How to protect your national treasures

Disregarding whatever freakishness there was in in last weekend's result, it has become apparent to me that Dan Cole was already a national treasure and he's approaching world-class. Not only that but in a position in which exceptional players are as scarce as hens' teeth.
Well he's my nomination for England - but whether or not the Tigers can afford to keep him I doubt under current RFU/PRL rules. But I hope that he can be retained in the Jeff with a club/country agreement

I've absolutely not presuming to speak for other countries but I'd just proffer a few of my ideas taking into account current age and scarcity of rôles

Wales have Dan Lydiate in the same category in another position which makes him exceptional at the vital ball-getting value. I agree that somehow, some way he should have been kept at home within the regions.

Ireland : there are loads of flavour-of-the-month contenders and maybe it's not a hen's tooth position, but I'd be surprised if one day, Sean O'Brien will is not an IRB POtY winner/close contender.

Scotland should repatriate Richie Gray immediately - potential world-class.

My evaluations exclude already world-class players and certainly those that have already slipped into iconic status.

I noticed Dan Cole and Bradley Barrit are already turning out for the All Blacks on the side. Playing in two sides at once is bound to tire them out.

Nah its just a way to keep the clones match fit

I think Cole might well stay at Leicester. It is certainly the best place for him as he has another international prop playing there (Castro) to keep him playing well and to share some of the game time. If he goes to France then I reckon he will break down from too much rugby. If he is not greedy and stays at the Tigers I think overall his career will be more fulfilling and he will get to be a proper Leicester legend by the end of it.

Part of keeping the players is obviously money, but sometimes it can be other factors that make them stay. Apparently Richie was pretty much offered a blank cheque, but he wanted to play outside of Scotland for a couple of seasons.

Cole is a local lad and well payed and well looked after, that will be a big plus in retaining his services. He also wants to play for England, France makes that harder.
Could be a tough ask to hold on to him if Gloucester garuntee him the 12 shirt though.

I dont like the idea of the RFU part funding players to stay at clubs, unless they are going to fully go down the road of central contracting. I still have issues with them funding the wages of league stars to sign for clubs then be useless for england.

wear a box?

As a fan of a club who has had serious issues with just this thing, i hope that we have found a solution.

Get relegated.....bring in a wealthy chairman with ambition...bring in a top class coach and coaching team...and play good rugby.
Thus fans come back...team does well...and players want to stay..because they are winning and see future prospects.

Of course this could all change if we get back to the prem...

damage_13 wrote:wear a box?

GeordieFalcon wrote:As a fan of a club who has had serious issues with just this thing, i hope that we have found a solution.

Get relegated.....bring in a wealthy chairman with ambition...bring in a top class coach and coaching team...and play good rugby.
Thus fans come back...team does well...and players want to stay..because they are winning and see future prospects.

Of course this could all change if we get back to the prem...

Or the sugar-daddy dies/loses interest or is supplied with guaranteed like-for-like heirs/replacements I suppose.

Essentially for Dan Cole what I suggest is I suppose is an agreement with the RFU and the Tigers is a level of protection for a particularly exceptional and rare player.

But that of course would involve a great deal of unpicking RFU/PRL sub-optimal but now set in stone decisions.

Essentially for Dan Cole what I suggest is I suppose is an agreement with the RFU and the Tigers is a level of protection for a particularly exceptional and rare player.

In the case of Dan...i think your spot on...the RFU would break the rules to ensure he stays at Tigers..(or England i guess).

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Essentially for Dan Cole what I suggest is I suppose is an agreement with the RFU and the Tigers is a level of protection for a particularly exceptional and rare player.

In the case of Dan...i think your spot on...the RFU would break the rules to ensure he stays at Tigers..(or England i guess).

Would that not set a precedent then for the level of Coles coming through?

Possibly...yes but are you going to let your ONLY truly World Class player..and even more your only Tight Head go to France and rule himself out of the squad meeting etc...i just cant see that.

Had there been competition then its a different kettle of fish.

Geordie,

I agree totally with you and I wish the WRU would do something for us but if they done it for lets say Lydiate as he seems next to be going but what about when say Warburton wants to go or North or JD etc etc.

Aw its a difficult situation...and one that needs to be managed carefully as you say.

Is Lydiate truly world class...irreplaceable? Im not sure.

I wouldnt even think about exceptions for any other England position/player...just this one for the reasons above...but yes it sets a precedent. How do you deal with that.

Even one other top class TH in the England ranks....or one right on the verge would probably change my opinion aswell...

I really feel for the Welsh (and I don't often say that) but the loss of Lydiate is a disaster in so many ways from regional attendances to national coaching via potential burn-out.

Anglo-Welsh structures don't cater for protection of fundamental prized possessions.

I thuink the RFU would love to set the precedent of taking part ownership of EPS players.
The clubs, for obvious reasons, are somewhat sceptiacal about that kind of thing

Geordie,

I think he is and his value was proved by his absence in the AIs but thats an argument for another thread

I do like Cole but are you that short of options if he went or what if he gets injured between now and the 6 Nations.

greytiger wrote:I really feel for the Welsh (and I don't often say that) but the loss of Lydiate is a disaster in so many ways from regional attendances to national coaching via potential burn-out.

Anglo-Welsh structures don't cater for protection of fundamental prized possessions.

Grey,

I don't think our attendances will drop vastly because he's leaving and I think every fan to man (and woman) will wish him all the best but it is a worrying time for the Regions.

If none of the other R|egions snap him up then I do hope its France (as seems likely) that he goes to, there does seem a bit more of a working relationship between the French clubs.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Geordie,

I think he is and his value was proved by his absence in the AIs but thats an argument for another thread

I do like Cole but are you that short of options if he went or what if he gets injured between now and the 6 Nations.

In that case that is a problem Wales have...and it needs to be fixed..

Cole is heads and tails ahead of any England TH. Wilson is a decent sub player..thats all. PDJ is going backwards...

The real pretenders/potential challengers...Sinkler, Scott Wilson etc...are all VERY young, u21's etc so still some way away from the England horizons...

Codpiece