Northampton To Be Fined Over North Release

by bedfordwelsh Mon Nov 25, 2013 9:58 pm

First topic message reminder :

Just read that Saints are to be fined over releasing North to Wales for this weekend.

First off guess Bath didn't want similar fine after agreeing to release James.

Secondly who is fining them? I am guessing its the PRL but I didn't realise they had this sort of power available to them and what sort of fine are we talking, financial or other sacntions. Anyone know?

by TJ Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:46 pm

Just to point out Glasgow allowed Matowalo to play for Fiji today despite needing him laast night. The end of the world didn't happen

by maestegmafia Mon Dec 02, 2013 11:38 pm

TJ wrote:Just to point out Glasgow allowed Matowalo to play for Fiji today despite needing him laast night. The end of the world didn't happen

Well done the weegies.

So far as I can find, the PRL have not fined Northampton over their contract with George North. No action seems to have been taken.

by maestegmafia Wed Dec 04, 2013 10:26 pm

Northampton are expected to receive a fine for releasing North. But Alex King, the Saints assistant coach, said: “George is our player and we will look after George and his best interests and he is a proud Welshman who wants to play for Wales.

“Tom Collins, a young winger, got his opportunity against Worcester and arguably that is better for English rugby that he is playing in a league game than bringing back George from an international game that he wanted to play in. I don’t see much harm done.”

by doctor_grey Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:04 am

No one in Northampton cares if there is a slap on the wrist.
This was much ado about nuttin.

Kind of like me in the office giving a jab. The anticipation is always worse than the actual injection (except for a select few).

Like a bad Burrito, this too shall pass.

by broadlandboy Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:40 am

Unfortunately if it is only a slap on the wrist what is the incentive for clubs to abide by other PRL policies for example the salary cap & what message is it going to send to the RFU that other Unions can get for free that which they have to pay for?

by doctor_grey Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:47 am

I agree, but this was a done deal, a long time ago. Only reason we are even discussing this is some newspaper writer thought he could kick up a bit of a fuss.

The clubs are afraid to police themselves, methinks. But they will have to in the not too distant future. To really climb out of the amateur era, they will have to move closer to a soccer (free-for-all) business model or a more controlled and transparent NFL style business model. Clearly, I hope for the latter.

by Comfort Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:40 am

doc, good to hear, they were only ever going to give a young english palyer a chance in North's absence. No harm done in the position you're in either. The clubs are going to have to start making decisions like this going forward when signing players, its becoming such a testing area, club vs country. I think Saints have got this spot on, they knew what they were doing the whole time clap

by HammerofThunor Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:48 am

doctor_grey wrote:I agree, but this was a done deal, a long time ago. Only reason we are even discussing this is some newspaper writer thought he could kick up a bit of a fuss.

The clubs are afraid to police themselves, methinks. But they will have to in the not too distant future. To really climb out of the amateur era, they will have to move closer to a soccer (free-for-all) business model or a more controlled and transparent NFL style business model. Clearly, I hope for the latter.

Would an NFL type model work? There isn't much American Football played around the world (to the level it is in America) so they can be transparent without worry that someone will take advanatage from outside the system.

If the English clubs were transparent in everything, would this not give the other professional sides an advantage?

Don't get me wrong, I'd much prefer something like what has been suggested but the frameworks they have to work in a very different between something of an isolated sport (AF) and a somewhat global sport (RU).

In my very limited understanding.

by quinsforever Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:50 am

you realise of course, that the people most hurt by the uncompensated release by english and french clubs of welsh international players for matches outside the IRB window, is the welsh regions?

by Comfort Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:10 pm

quins, yup! theres a definitive internal battle going on betwen the regions and the WRU thats going to shape the future of welsh rugby. I wont delve too deep but this is all part of the WRU's 'team wales' plan. the regions will become nurseries for developing talent that will be sold off to the highest bidders in other coutnries, you know, as long as they have full release for wales.

by quinsforever Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:22 pm

yes, i can totally see that comfort. pretty clear dodger wants to control everything in welsh rugby. but what is the end goal? developmental welsh regions are really going to struggle to qualify for HC or replacement. seems like a strategy which is all about control, and less about the performance of welsh club and international rugby. after all, the current system, in spite of not winning any HC silverware, has done a pretty good job of developing and recruiting talent for the national side.

by Comfort Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:28 pm

the mutterings are about that the WRU want the regions to be in such a weak place financially they can come in to buy them out and take total ownership. the only real cards the regions hold in this are their star 'team wales' players who are being shipped out at an alarming rate. this is acelerating and it seems more so that the WRU have written off the region as they stand (see the PWC report and failing of meetings/agreements since) and the need for the regions to sign a new participation agreement with the WRU (which hasnt ben improved since last signed in 2008 despite the WRU being in the richest financial health in its existence).

Somethings going down, and its very fishy.

by Portnoy's Complaint Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:16 pm

Comfort wrote:
Somethings going down, and its very fishy.

The whole of England and Wales stinks like a fishmeal factory (rugby administration-wise).

by maestegmafia Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:20 pm

Comfort wrote:the mutterings are about that the WRU want the regions to be in such a weak place financially they can come in to buy them out and take total ownership. the only real cards the regions hold in this are their star 'team wales' players who are being shipped out at an alarming rate. this is acelerating and it seems more so that the WRU have written off the region as they stand (see the PWC report and failing of meetings/agreements since) and the need for the regions to sign a new participation agreement with the WRU (which hasnt ben improved since last signed in 2008 despite the WRU being in the richest financial health in its existence).

Would the WRU taking over the regions creating a similar plan as is found in Ireland not be a good thing for rugby in Wales?

by Portnoy's Complaint Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:56 pm

I think that the Irish plan works very well although I've heard many angst-ridden complaints regarding their central contracting system. But if the regions survive as a basis for the way forward (long-term), I think that it would be a better option.

England's future however, being dominated by a handful of sugar-daddies in a competitive league structure fills me me with gloom.
Or maybe I'm imagining a sniper behind a grassy gnoll.

by maestegmafia Thu Dec 05, 2013 2:13 pm

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:I think that the Irish plan works very well although I've heard many angst-ridden complaints regarding their central contracting system. But if the regions survive as a basis for the way forward (long-term), I think that it would be a better option.

England's future however, being dominated by a handful of sugar-daddies in a competitive league structure fills me me with gloom.
Or maybe I'm imagining a sniper behind a grassy gnoll.

It would be wonderful if all parties could agree on something so simple as the prosperous continuation of a sport, but unfortunately it looks the case that all parties will have to take a hardline approach.

We the fans just want to watch great rugby, support our chosen team.

by doctor_grey Thu Dec 05, 2013 5:50 pm

HammerofThunor wrote:
doctor_grey wrote:I agree, but this was a done deal, a long time ago. Only reason we are even discussing this is some newspaper writer thought he could kick up a bit of a fuss.

The clubs are afraid to police themselves, methinks. But they will have to in the not too distant future. To really climb out of the amateur era, they will have to move closer to a soccer (free-for-all) business model or a more controlled and transparent NFL style business model. Clearly, I hope for the latter.
Would an NFL type model work? There isn't much American Football played around the world (to the level it is in America) so they can be transparent without worry that someone will take advanatage from outside the system.

If the English clubs were transparent in everything, would this not give the other professional sides an advantage?

Don't get me wrong, I'd much prefer something like what has been suggested but the frameworks they have to work in a very different between something of an isolated sport (AF) and a somewhat global sport (RU).

In my very limited understanding.

There is a good comment about the NFL owners: They are die-hard capitalists who choose to act like socialists.

In other words, the American billionaires who own NFL teams, with their billionaire-sized egos, still find common ground to operate, enabling the business of American Football to grow. Clearly, it is not easy. But rules for business transparency within Europe and the UK do exist. How else can companies operate across borders? I believe it can be done. The problem is exactly the same as with the Heineken Cup negotiations - too many very entrenched people in too many organisations with their own little piece of pie to lose. This is why I think Rugby is still an amateur sport in mnay ways.

The other problem is that I would guess that 90% or more of all teams, leagues, unions are in violation of some aspect of regulation or agreement right now. No one wants to be first to be identified.

by broadlandboy Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:56 pm

Also what helps the NFL is that they are in one country. With different countries you have varying tax systems so the actual value is different.

by quinsforever Thu Dec 05, 2013 7:37 pm

the most important thing is that in the US all the teams are motivated by the same, single, unifying objective - making money.

that cannot be said about rugby in europe. some of it is for profit, most of it is an ugly mix of not-for-profit and greed (WRU and AUS playing the extra intl matches each year just one example).

without that aligning motivation, you will never ever be able to run an NFL-style model.

by tecphobe Sat Dec 07, 2013 11:46 pm

doctor_grey wrote:As a Saints supporter this has me perturbed. This report does talk in probabilities, but nothing officially has happened. Yet.

Firstly, I agree that Premiership clubs should be prevented (not simply fined) from contracting players with allowances for time with national teams outside the approved IRB windows. To me its bad business as International windows take players from clubs for a lot of the Premiership matches. The Heineken Cup matches are not impacted directly, but players returning to their clubs might not always have a lot or practise time with their teams before the Euro matches begin. To me, the Premiership is a collection of separate business who come together with common purpose, to play Rugby. They should sign up to, and all play by the same rules. For some clubs to violate league rules with impunity makes Rugby look like a real minor league sport. Bad for our image. Bad for business. Same a national teams violating IRB policy.

There must be one set of rules for everyone to play by. All this points to the need for a revamped season, probably in accordance with SANZAR and the smaller Unions. Clear defined seasons and clearly defined rules.

Lets have a European wide Salary cap then

by quinsforever Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:11 am

tecphobe wrote:
doctor_grey wrote:As a Saints supporter this has me perturbed. This report does talk in probabilities, but nothing officially has happened. Yet.

Firstly, I agree that Premiership clubs should be prevented (not simply fined) from contracting players with allowances for time with national teams outside the approved IRB windows. To me its bad business as International windows take players from clubs for a lot of the Premiership matches. The Heineken Cup matches are not impacted directly, but players returning to their clubs might not always have a lot or practise time with their teams before the Euro matches begin. To me, the Premiership is a collection of separate business who come together with common purpose, to play Rugby. They should sign up to, and all play by the same rules. For some clubs to violate league rules with impunity makes Rugby look like a real minor league sport. Bad for our image. Bad for business. Same a national teams violating IRB policy.

There must be one set of rules for everyone to play by. All this points to the need for a revamped season, probably in accordance with SANZAR and the smaller Unions. Clear defined seasons and clearly defined rules.
Lets have a European wide Salary cap then

ok fine no problem. salary cap set at EUR15m per team.

what, you mean you want the cap set at the level that every union that controls clubs sides can be competitive in HC?

so presumably that's italy then. so EUR2million salary cap. no problem, just have to check whether all the players are willing to take a 30-80% salary cut in the top14 and AP. am sure they would be fine with that.

by SecretFly Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:15 am

Let players be worth the extra 30 to 80% salary they're already getting? How's that for an addendum to any cap?

by SecretFly Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:16 am

And besides................. players have no voice at the hash reality business decision table Wink

by tecphobe Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:19 am

quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:
doctor_grey wrote:As a Saints supporter this has me perturbed. This report does talk in probabilities, but nothing officially has happened. Yet.

Firstly, I agree that Premiership clubs should be prevented (not simply fined) from contracting players with allowances for time with national teams outside the approved IRB windows. To me its bad business as International windows take players from clubs for a lot of the Premiership matches. The Heineken Cup matches are not impacted directly, but players returning to their clubs might not always have a lot or practise time with their teams before the Euro matches begin. To me, the Premiership is a collection of separate business who come together with common purpose, to play Rugby. They should sign up to, and all play by the same rules. For some clubs to violate league rules with impunity makes Rugby look like a real minor league sport. Bad for our image. Bad for business. Same a national teams violating IRB policy.

There must be one set of rules for everyone to play by. All this points to the need for a revamped season, probably in accordance with SANZAR and the smaller Unions. Clear defined seasons and clearly defined rules.
Lets have a European wide Salary cap then
ok fine no problem. salary cap set at EUR15m per team.

what, you mean you want the cap set at the level that every union that controls clubs sides can be competitive in HC?

so presumably that's italy then. so EUR2million salary cap. no problem, just have to check whether all the players are willing to take a 30-80% salary cut in the top14 and AP. am sure they would be fine with that.

If you want to slit the throats of the English club sides even further be my guest.

by quinsforever Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:19 am

SecretFly wrote:And besides................. players have no voice at the hash reality business decision table

of course they do. they can sign or not sign the contract. that is the ultimate voice, the ultimate veto.

by tecphobe Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:20 am

hey quins any chance of one of your teams making the knock out stages or are we going to have to play on one leg to give your boys a shout.

by quinsforever Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:22 am

tecphobe wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:
doctor_grey wrote:As a Saints supporter this has me perturbed. This report does talk in probabilities, but nothing officially has happened. Yet.

Firstly, I agree that Premiership clubs should be prevented (not simply fined) from contracting players with allowances for time with national teams outside the approved IRB windows. To me its bad business as International windows take players from clubs for a lot of the Premiership matches. The Heineken Cup matches are not impacted directly, but players returning to their clubs might not always have a lot or practise time with their teams before the Euro matches begin. To me, the Premiership is a collection of separate business who come together with common purpose, to play Rugby. They should sign up to, and all play by the same rules. For some clubs to violate league rules with impunity makes Rugby look like a real minor league sport. Bad for our image. Bad for business. Same a national teams violating IRB policy.

There must be one set of rules for everyone to play by. All this points to the need for a revamped season, probably in accordance with SANZAR and the smaller Unions. Clear defined seasons and clearly defined rules.
Lets have a European wide Salary cap then
ok fine no problem. salary cap set at EUR15m per team.

what, you mean you want the cap set at the level that every union that controls clubs sides can be competitive in HC?

so presumably that's italy then. so EUR2million salary cap. no problem, just have to check whether all the players are willing to take a 30-80% salary cut in the top14 and AP. am sure they would be fine with that.
If you want to slit the throats of the English club sides even further be my guest.

you are clueless. i loved watching brave exeter play against toulon, a side with 20x as many intl caps and i am guessing 4x the squad salaries. they sold out the match in 2 hours and could have filled a stadium 3 times the size. that is what i call a vibrant state of affairs.

by quinsforever Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:23 am

tecphobe wrote:hey quins any chance of one of your teams making the knock out stages or are we going to have to play on one leg to give your boys a shout.

pathetic. you stil think this is about nationality. how very very sad. you just dont get it. must be miserable to be you.

by tecphobe Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:37 am

quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:hey quins any chance of one of your teams making the knock out stages or are we going to have to play on one leg to give your boys a shout.
pathetic. you stil think this is about nationality. how very very sad. you just dont get it. must be miserable to be you.

bitter must be the taste of blood Capsules in your mouth

by quinsforever Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:41 am

tecphobe wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:hey quins any chance of one of your teams making the knock out stages or are we going to have to play on one leg to give your boys a shout.
pathetic. you stil think this is about nationality. how very very sad. you just dont get it. must be miserable to be you.
bitter must be the taste of blood Capsules in your mouth

i am the opposite of bitter. thumped racing today. out of the totally lopsided, cronyist HC next season, extra training for EPS players for RWC2015.

i am f-ing thrilled.

it's alway been clear whenever anyone goes for the blood capsule gag that they have run out of credible argument. i thank you for conceding the field in the same manner as so many before you.

by tecphobe Sun Dec 08, 2013 12:51 am

quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:hey quins any chance of one of your teams making the knock out stages or are we going to have to play on one leg to give your boys a shout.
pathetic. you stil think this is about nationality. how very very sad. you just dont get it. must be miserable to be you.
bitter must be the taste of blood Capsules in your mouth
i am the opposite of bitter. thumped racing today. out of the totally lopsided, cronyist HC next season, extra training for EPS players for RWC2015.

i am f-ing thrilled.

it's alway been clear whenever anyone goes for the blood capsule gag that they have run out of credible argument. i thank you for conceding the field in the same manner as so many before you.

Im sorry of the truth hurts but that is what your club is know for throughtout the rugby world. You wont be missed proper club like Leicester and to a lesser extent Northampton

by quinsforever Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:07 am

tecphobe wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:hey quins any chance of one of your teams making the knock out stages or are we going to have to play on one leg to give your boys a shout.
pathetic. you stil think this is about nationality. how very very sad. you just dont get it. must be miserable to be you.
bitter must be the taste of blood Capsules in your mouth
i am the opposite of bitter. thumped racing today. out of the totally lopsided, cronyist HC next season, extra training for EPS players for RWC2015.

i am f-ing thrilled.

it's alway been clear whenever anyone goes for the blood capsule gag that they have run out of credible argument. i thank you for conceding the field in the same manner as so many before you.
Im sorry of the truth hurts but that is what your club is know for throughtout the rugby world. You wont be missed proper club like Leicester and to a lesser extent Northampton

and much to your surprise, you and your club wont be missed much either. waving the nationality flag every time yout team takes the field is not what club rugby is about to the french and english clubs.

by SecretFly Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:17 am

quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:
quinsforever wrote:
tecphobe wrote:hey quins any chance of one of your teams making the knock out stages or are we going to have to play on one leg to give your boys a shout.
pathetic. you stil think this is about nationality. how very very sad. you just dont get it. must be miserable to be you.
bitter must be the taste of blood Capsules in your mouth
i am the opposite of bitter. thumped racing today. out of the totally lopsided, cronyist HC next season, extra training for EPS players for RWC2015.

i am f-ing thrilled.

it's alway been clear whenever anyone goes for the blood capsule gag that they have run out of credible argument. i thank you for conceding the field in the same manner as so many before you.

I thought all that International fussiness stuff was irritating to the English posters who side with PRL (not all of them do!) ... afterall it's the stick they have been using to beat us with at any opportunity in the past. "Yous boys are just too fixated on the link between club and International. It doesn't exist. You have to take International out of your minds when thinking of and arguing about club rugby. International is meaningless and only some of you 'Celts' make an issue of it. The rest of us see this as business and purely club"

Isn't that the kind of stuff that I've certainly had directed down my alley on more than one occasion?
Now, again, you admit a different truth - the truth that English club rugby does mean something at International level... and that English club players are seen very much as English International potential players by specifiically English fans. So much for the oft repeated argument that 6 HEC places for English sides doesn't mean the Englishness of those sides has any significance. Oh yes it do - and always has done..

by quinsforever Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:41 am

SF and i understand each other. not sure you understand anything. even english.

by BigTrevsbigmac Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:58 am

Hearing today. Judgement Thursday

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/northampton-face-sanctions-over-george-6415319

by bedfordwelsh Wed Dec 18, 2013 3:30 pm

So its not all over and finished with as some have suggested on here but still no one seems to actually know what powers the PRL have or what sanctions they can impose.

by Scrumpy Wed Dec 18, 2013 3:32 pm

I hope they get what is coming to them, whatever that is!

Glaws take note!

by HammerofThunor Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:08 pm

bedfordwelsh wrote:So its not all over and finished with as some have suggested on here but still no one seems to actually know what powers the PRL have or what sanctions they can impose.

Well they can do what even they signedup to doing. I imagine fines at minimum. How big I don't know. I imagine they'll put the fine in the salary cap as well. Just to be extra harsh.

by bedfordwelsh Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:13 pm

Maybe this will warn clubs off singing non English players or at least agreeing to certain clauses.

by lostinwales Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:36 pm

bedfordwelsh wrote:Maybe this will warn clubs off singing non English players or at least agreeing to certain clauses.

Is this the new Wales player retention strategy? Make sure there are so many clauses on international release that they are no longer viable recruits?

by HammerofThunor Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:46 pm

Makes sense. The WRU doesn't want to lose access. The club/player takes the hit. Why not? If the players/clubs decide it's not worth it then the players will either willing go or come back.

by R!skysports Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:49 pm

Maybe just play the games in the window like everyone else?

by lostinwales Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:07 pm

60K fine - just up on the beeb

by Knowsit17 Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:14 pm

That's quite a heavy fine and one they can nigh afford to be paying every season if the WRU continue with their tradition of scheduling games outside the window. Looks worrying for them as they can hardly revise the clause now that it's been agreed. Should have done their homework.

On the bright side this might deter future mass purchases of important Welsh players by foreign clubs. Toulon seem to have backed down from approaching Warburton as a direct consequence.

by HammerofThunor Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:17 pm

Knowsit17 wrote:That's quite a heavy fine and one they can nigh afford to be paying every season if the WRU continue with their tradition of scheduling games outside the window. Looks worrying for them as they can hardly revise the clause now that it's been agreed. Should have done their homework.

On the bright side this might deter future mass purchases of important Welsh players by foreign clubs. Toulon seem to have backed down from approaching Warburton as a direct consequence.

I don't understand the bit in bold. What have French teams got to do with this? Northampton will have known what could happen. How big a deal it is depends on whether it's included in the salary cap and whether they took it in consideration when they offered him a salary.

by Knowsit17 Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:26 pm

HammerofThunor wrote:
Knowsit17 wrote:That's quite a heavy fine and one they can nigh afford to be paying every season if the WRU continue with their tradition of scheduling games outside the window. Looks worrying for them as they can hardly revise the clause now that it's been agreed. Should have done their homework.

On the bright side this might deter future mass purchases of important Welsh players by foreign clubs. Toulon seem to have backed down from approaching Warburton as a direct consequence.

I don't understand the bit in bold. What have French teams got to do with this? Northampton will have known what could happen. How big a deal it is depends on whether it's included in the salary cap and whether they took it in consideration when they offered him a salary.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25362659

'But Boudjellal, who has assembled a multi-national team of star names, said the amount of time Warburton spends on Wales duty was a problem.

He said: "Sam Warburton is the captain of Wales and that means we wouldn't have him during the international matches, and we're not used to that."

"There's also all the training with Wales and we're not used to that either."'

Don't know what you make of it but that looks fairly indicative to me.

On a separate matter, the bottom line makes fairly clear the trend of attempted prioritisation of club of international rugby which the club owners are trying to engineer.

by quinsforever Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:30 pm

Knowsit17 wrote:That's quite a heavy fine and one they can nigh afford to be paying every season if the WRU continue with their tradition of scheduling games outside the window. Looks worrying for them as they can hardly revise the clause now that it's been agreed. Should have done their homework.

On the bright side this might deter future mass purchases of important Welsh players by foreign clubs. Toulon seem to have backed down from approaching Warburton as a direct consequence.

maybe toulon watched the wales v australia match and that had some bearing on their keenness?

by quinsforever Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:32 pm

Knowsit17 wrote:
HammerofThunor wrote:
Knowsit17 wrote:That's quite a heavy fine and one they can nigh afford to be paying every season if the WRU continue with their tradition of scheduling games outside the window. Looks worrying for them as they can hardly revise the clause now that it's been agreed. Should have done their homework.

On the bright side this might deter future mass purchases of important Welsh players by foreign clubs. Toulon seem to have backed down from approaching Warburton as a direct consequence.

I don't understand the bit in bold. What have French teams got to do with this? Northampton will have known what could happen. How big a deal it is depends on whether it's included in the salary cap and whether they took it in consideration when they offered him a salary.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25362659

'But Boudjellal, who has assembled a multi-national team of star names, said the amount of time Warburton spends on Wales duty was a problem.

He said: "Sam Warburton is the captain of Wales and that means we wouldn't have him during the international matches, and we're not used to that."

"There's also all the training with Wales and we're not used to that either."'

Don't know what you make of it but that looks fairly indicative to me.

On a separate matter, the bottom line makes fairly clear the trend of attempted prioritisation of club of international rugby which the club owners are trying to engineer.

of course club owners prioritise club rugby. is this somehow surprising?

by broadlandboy Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:33 pm

Be interesting to see if he is available during the 2 weeks break in the 6 Nations or Welsh training beforehand.

by Knowsit17 Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:51 pm

quinsforever wrote:
Knowsit17 wrote:
HammerofThunor wrote:
Knowsit17 wrote:That's quite a heavy fine and one they can nigh afford to be paying every season if the WRU continue with their tradition of scheduling games outside the window. Looks worrying for them as they can hardly revise the clause now that it's been agreed. Should have done their homework.

On the bright side this might deter future mass purchases of important Welsh players by foreign clubs. Toulon seem to have backed down from approaching Warburton as a direct consequence.

I don't understand the bit in bold. What have French teams got to do with this? Northampton will have known what could happen. How big a deal it is depends on whether it's included in the salary cap and whether they took it in consideration when they offered him a salary.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/25362659

'But Boudjellal, who has assembled a multi-national team of star names, said the amount of time Warburton spends on Wales duty was a problem.

He said: "Sam Warburton is the captain of Wales and that means we wouldn't have him during the international matches, and we're not used to that."

"There's also all the training with Wales and we're not used to that either."'

Don't know what you make of it but that looks fairly indicative to me.

On a separate matter, the bottom line makes fairly clear the trend of attempted prioritisation of club of international rugby which the club owners are trying to engineer.
of course club owners prioritise club rugby. is this somehow surprising?

Apologies, perhaps not greatly worded on my behalf.

Still, I find it worrying as it'll probably have the effect of moving rugby closer to football in that the club game will eventually surpass and dwarf the international scene. It's the root of the friction between the clubs/leagues and unions. Again, I can't speculate your own view but I for one don't want that to happen as it'll probably bring about a similar culture to football ie stupid mass spending on foreign players to the detriment of the development of native prospects- oh wait, that's Toulon already Doh

by Sponsored content