Always a Wasp
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16
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Could This Be the Start of Central Contracts in English Rugby?
« on: July 21, 2023, 05:16:01 PM »I am slightly confused here.
Surely he would be paid by the England for the period of the world cup. If he had a contract with Tigers, or anyone else, they would be paying him as well.
So does this deal pay him his England money AND his club money?
Presumably there is no guarantee that Tigers will re-sign him post world cup, how long will England pay his club wages if no wants him? What if he gets injured at the RWC (not an unlikely occurrence given his past medical history)? Who will want to sign him then?
My guess is both but you'd like to think that the Tigers money is substantially lower than what he was paid before and all the RFU payments are doing is bringing his salary up to a value around what he was earning before (we don't live in an ideal world so it will remain to be seen just how much of an advantage Tigers are getting out of this).
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Could This Be the Start of Central Contracts in English Rugby?
« on: July 21, 2023, 04:56:41 PM »That's one way to bypass the cap. Open season.
Exactly this.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Could This Be the Start of Central Contracts in English Rugby?
« on: July 21, 2023, 01:31:01 PM »
It's certainly the start of something, I'd say. IMO, this deal alone already highlights the issues around favouritism and trying to keep a level playing field.
Central contracts work in Ireland for two main reasons (ignoring issues such as Leinster being golden child and fans not seeing their star players run out for their provinces often):
1. All provinces are centrally run within the IRFU - there doesn't appear to be a huge divide between the "haves" and "have-nots".
2. The national side is the priority - even Leinster are told when they can and cannot play their star players.
Central contracts, or agreements which are as good as, can't work in England whilst the game is in the state it is. This would only benefit a small handful of clubs, allowing those richer clubs to get richer and the others to continue to struggle.
Central contracts work in Ireland for two main reasons (ignoring issues such as Leinster being golden child and fans not seeing their star players run out for their provinces often):
1. All provinces are centrally run within the IRFU - there doesn't appear to be a huge divide between the "haves" and "have-nots".
2. The national side is the priority - even Leinster are told when they can and cannot play their star players.
Central contracts, or agreements which are as good as, can't work in England whilst the game is in the state it is. This would only benefit a small handful of clubs, allowing those richer clubs to get richer and the others to continue to struggle.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Lions Down Under 2025
« on: July 19, 2023, 04:49:15 PM »
I haven't been before but I was seriously looking at going at one point.
When I was looking, I was only really interested in going through the official travel packages. My reasoning was:
1. I'm less likely to mess up the travel itinerary if my booking is through one provider who takes care of everything (travel, hotels, tickets).
2. My personal opinion is that my experience would be enhanced by being part of a larger group of Lions fans - along with the other experiences that I read up on (e.g. meeting players etc.)
3. My personal opinion is that, having never been to Australia at all, I wouldn't feel like I've missed something out due to the official tour not passing by. All I'd do is note it down for a future trip. I appreciate that this might be different for someone like yourself who has visited before and may have particular areas they want to visit whilst in the country.
4. I would have only been booking for 2, so it probably wouldn't have been as expensive (relatively) as someone booking for more than that. I imagine for a larger group there is more scope to saving money when booking your own tour.
When I was looking, I was only really interested in going through the official travel packages. My reasoning was:
1. I'm less likely to mess up the travel itinerary if my booking is through one provider who takes care of everything (travel, hotels, tickets).
2. My personal opinion is that my experience would be enhanced by being part of a larger group of Lions fans - along with the other experiences that I read up on (e.g. meeting players etc.)
3. My personal opinion is that, having never been to Australia at all, I wouldn't feel like I've missed something out due to the official tour not passing by. All I'd do is note it down for a future trip. I appreciate that this might be different for someone like yourself who has visited before and may have particular areas they want to visit whilst in the country.
4. I would have only been booking for 2, so it probably wouldn't have been as expensive (relatively) as someone booking for more than that. I imagine for a larger group there is more scope to saving money when booking your own tour.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: OT: Sexton in trouble.
« on: July 18, 2023, 05:33:36 PM »
There's two parts of this that frustrate me-
1/ The punishment given to Sexton is completely at odds with the one given to Rassie Erasmus in 2021 after the Lions tour.
2/ How the punishment will be served and how the three warm-up games can be deemed as "meaningful".
Someone, somewhere, has clearly pulled strings..
1/ The punishment given to Sexton is completely at odds with the one given to Rassie Erasmus in 2021 after the Lions tour.
2/ How the punishment will be served and how the three warm-up games can be deemed as "meaningful".
Someone, somewhere, has clearly pulled strings..
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: RFU told Championship clubs ?on the brink? and will not be able to fill 2nd Tier
« on: July 13, 2023, 12:07:17 AM »
I certainly don't find it funny the position the Championship and its clubs have been in for years.
I do, however, find it somewhat amusing that the chickens have come home to roost for the RFU/PRL in the way they are hoping a league they have regularly failed will be there to save them.
I do, however, find it somewhat amusing that the chickens have come home to roost for the RFU/PRL in the way they are hoping a league they have regularly failed will be there to save them.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: PRL start date - if anyone is interested.
« on: July 11, 2023, 02:17:07 PM »
Thank you for sharing Neils but I'm in the same camp as the others - not interested.
I've un-subscribed from everything I can. I'm stuck with BT Sport as it's tied into my Virgin Media TV package - I may end up binning it off all together as I've found I've watched very little BT Sport since everything unfolded.
Does anyone have IPTV and, if so, is it worth seriously looking into?
I've un-subscribed from everything I can. I'm stuck with BT Sport as it's tied into my Virgin Media TV package - I may end up binning it off all together as I've found I've watched very little BT Sport since everything unfolded.
Does anyone have IPTV and, if so, is it worth seriously looking into?
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Top 14 Final
« on: June 20, 2023, 11:54:45 AM »QuoteLazy journalism - like Saracens made Billy V into an International
Wait for them to do the same with Tom Willis next season!
Lazy - yes. But being cynical about England/RFU/Prem Rugby, they'll be half right because he'll be wearing the correct club badge next season
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: This Morning's Varied Summaries (others are available)
« on: June 07, 2023, 08:59:36 PM »Actually who really cares now?
I care enough to complain about it but not enough to watch it
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: This Morning's Varied Summaries (others are available)
« on: June 07, 2023, 02:27:36 PM »While the overall outcome of the Prem was never really in doubt, there have been some fantastic games through out the season. The quality of the product week in week out has been excellent. It is a great shame that it couldn't have had a more exciting ending.
That said, the Pro 14 looks like being a shoot out between Toulouse & La Rochelle, not much of a surprise & the URC was only a shock because of Leinster's arrogance in picking a B team in some critical games. It doesn't mean that those leagues are boring per se IMO.
I think it depends on perspective and what you want from sport. By no means am I saying you are wrong!
As I now consider myself a neutral, where the Premiership is concerned anyway, I would want a league as competitive as possible across the board so that as many games as possible have meaning. Top spot is always half taken by Saracens before the season even starts with 2nd and 3rd taken by whichever clubs are having a particularly good season. 4th is then taken by whichever club has managed to out-muscle the rest (to then get ceremoniously dumped out at the semi's, unless you're Quins of course). I don't disagree that some games have been exciting but is it all that exciting overall when it doesn't threaten who ends up winning it at the end?
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Government steps in to stabilise Premiership rugby
« on: June 02, 2023, 04:49:19 PM »Bit bloody late.
I will be seriously pissed off if Irish get a lifeline based on this.
I'm sure both Wasps and Worcester will feel the same as well.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: United Rugby Championship exploring draft system to improve competition
« on: May 25, 2023, 12:53:23 PM »Contract them to URC, then go from there. Probably be enough to get around tue EU rules.
Yes, I agree. It'd probably look no different to the sort of contracts found elsewhere (e.g., my contract says that I may be expected to travel for work in and out of the UK depending on project requirements).
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: United Rugby Championship exploring draft system to improve competition
« on: May 24, 2023, 03:09:15 PM »
My standpoint on the URC has somewhat softened recently.
Yes, it is a league still largely dominated by Leinster (both on and off the field I'd have a guess) but it is good to see that the lack of relegation has now been acknowledged.
The URC has gone through plenty of change over the years but at least they are trying to improve the product.
Yes, it is a league still largely dominated by Leinster (both on and off the field I'd have a guess) but it is good to see that the lack of relegation has now been acknowledged.
The URC has gone through plenty of change over the years but at least they are trying to improve the product.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Latest on Irish from Chris Foy just now
« on: May 24, 2023, 11:36:55 AM »Provided they can plan a proper season around a set number of teams, I don't think it would be a huge problem. The issue come swhen you planned for 13 and end up with 11.
If you can plan a season for 10, or 8, you can arrange other competitions or block out rest weeks etc to make it work.
Yes, but there's still the problem of those Clubs that remain getting enough income to make them profitable, or at least not making too much of a loss that causes their benefactors from pulling out.
For what my opinion is worth (not much!) I think the RFU/PRL are damned if they do and damned if they don't now.
They'll either upset Wasps and WW, certain Championship clubs or both with whatever they do.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Brad still owed 100k but .....
« on: May 22, 2023, 10:29:52 PM »
It's sad to see Brad still owed so much money but goes to show the measure of the man with what he's said.