, already dad good as Rowlands but a lot younger or finally biting the bullet and shelling out for an international quality lock from somewhere.
I think Edwards can be a canny signing but we have not really replaced Symonds since he left and also did not get the best value for money for him.
Plenty of big lumps around SA and Australia that could still be tempted by the money up here I’m sure
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This is a big loss, not many locks around that are that size with his skill set.
I would be throwing the money at keeping Tibo, who clearly is in this mould, already dad good as Rowlands but a lot younger or finally biting the bullet and shelling out for an international quality lock from somewhere.
I think Edwards can be a canny signing but we have not really replaced Symonds since he left and also did not get the best value for money for him.
Plenty of big lumps around SA and Australia that could still be tempted by the money up here I’m sure
Agree. If we could tie Tibo down on a 2 year deal that would be good business by wasps.
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Plenty of big lumps around SA and Australia that could still be tempted by the money up here I’m sure
Sure there’ll be a few SA locks who want some stability ahead of a possible breakaway from super rugby and a few NZ and AU players who’ll be free agents once their super rugby seasons are done, just in time for the start of the new NH season
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As good as Tibo has done he is not an enforcer and is wispy as hell..in that regard he'll never be a Rowlands. Edwards is a Rowlands size I believe.
We shouldn't plan around Tibo nor throw the blank cheque at him, he has said he wants to play in France, that aint gonna change.
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Losing Rowlands is a big loss. But it's not a catastrophe. I have a feeling Launchbury may not be away internationally as much this year. Agree we shouldn't plan around Tibo - he will follow his international ambitions. So I think we'll have to get someone in and as mentioned above it's probably going to be a SH option. As a footnote international ramifications aside what a terrible option for Rowlands.
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Reading between the lines Rowlands still had another season (20/21) left on his contract but took the oppotunity to not accept the immediate contract re-negotiations to move to a Welsh region a season early but wants to stay to finish off the 19/20 season
I think Tibo still has 1 more year on his academy contract so Wasps presumably don't see the need to promote him yet. If it wasn't for the current Covid affected transfer market I'd say that was a risky move. It won't have escaped his notice that he has probably contributed more to the 19/20 season that some other squad members earning 10x times more.
I hope the management offer him a decent senior contract this autumn for next season. Given his current status as an academy player with 1 season behind him, I can't see moving to a French club as he'll proably end up 3rd/4th choice and will get limited game time.
In my opinion he would be better staying here for another 2 seasons to develop into becoming a player a Top 14 club would sign as a starting 2nd row
PS
Forget to highlight another part of the WalesOnline article...
Tomkins.. another Sarries 1 yr loan player.. grrrrr
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Will indeed had one more year but teams leave themselves open to players re-thinking when asked to take a reduction - at least he is being open about it.
Tibo has one more of Senior Academy player but has stated in the French press he will return to France on its completion. I am not sure what you can offer to counteract somebody's national pride. Also as I understand it (could be very wrong) a player in the SenAc cannot be promoted until the completion of his contract nor have his wages legally increased (see what I said there EAs). He will know his worth now having replaced both Will and Joe through the last year. I would prefer him to stay but can't see it.
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I would have thought Rowlands would have stayed for the final year on his contract but guess the re-negotiations left it open for him to leave.
I assume none of the other Welsh regions were interested currently but to go to Dragons and get bettered week-in week-out seems like a step backwards.
I hope this doesn't affect his Welsh ambitions as his form could take a hit, probably why Cory Hill has moved on.
Tibo is a different situation. Him moving to France doesn't help whatever team he moves to as he isn't in their French player requirements, he would be classed as a foreign player so it is a big risk for any French team. I guess we need to see how that one plays out.
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Is this essentially the same scenario that Tiggers have been faced with recently? Does this also mean that any of the other senior squad members who haven't recently signed new contracts are in a similar position whereby they can move on?
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Is this essentially the same scenario that Tiggers have been faced with recently? Does this also mean that any of the other senior squad members who haven't recently signed new contracts are in a similar position whereby they can move on?
Probably - from Sunday's TRP it looked like Lima was looking to move. Just quieter than the Tigers hooha
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I remain sceptical until this is confirmed. I’ve previously expressed my scepticism about the benefits to him of moving to Newport even if, as claimed, the WRU will pay 80% of whatever salary he might have been offered.
He’s already in the Wales squad so can stay with Wasps for another season and then, like Francis at Exeter, “extend” his contract.
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The Dragons is not a step up, for sure.
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Looks like this deal is off due to wage restructuring.
Just trying to find an official link about it
Edit: this is the best link I can find at the moment... It actually seems more like speculation than anything definitive
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/new-plans-cut-welsh-rugby-18662366
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Sounds messy, where does that leave both players then? Is Rowlands now without a contract for next season? Hopefully Wasps can encourage him to sign a long term deal.
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Yet to be officially announced, doesn't indicate its off to me just yet.
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Sounds messy, where does that leave both players then? Is Rowlands now without a contract for next season? Hopefully Wasps can encourage him to sign a long term deal.
There are a lot of if and unknowns about this story.
If Rowlands declined to accept new terms on his current contract then that contract will now be terminated (so I'm not sure how he intended to leave on amicable terms by finishing the 19/20 season off with Wasps)
He may have been advised by his agent that doing so would allow him to move to one of the Welsh regions 1 yr early. I'm not quite sure why he would do that though because if he'd seen his contract out with us he would still be available for selection for Wales.
Would he be earning more at Dragons compared to his contract less 25% at Wasps?
Given the WRU partly finance the regions (maybe WRU want to reduce that burden), and the WRU and regions are in a financial hole, moving to them now (and not a year later) seems like a risky move.
If Rowlands now changes his mind and decides to stay at wasps, he will have to sign a new contract at probably even less than his last contract less 25% (as Wasps know he has no other options), and being a new contract, he won't be available for Wales selection.
Having typed the above, I'm struggling to believe the online story.
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If no Welsh region offers him a competitive contract, then he can sign for Wasps and still be eligible for Wales.
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Neither Wasps, Dragons nor Rowlands have confirmed, or denied, the original story.
Perhaps it was, heavens forbid, media speculation or even an agent-inspired story trying to get a better deal (I'm sure that doesn't happen though :) )
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If no Welsh region offers him a competitive contract, then he can sign for Wasps and still be eligible for Wales.
Where did you read that?
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If no Welsh region offers him a competitive contract, then he can sign for Wasps and still be eligible for Wales.
Where did you read that?
Ages ago when they released the new qualifications details. If no Welsh region offers a competitive contract, the player is still available. Of course, what qualifies as competitive can be argued, but no offer is definitely not competitive.
I suspect that's actually how Francis has stayed available, Wales need him, and he wants to stay with Exeter, he tells them as much and they just don't offer a contract, everyone is "happy".
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Except Francis has opted to end his Intl career by resigning for Exeter as he is no longer eligible.
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Except Francis has opted to end his Intl career by resigning for Exeter as he is no longer eligible.
He's done that a few times now and still manages to pull on a Welsh jersey. Looks like he will again:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/confusing-tomas-francis-loophole-potential-18591656
Though now I'm looking it looks like the requirement for an offer by a region counts any more.
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As he indicates its over you have to think there is no loophole as previous with the rollover wording...opens a can of worms but time will tell
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I suspect loopholes will be found if Wales decide they need him.
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Given the financial constraints on the WRU and regions, I'm wondering if the selection criteria will be shelved, especially seeing it was probably a requirement instigated by Gatland.
Its not as if Rowlands (presuming he lives in Warwickshire somewhere), is a 4 hour flight away from a Wales training camp.
I presume the criteria was brought in with the prospect (a few seasons ago) of a mass exodus of Welsh players to France, not players in the EPL who have Welsh lineage, who were already plying their trade in the EPL
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If no Welsh region offers him a competitive contract, then he can sign for Wasps and still be eligible for Wales.
Where did you read that?
Ages ago when they released the new qualifications details. If no Welsh region offers a competitive contract, the player is still available. Of course, what qualifies as competitive can be argued, but no offer is definitely not competitive.
If whoever the latest French club is to be throwing Euros around like confetti were to make a very generous offer to any Welsh player and the WRU/regions were unable to get close to that, then it stands that no Welsh region is offering a contract that is competitive against what is on the table elsewhere, so said player is free to take the money on offer and still qualify. Makes a nonsense of the whole thing really.
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If no Welsh region offers him a competitive contract, then he can sign for Wasps and still be eligible for Wales.
Where did you read that?
Ages ago when they released the new qualifications details. If no Welsh region offers a competitive contract, the player is still available. Of course, what qualifies as competitive can be argued, but no offer is definitely not competitive.
If whoever the latest French club is to be throwing Euros around like confetti were to make a very generous offer to any Welsh player and the WRU/regions were unable to get close to that, then it stands that no Welsh region is offering a contract that is competitive against what is on the table elsewhere, so said player is free to take the money on offer and still qualify. Makes a nonsense of the whole thing really.
That all comes down to the definition of competitive.
If said French club offered a player €800k, but 5 other UK/European clubs are offering the same player £4-500k then it could be claimed £4-500k is competitive (if other players with similar experience and skills are on £4-500k), that could mean the €800k is excessive not competitive. Not sure how the legalities work on that.
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I've always had doubts as to whether national unions having more control/time of the players they choose to select actually leads to improved team performances.
The obvious example is SA who had players taking part in the WC scattered across various leagues
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With such a short career Rugby players must in all honesty follow the money. If they are hell bent on playing for their country then they will cut their cloth to suit but those on the periphery have to get as much for their skills as they can. If they don't then injury tomorrow could curtail it all.
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I have lost touch with whether he is: staying with us; joining Dragons; or no decision as yet with all this speculation. Can someone enlighten me please.
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I have lost touch with whether he is: staying with us; joining Dragons; or no decision as yet with all this speculation. Can someone enlighten me please.
He is under contract with Wasps so currently is still with us until the end of next season. However that may change!