Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Nov 18, 2011 6:59 pm  

2ND BUMP.......
Surely someone ca verify the claims regarding threatening letters etc....

gutterfax wrote:

BUMP. Surely there is documented proof? Copies of emails, scans of letters?

The Clan wrote:The RFL. Have actually done a great job in the NE with almost 60 schools playing RL regularly and over 800 kids playing RL as their preferred sport. The RFL assessments at U15s & U16s were very well attended with around 30 to 40 players being invited back to trial for scholarships.

All this growth hasn't gone unnoticed by the RFU and their development officers. As a result an instruction from the RFU has been sent telling all Union clubs that if they host RL games or run dual code teams their central funding will be cut. Some RU clubs have actually changed training nights to create a conflict with RL clubs, scholarship and Academy training schedules and when the RL changed to avoid it the RU clubs just changed again.

The RFU held an emergency meeting to discuss the impact of RL on the NE sporting landscape and RU in particular. Letters have been received by a number of parents threatening to cut their kids from teams and RU Academies if they play RL as well. The letter also states that RL will only be a short term option for the kids and that the RFL will soon pull out leaving their kids with no where to play, which is sheer scaremongering. They've also tried to create animosity between players and some parents by suggesting that some scholarship lads are receiving £5,000 to choose RL while others are getting nothing.

There are around eight full time members of RFL, Thunder, University & College staff working in the NE and they're doing a superb job which is rattling the RFU who know that their sport is in rapid decline in the region and the Falcons are on thin ice financially.

Might not seem like much but it's a specific, planned campaign to derail and undermine the growth of RL in the region and anyone who thinks the RFU have changed their spots needs to think again.

As I said earlier, if they could destroy our game tomorrow they wouldn't bat an eye before doing so.

Firstly, if this is true, I will use every trick I have learnt over the years to get this covered by a national paper, but before I do, I would very much like to see documented proof of this:

As I say, if it is true, I will look to get at least one national paper to cover this....or I will run up a massive phone bill from NZ trying.
Last time I got this angry was when SLY TV moved a quins away fixture in France at short notice......I believe if I reappear again a number of sports editors will print stuff just to get rid of me

If anyone has documented proof of this, please PM it to me in confidence. I will not do anything or publish it anywhere without express permission first.

Thanx

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:09 pm  

You might want to send him a pm. I doubt he even reads this board.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:34 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

You might want to send him a pm. I doubt he even reads this board.

Agreed. The comment comes from the VT originally.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:51 pm  

Urmston Wire wrote:

Agreed. The comment comes from the VT originally.

I got it from the Joel Tomkins to SAracens thread. Speaking of which, how very embarrassing that SArries have been forced to cancel their planned money-maker... sorry, match in Cape Town.

I've been looking forward to the Four Nations final so much this week that I've only just realised it's European union this weekend. We all know what European rugby union means... that's right kids, pastings a plenty!

Sale should murder La Vila. I used to be matey with one of their players when I lived near Alicante and for me it's absolutely incredible that they are in the same competition as a cluib like Sale Sharks.
Exeter and Wasps ahould have handsome wins too.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:02 pm  

I sent Gutterfax a PM asking him to contact the Clan,thought he would have but obviously not,do I smell a union troll.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:41 pm  

Dunbar wrote:

Really? To be honest, I see it the other way around, the basic skills of the England squad are terrible. I can’t think of a single player in the England setup who has a talented passing game – and I don’t mean the ability to spin the ball 20 yards from either hand which seems to be all that the Union teams practice, I mean finding teammates space and opportunity with skill and imagination

The backline moves of England (and to be fair all of the Home Nations) in the World Cup was pass left or right until you run out of pitch!

Ok. Maybe not in the current setup, but in the game. The problem with the moves imo was not the players involved but the coach and the gameplan. MJ was always going to favour a forward game.

The likes of Ashton, Foden, Flutey and Tuliagi play some cracking attacking stuff at club level.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:52 pm  

"Martin Johnson has gone but has anything else changed? I have a serious fear that all the mistakes made at Twickenham, which have reduced England to something of a laughing stock around the world, are about to be made again and four more years will then be wasted. All the people who appointed Johnson - a man who had never coached anyone at any level - are still in place. There is nobody who understands elite performance and rugby at the very top. Equally disturbing, the same people are going to appoint the next coach."
- Clive Woodward

Catalancs wrote:

I've been looking forward to the Four Nations final so much this week that I've only just realised it's European union this weekend. We all know what European rugby union means... that's right kids, pastings a plenty!

Sale should murder La Vila. I used to be matey with one of their players when I lived near Alicante and for me it's absolutely incredible that they are in the same competition as a cluib like Sale Sharks.
Exeter and Wasps ahould have handsome wins too.

Worcester struggled to get past Crociati but luckily for them there were only 250 people there to see it. Wasps came from behind to beat Rovigo with Exeter and Sale Sharks smashing Cavalieri 68-0 and La Vila 59-6 respectively.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:59 am  

cjhatesunion wrote:

I sent Gutterfax a PM asking him to contact the Clan,thought he would have but obviously not,do I smell a union troll.

2 Points.
Firstly, I shouldn't need to PM anyone....if it's the real deal, then links to proof would have been provied....which dovetails nicely into Point 2.........proof, or lack of it.
Why is it that someone can post hearsay, with no tangible evidence to back it up and it be accepted, whilst the minute I post that I will personally make sure that if there is a shred of truth in the claims, I will bust a gut to make sure it is made public by the UK press, I am trolling?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:03 am  

I'm disappointed in you gutterfax. I mean biting, sorry chomping at one of the worst anglers on RLFans.
Any news on another possible restructuring of NZ domestic union?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Nov 21, 2011 11:30 am  

So the at one stage it was quite an honour to be picked to play in the black and white hoops. Now it just seems a joke last year with Mason and now picking tomkins.