Always a Wasp
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1
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: I see even the well run Saints posted a loss this year
« on: November 24, 2023, 06:37:29 PM »
With the 'well run' clubs posting losses just as the professional game agreement is reaching its final negotiation point, the thought occurs to me is the timing just too convenient?
2
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Well done England
« on: October 22, 2023, 11:49:12 AM »
Surprised to see that no one had started a thread to congratulate England on their performance yesterday,. That was not a training run for SA
3
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Which Club is Next for The Chop?
« on: October 05, 2023, 11:47:06 AM »
Given that Bill Sweeney was talking about English Rugby being "on the cusp of something spectacular" is it just one club?
4
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Baxter talks some sense
« on: September 07, 2023, 12:57:30 PM »
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66727653
Rob Baxter: Premiership Rugby must move on and be positive, says Exeter boss
By Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
Last updated on6 September 2023, 6 September 2023.
Rob Baxter has led Exeter to two Premiership titles and one European Champions Cup since taking charge in March 2009
Exeter boss Rob Baxter says Premiership Rugby and those around it must "move on" from the issues that have affected it over the past year.
Wasps, Worcester and London Irish have all been forced out of the league after going into administration.
Meanwhile there has been controversy over the laws on tackle heights that has seen high-profile suspensions to players such as Owen Farrell.
"We very rarely talk about any good stuff in rugby any more," Baxter said.
"We seem to be infatuated with tackle height at the moment, it seems we just cannot get away from it.
"Regardless of whether we make law changes or not it seems to infatuate people whether someone gets a yellow card or a red card or what the repercussions of it are, that's all that gets talked about in commentary, especially in particular in this country.
"When was the last time we talked about the Premiership being the most competitive league in the world?" Baxter told BBC Sport.
"For games that finish within seven points of each other and tries, the Premiership far outstrips any other competition.
"Yet we talk about it non-stop that this league 'oh teams are going bankrupt and no-one wants to come and watch it'.
"We're actually creating this for ourselves - the whole picture around English rugby we can move on from it, but we all have to decide to move on from it."
Cuts to the salary cap have seen some players leave England to play overseas, with Exeter seeing a host of star names head elsewhere such as Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam and Joe Simmonds.
It means a young squad for Baxter that will have their first competitive test when they host Bristol in the revamped Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday.
"I think we'll see some really vibrant rugby this season, both in the Premiership Cup and the Premiership," Baxter said.
"I think it'll be a really great league because there's no reason to say it won't be as competitive as last year, and last year the competition had so much jeopardy and so many tries and so many tight games that we should have been talking really good things about it."
But the long-serving Exeter boss added: "Has anybody seen a news article in the last week that's not been either an ex-coach or ex-player or someone making a comment on the England team or what's happening?
"There's so few people trying to look for a future and find a way forward and 'lets get ready for the start of a new season and find some excitement around things', it's almost like no-one can ever try and write something that might end up being positive."
Rob Baxter: Premiership Rugby must move on and be positive, says Exeter boss
By Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
Last updated on6 September 2023, 6 September 2023.
Rob Baxter has led Exeter to two Premiership titles and one European Champions Cup since taking charge in March 2009
Exeter boss Rob Baxter says Premiership Rugby and those around it must "move on" from the issues that have affected it over the past year.
Wasps, Worcester and London Irish have all been forced out of the league after going into administration.
Meanwhile there has been controversy over the laws on tackle heights that has seen high-profile suspensions to players such as Owen Farrell.
"We very rarely talk about any good stuff in rugby any more," Baxter said.
"We seem to be infatuated with tackle height at the moment, it seems we just cannot get away from it.
"Regardless of whether we make law changes or not it seems to infatuate people whether someone gets a yellow card or a red card or what the repercussions of it are, that's all that gets talked about in commentary, especially in particular in this country.
"When was the last time we talked about the Premiership being the most competitive league in the world?" Baxter told BBC Sport.
"For games that finish within seven points of each other and tries, the Premiership far outstrips any other competition.
"Yet we talk about it non-stop that this league 'oh teams are going bankrupt and no-one wants to come and watch it'.
"We're actually creating this for ourselves - the whole picture around English rugby we can move on from it, but we all have to decide to move on from it."
Cuts to the salary cap have seen some players leave England to play overseas, with Exeter seeing a host of star names head elsewhere such as Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam and Joe Simmonds.
It means a young squad for Baxter that will have their first competitive test when they host Bristol in the revamped Premiership Rugby Cup on Saturday.
"I think we'll see some really vibrant rugby this season, both in the Premiership Cup and the Premiership," Baxter said.
"I think it'll be a really great league because there's no reason to say it won't be as competitive as last year, and last year the competition had so much jeopardy and so many tries and so many tight games that we should have been talking really good things about it."
But the long-serving Exeter boss added: "Has anybody seen a news article in the last week that's not been either an ex-coach or ex-player or someone making a comment on the England team or what's happening?
"There's so few people trying to look for a future and find a way forward and 'lets get ready for the start of a new season and find some excitement around things', it's almost like no-one can ever try and write something that might end up being positive."
5
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Farrell cleared
« on: August 23, 2023, 08:14:32 PM »
.... when I see that and read something like this on the Beeb:QuoteScrum-half Danny Care says England have been working on their tackle technique every day as they look to improve their discipline for the upcoming World Cup.
A pathetic comment that fools no one but not as bad as Chris Jones on the BBC Rugby Union Weekly pod trying to create a groundswell of opinion to get the head contact red card protocol ammended because two Sarascen players can't tackle properly.
6
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: OT Eddie at it again ...
« on: August 15, 2023, 04:17:10 PM »I think Mike's right, we won't really learn about Borthwick until next year's 6N. The question is if he then isn't up to it, or at least showing he has some vision will the RFU take the hard decisions? Probably not because its hard to see the finances being turned round by then.
Am I right in thinking Borthwick has a contract through to the 2028 RWC?
7
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: OT Eddie at it again ...
« on: August 11, 2023, 04:03:38 PM »
Would you prefer the Borthwick approach to selection or Eddie's?
I'm preferring Eddie's young guns to the Borthwick dour approach and looking forward to seeing if bazball can be applied to rugby.
I'm preferring Eddie's young guns to the Borthwick dour approach and looking forward to seeing if bazball can be applied to rugby.
8
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Why does a 10 team Premiership only work with a strong second division?
« on: June 09, 2023, 12:29:35 PM »
Genuine question.
I've seen the above statement made in many places but no resons as to why? Can anyone enlighten me?
I've seen the above statement made in many places but no resons as to why? Can anyone enlighten me?
9
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: A third way?
« on: June 06, 2023, 09:19:20 PM »... How satisfying would it be to say no thanks to the RFU and just set up a league of 12-14 on terms agreed by all ......
Isn't this what they said before forming PRL?
As much as some may dislike it, the failure of the three premiership clubs tilts the balance of power from the PRL to the RFU.
Instead of being held over a barrel and having to pay ?25M pa to get access to players (which enriches premiership clubs at the expense of the championship clubs and community game) the timing of this crisis is an opportunity to get a more balanced structure to the game in England rather than have the PRL call all the shots
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: It might not be over
« on: May 21, 2023, 12:25:24 PM »
I suspect that this came from PRL as part of the PGA negotiations with the RFU.
11
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Wasps Really Need to Start a Line of Communication
« on: May 20, 2023, 01:19:44 PM »'Wasps Documentary Coming 2024' on the offy. Won't have a pleasant ending.
What about Series 2??
The prequels are well worth watching
12
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: English rugby 'crying out for alignment' to help come out of 'survival mode'
« on: May 13, 2023, 09:14:43 AM »We're off to Ealing to watch Ealing v Jersey in the Championship Cup
I've found something that BTSport is good for - Giro d'Italia- Ciao baby
13
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Worcester - Atlas have until 2nd May to complete purchase
« on: May 02, 2023, 02:42:35 PM »Quote from: Bloke in North Dorset link=topic=5994.msg104567#msg104567 date=1683031158
[url
[url
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/16/bill-sweeney-10-team-premiership-rugby-union-central-contracts[/url][/quote]
Thanks BiND, although to be fair to Sweeney, he was hardly leading the charge for a 10 team league, that was introduced by Baxter and supported by other Premier voices.
My reading is that as part of the PGA negotiation he/the RFU was prepared to agree to 4adical reform of the Premier League and if PRL wanted a 10 team league, he wouldn't let that be a deal breaker.
14
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Worcester - Atlas have until 2nd May to complete purchase
« on: May 02, 2023, 12:33:46 PM »Please - let this be a mistake. At this rate there could be a Premiership 'B' Group forming, and the RFU can then achieve it's (presumably) hoped-for Premiership 'A' Group of 4 permanent nailed-on teams. I hope the RFU are happy 'cos I'm definitely not.
I don't understand how the RFU can be blamed for this. If LI have gone bust it's because their expenses are greater than their income, their greatest expense being the salary cap which has been set exclusively by PRL.
Also I have heard various premiership voices call for a reduced league but not the RFU. If I'm wrong, please enlighten me.
15
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Worcester - Atlas have until 2nd May to complete purchase
« on: May 01, 2023, 01:07:04 PM »Strikes me the brake on things is also the most fundamental- funding. Wasps did say a while back two models were on the table. Funded and pro or non funded and amateur. I guess we?re looking at the second option given the timescales - possibly at Henley.
Not sure what you mean by non funded Shugs as a championship side needs additional funding over and above the RFU current funding.
Locating in Henley as a championship side without the clear expectation and route to a swift return to the Premiership is also likely to raise objections from Rams, Chinnor and Henley, all of a similar standard to unfunded New Wasps, albeit all better organised to raise the funds required to operate at that level.