Always a Wasp
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16
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Summer Internationals
« on: August 04, 2023, 10:42:28 AM »No sign of Jack.
Given those involved in the Prem final on 27 May weren't considered (except Malins) and Jack played in the Top14 final 3 weeks later I suspect that is the reason.
Tom of course played in the semi final a week before that, but Jack's place in the squad should be firmly inked in by now, whereas Tom needs the opportunity to prove that he should be there with his brother.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: PRL Break for 6N
« on: July 18, 2023, 05:28:07 PM »No need for the playoffs then if international players are available all season.
Interesting point, was that the justification for play offs originally?
Not the justification, but as rational an argument as anyone could put forward other than the glaringly obvious commercial reasons for it.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: They would wouldn't they!
« on: July 15, 2023, 09:55:13 PM »When I said (several months ago) that the Prem would probably end up with just 4 teams I really didn't mean it. Now tho' it might well be even fewer. Sa??acens playing themselves.
Playing with themselves??
Bunch of w.....
19
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Rugby stakeholders challenged to stop playing lip service over player welfare
« on: June 28, 2023, 11:39:28 AM »Billy was very vocal about this several years ago, I wonder if he ever did take a reduced salary on the premise that he'll play fewer games for Saracens?
Players are queueing up to take a reduced salary to play any number of games for Saracens. That's how they continue to operate within the cap.
20
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Rugby stakeholders challenged to stop playing lip service over player welfare
« on: June 27, 2023, 06:50:50 PM »Billy was very vocal about this several years ago, I wonder if he ever did take a reduced salary on the premise that he'll play fewer games for Saracens?
Players are queueing up to take a reduced salary to play any number of games for Saracens. That's how they continue to operate within the cap.
21
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Meddling Barstewards at it Again
« on: June 26, 2023, 08:03:55 PM »Eaxactly. I fear you are mistaken DGP that anything would be different in the Prem if this had been enacted years ago. What is needed to save the Prem is an overhaul of the club structure, not a change in International structures leading to more Internationals.
This is simply an attempt to double the frequency of the RWC. It went like this:-
1. The RWC makes money, we want more money, let's have a RWC every year.
2. We can't do that, it'll devalue the RWC.
3. Ok, let's compromise, in the middle of the 4 year RWC cycle let's have a tournament for International teams and call it the World Rugby Championship or WRC.
4. Brilliant, shall we go for lunch?
The RFU was the richest union in the world and the Prem is screwed. Giving the RFU more money isn't really gonna help English club rugby is it?
Not saying these changes would've saved Wasps necessarily. It was more of a general point that we as fans (and I include myself in this) have been critical of rugby authorities' inaction in allowing the current financial crisis to develop, yet we baulk at the very idea of anything radically different from the status quo.
22
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Meddling Barstewards at it Again
« on: June 25, 2023, 03:11:08 PM »
No, what rugby needs is less global TV interest, less cash, and even more clubs going to the wall. More important that we carry on doing it the way we've been doing it for decades because that's what we all know and love and after all, it's been going really well hasn't it?
If we don't want pro rugby to go down the toilet entirely (and I appreciate many Wasps fans understandably don't give a toss if it does!), then something far more radical than a 10 team Premiership needs to happen.
Rugby authorities have come under fire for inaction while Worcester, Wasps and Irish were lost, yet when there are rumours of change afoot, then traditionalist fans are up in arms. Maybe some of us are not as far removed from the old farts at HQ as we might like to think.
Arguably if something like this had happened years ago then rugby's finances would be in ruder health today and Wasps and others might still exist. Like it or not, this is what genuine progress is going to look like.
If we don't want pro rugby to go down the toilet entirely (and I appreciate many Wasps fans understandably don't give a toss if it does!), then something far more radical than a 10 team Premiership needs to happen.
Rugby authorities have come under fire for inaction while Worcester, Wasps and Irish were lost, yet when there are rumours of change afoot, then traditionalist fans are up in arms. Maybe some of us are not as far removed from the old farts at HQ as we might like to think.
Arguably if something like this had happened years ago then rugby's finances would be in ruder health today and Wasps and others might still exist. Like it or not, this is what genuine progress is going to look like.
23
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: R.I.P. Paul Rendall
« on: June 13, 2023, 07:02:56 PM »
So sad. Another great lost to that awful disease.
RIP Judge.
RIP Judge.
24
Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: This Morning's Varied Summaries (others are available)
« on: June 07, 2023, 09:38:51 AM »One must also hope the division's new television deal brings about an increase in revenue. Time will tell if that proves to be the case but there must be a chance given the attractiveness of the product the Premiership produces. The competitive nature of the league is central to that.
Wishful thinking that BT will come to the table with extra sackfuls of cash for a league with half as many games as was being proposed just a couple of years ago (182 regular season @ 14 teams vs 90 @ 10 teams).
No good clinging to the hope that the competitiveness of the league is a big selling point as that's just bollocks. Sarries cheating year after year and wrapping up the league by Christmas; Newcastle desperately trying to avoid going the way of Wasps, Wuss and Irish with a hugely depleted squad cut far adrift at the bottom (likely joined by others from next season, but with no relegation even the scrap at the bottom is of no consequence); and a handful of other teams scrapping it out for the right to get spanked by Sarries at Twickenham at the end of the, season. Hardly what you'd call "Box Office".
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Latest on Irish from Chris Foy just now
« on: May 24, 2023, 05:05:11 PM »If London Irish fail, will Newcastle be far behind.
And how will Exeter and other clubs who want just 10 Premiership teams feel about having just 8? 4 fewer home matches will have a big impact on their finances.
And then what will happen with TV rights? Not sure how long is left on the current BT deal, but until recently, BT had 22 weekends of regular premiership rugby per season, with plans for that to go up to 26 under the proposed 14 team league that was previously thought to be the solution to club rugby's financial woes. The new 10 team solution offers only 18, fewer still if more fall by the wayside, so I'm sure BT will be seeking to renegotiate pretty swiftly regardless of when the current deal runs out, since the terms of that deal have changed significantly, and they are no longer getting as much for their money.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: RWC 2023 match officials
« on: May 16, 2023, 03:05:33 PM »
Equally surprising, it was a decision that favoured Saracens.
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Wasps Rugby Discussion / Re: Latest on Irish from Chris Foy just now
« on: May 12, 2023, 04:53:52 PM »
Don't they want 10 teams from 2024/25? In which case something will have to give next season.