Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Dec 15, 2011 1:28 pm  

But can the community supply the council with donations and executive matchday boxes?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:28 pm  

French rugby union winger risks two year drug ban. Put missed tests down to negligence on his own behalf. http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=33177

French rugby union winger risks two year drug ban. Put missed tests down to negligence on his own behalf. http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=33177

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:37 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Barnet FC to move out. Were they pushed or did they jump?

Saracens rugby union club now has plans to revamp the Copthall, turning it into a multi-purpose community sports venue, prompting Kleanthous (Barnet chairman) to accuse Barnet council in October last year of "looking to invite others into the borough whilst escorting us out via the back door".

Weird goings-on. I would imagine that even with their poor attendances, Saracens are a huge draw for North London's councils- successful and with a North London supporter base. In fact, could it be argued that Sarries are North London's rugby club? (until Skolars are, I hope!)

It's good for Saracens in the long run. Makes it easier to sell tickets to the usual suspects, i.e. the crowd who only appear for the Wembley double-headers.

Saw Wasps v Bayonne last night- weather was dire, but I'm still baffled at how low their crowds are- even more telling on TV.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:32 pm  

I'm having some rotten luck of late with choosing games to watch. Today's was Montpellier 13-13 Glasgow. The French never got out of second gear but if it hadn't been for a stupid penalty at the death, would have got the win. I've seen both Scottish sides now this season and I'm guessing there's some Scottish law that prohibits professional rugby union clubs from employing attacking coaches.
In better news, I had Toulon -16 against Newcastle. Couldn't believe it when I saw the handicap so I had to have a bit of that.
As I said last week, Aironi are gash.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:43 pm  

Welsh rugby union introduces salary cap at regions. The cap begins in July 2012 and each of the four teams will spend a maximum of £3.5m on Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup squad members.

Welsh rugby union introduces salary cap at regions. The cap begins in July 2012 and each of the four teams will spend a maximum of £3.5m on Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup squad members.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:50 pm  

Catalancs wrote: Welsh rugby union introduces salary cap at regions. The cap begins in July 2012 and each of the four teams will spend a maximum of £3.5m on Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup squad members. Don't the Welsh have "central" contracts for their elite players? If they do, how much of the elite players salary counts against the cap?

Catalancs wrote: Welsh rugby union introduces salary cap at regions. The cap begins in July 2012 and each of the four teams will spend a maximum of £3.5m on Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup squad members. Don't the Welsh have "central" contracts for their elite players? If they do, how much of the elite players salary counts against the cap?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:53 pm  

Not as far as I'm aware gf. I'm sure I very recently read one of the regional teams saying it would be a severely negative move for the game in Wales. I'll have a look and see if I can find it. --------------- Found it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_u ... 251398.stm

Not as far as I'm aware gf. I'm sure I very recently read one of the regional teams saying it would be a severely negative move for the game in Wales. I'll have a look and see if I can find it. --------------- Found it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_u ... 251398.stm

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:06 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Not as far as I'm aware gf. I'm sure I very recently read one of the regional teams saying it would be a severely negative move for the game in Wales. I'll have a look and see if I can find it.

No worries. I thought they had a system in place to try and stop their best players doing a "Henson" and whoring themselves to the highest bidders, or in other words, the French

I am a believer in Central contracts for an elite group in Rugby. The top 60 players, best 30 in the A group and the best young 30 in a B group to protect them against (a) foreign interest and (b) having all their eggs in one basket.
Here in NZ the players under contract to NZRU are usually evenly distributed amongst the 5 provincial teams and I would imagine it would be the same model in Wales....so how that would be severly negative I fail to see? If you don't play in NZ provincial Rugby, you won't get to pull on an AB's shirt....and as well paid as Dan Carter and King Richie are here, I have no doubt they would earn mega-euros by comparrison if they didn't want the black shirt.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:21 pm  

French whores

Does the WRU have the funds to hand central contracts to 50 or 60 players? The former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones obviously doesn't think so. Maybe reducing the number of regional clubs from 4 to 3 would end up working for the Welsh game as it would mean more quality Welsh players in the remaining 3.
The beauty of the game in Wales is that it's so popular that there's a constant torrent of talent and that is what the WRU need to build the game on. Let the cream ply their trade abroad for silly money if that's what they want to do and good luck to them while they're at it. As with many unions around the world, the national team is far bigger, more significant and important than the domestic scene.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:24 pm  

It's a somewhat double edged sword similar to SL and the NRL.

IMO the more English players playing in the NRL, the better for the England test side and better for the youngsters in SL.

Surely it is the same for WRU? The more players testing themselves at a higher level each week, the better?