Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:07 pm  

Wigan Warriors U19 centre Liam Forsyth has joined the Bath Rugby Academy with immediate effect. http://www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugb ... 19-centre/

Wigan Warriors U19 centre Liam Forsyth has joined the Bath Rugby Academy with immediate effect. http://www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugb ... 19-centre/

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:32 am  

It annoys me that Rugby League is developing players for RU, that Mike Ford is bad news.

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:51 am  

Have to say the sooner Ford and Farrell no longer have any influence on signing players the better. If anything signing Academy players is more problematic for RL in the long term than losing the odd star player.

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:10 am  

Did we get a fee for him, or had we allowed his contract to run down?

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Tue Oct 27, 2015 10:03 am  

Old news this isn't it? I'm 99% sure we knew before the final

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:01 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

Have to say the sooner Ford and Farrell no longer have any influence on signing players the better. If anything signing Academy players is more problematic for RL in the long term than losing the odd star player.

I'm starting to think this is the only reason they are employed in Rugby Union. After the way they both misused Sam Burgess, it can't be for their coaching nous.

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:14 pm  

RL has a track record of paying young players peanuts. Much as I hate to see young players leave for the other code, in many cases (and I don't know the details of this one) you have to say you can't blame them. I don't think you can blame Farrell and Ford either.

Given the low salaries on offer generally in RL you wonder whether some young players don't even bother trying to make the grade and don't even make it through to academy level. I suppose if they have a go but realise there is more money in Union and leave for RU then we still might be able to get them back one day.

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Wed Oct 28, 2015 8:10 pm  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

Have to say the sooner Ford and Farrell no longer have any influence on signing players the better. If anything signing Academy players is more problematic for RL in the long term than losing the odd star player.

Needs to stop. Cut all ties with Bath. All this pinching RL talent means Farrell has gone down massively in my estimation. Ford was never in my estimation.

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Sun Nov 01, 2015 12:07 pm  

Not sure this is such a big issue. Welsh rugby league has signed young players from rugby union and we've benefitted. There will always be players crossing codes, especially young ones. He wasn't likely to make it at Wigan and Bath saw an opportunity. Had they snared someone like Williams or Hampshire I'd be more concerned.

Re: Bath Rugby Union raid Wigan academy : Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:56 pm  

The problem is that if this kid makes it, or even looks like making it, they'll be back. Do you think they aren't looking for the next Sam T or Williams?