What's Moffett up to now?

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/new-twist-david-moffett-takes-7240208

David Moffett has taken to Twitter today to insist he's heading back to New Zealand before Sunday's WRU EGM .

Former WRU chief executive David Moffett says he is ready to head back to New Zealand less than three weeks after securing the first extraordinary general meeting of the union since 2007.

On May 22, Moffett announced he'd won enough support to bring about the EGM to discuss the league structure in Wales.

The meeting has been scheduled for this Sunday, June 15, but in a new twist, Moffett has today taken to Twitter to criticise sections of the media as a disgrace and to accuse clubs of not caring.He aims another brickbat at the WRU management style before saying: "Think I'll b**** off back back home tomorrow."

He added on Twitter: "I wish all those that attend the best of luck on Sunday. This is my last communication thanks for the incredible support/opposition.”



Can anyone actually confirm this is true? If true I have to say I thought he would bail at some stage but even this is a bit quick by his standards. Calls the EGM and then does not even bother to turn up for it.

At a guess I would think that Moffett has been made aware of a deal being struck between WRU and RRW, and one that possibly rules out any advantage for him personally.

Bye bye Moffo   

What he is doing isnt helpful in any way to Welsh rugby.
He needs to sod off back to the other side of the world and stay there, if he wants a job at a rugby Union it would be better if he stayed in New Zealand.

Welsh rugby is in a hell of a mess and he isn't helping the situation.

Hes helped it enormously if you aren't Roger Lewis

Good riddance if true. Shows what I always thought - couldn't give a tinkers cuss. A totally self serving individual. Stirred up a hornets nest before running away. Did nothing constructive whatsoever.

Let's hope that's the end of that sideshow and we get some movement on the big issues in Welsh rugby right now.

A oes heddwch?   

So this pretty much confirms that the WRU and RRW have come to an arrangement (probably favouring the regions thanks to Moffetts pressure) and that the EGM will be a nothing event

check our gwlad forum if you want to know more

Some people have been saying to me that their clubs arent bothering to attend the EGM and they're given their vote to the President as a proxy. Suggesting that not a bloody thing will happen and the clubs that have supported the EGM are now in the cross hair of the WRU.

GavinDragon wrote:check our gwlad forum if you want to know more

All I read there is a mass of confusion. Nice to some crying in their beer though   

what i made from the site basically they arent happy their editor has had to walk away from the site due to the level of personal abuse he was getting on twitter also rumours are clubs were 'bought off' also alot of vitriol aimed at WM for failing to print articles about moffett and the egm

from Dan @ Gwlad:

Today I’ve taken the decision to end my association with Gwladrugby.com. I’ve been involved with the site for over 15 years, and have been immensely proud of the output all of the writers have produced. The message board, which will continue to thrive, is a well-known and respected source of opinion. It is often lively, but this is Wales. We’re a lively lot.

It’s got a bit too lively for me, which is why I’ve decided to quit. Things have become very unpleasant for me personally. Many of you may say that I’ve deserved it. I’m not going to argue with that, mostly because I don’t have the energy or the inclination.

If I have offended people along the way, then I am sorry. I have never set out to bully, threaten or otherwise hurt anyone. I have strong opinions, but so do many others. The ethos of this site has always been to seek out and expose the truth, however uncomfortable it may be for some people.

Unfortunately, people don’t like being made to feel uncomfortable, and this is the risk you take when you tell uncomfortable truths.

It’s time for someone else to put their head above the parapet now. I’ve had a guts full of this and it is time for me to go.

I’d like to thank everyone who’s contributed to the writing on this site over the years. I’ll always be proud of what we’ve achieved and I know that many people have a lot of respect for Gwladrugby.com.

What is it that they say about pride again? Oh yes, I remember

Moffett was a NZRU official agent sent to disrupt, confuse, irritate and befuddle Welsh rugby for a few months so that organsiational difficulties would arise in the lead in to the WC and Wales would be one less attacking and dangerous side to worry about in England 2015

It's as clear as day he was called back home and offered a dog snack for a job well done.  The advance troop (Moffett and his Ice Cold in Alex radio) has sabotaged the Welsh and some of them still think he was for real when he intially said he had a special calling to go back to Wales because he was 'concerned' about them.  

"....Or to put it another way, mite - I don't give a Four X! "

I wonder if Moffett is doing all this for effect and actually will be at the EGM. Try and get Rog & Co in to a false sense of security thinking he's gone and then he pops up on the day?

Covered that possibility on another thread gc. I don't think many people will be 'surprised' if he decides to ride into town afterall.... least of all Rog & Co, who know only too well how Moffett runs his personality cult circus.

From what i've read, I think Moffett decided he'd had a gutsfull, was probably leant on and came to the conclusion it wasn't worth the hassle as Welsh rugby is completely mad. And it is.
Like him or loathe him, he should be congratulated for his efforts in bringing about the EGM and raising many questions yet to be answered. More to come methinks even without the presence of Moffett.

Cardiff Dave wrote:From what i've read, I think Moffett decided he'd had a gutsfull, was probably leant on and came to the conclusion it wasn't worth the hassle as Welsh rugby is completely mad. And it is.
Like him or loathe him, he should be congratulated for his efforts in bringing about the EGM and raising many questions yet to be answered. More to come methinks even without the presence of Moffett.

Too true.

I have a feeling there is more to him leaving than just having a gutsful, but not sure what.

Where was Moffett getting a mandate for all this stuff from, AFAIK he's an ex-WRU employee who just wandered back into Wales and demanded all sorts of stuff because he thinks it should be done differently, what actual leverage had he got apart from a talent for publicity and why is his opinion more valid than anyone else's?
Apart from being instumental in setting up the Regions what were his achivements in Welsh Rugby or in rugby elsewhere?
I get it that there's a lot of unhappiness across the board with WRU and the people that run it but what was he going to do that couldn't be done without him if the clubs wanted it.
In terms of the EGM is he dropping out as the fact was then when push came to shove in a public meeting then he was going to lose or as suggested above have the RWU reached a compromise with the Regions which was conditional on him doing one?

Irish Londoner wrote:Where was Moffett getting a mandate for all this stuff from, AFAIK he's an ex-WRU employee who just wandered back into Wales and demanded all sorts of stuff because he thinks it should be done differently, what actual leverage had he got apart from a talent for publicity and why is his opinion more valid than anyone else's?
Apart from being instumental in setting up the Regions what were his achivements in Welsh Rugby or in rugby elsewhere?
I get it that there's a lot of unhappiness across the board with WRU and the people that run it but what was he going to do that couldn't be done without him if the clubs wanted it.
In terms of the EGM is he dropping out as the fact was then when push came to shove in a public meeting then he was going to lose or as suggested above have the RWU reached a compromise with the Regions which was conditional on him doing one?

No mandate. Did it all off his own back as far as I can tell. Got involved because Welsh rugby is a bloody joke and he seems to actually care when nobody else does over here. Also his opinions are absolutely valid since he's been the boss man for both the WRU and RRW. And what we have now is what our clubs voted for. Moffett suggested different back in 2002, but his ideas were rejected, so we ended up with a big fudge. The EGM was not for him to lose. He would have been just another face in the crowd. WRU elections are in August which is when he would have put his name forward.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:From what i've read, I think Moffett decided he'd had a gutsfull, was probably leant on and came to the conclusion it wasn't worth the hassle as Welsh rugby is completely mad. And it is.
Like him or loathe him, he should be congratulated for his efforts in bringing about the EGM and raising many questions yet to be answered. More to come methinks even without the presence of Moffett.

Too true.

I have a feeling there is more to him leaving than just having a gutsful, but not sure what.

Skeletons in the closet?

Like him or loathe him - he's stirred a hornet's nest and then seemingly powerboated himself back 'home' before the natural conclusion or resolution of his involvement could be assessed.

Is that - like him or loathe him - the actions of a man people could trust to sustain interest in the required real long term nuts and boring bolts of backroom - quiet - non-continuous public utterances - nitty gritty - office-bound - normal day-today administration of the solution he said he'd bring about to Welsh rugby woes?

Did he look like a long term quiet down-to-business guy?  Does his history suggest he likes hanging around?  I don't think so.  I think he's an ideas man (big or small but mostly big!) who quickly tires of detail AND indeed tires of the actual topic itself if the thing drags too long.  I think he had loads of energy for the battle in the beginning but inevitably got bored with the topic and probably saw something else dangling glitteringly before his eyes perhaps back in New Zealand or somewhere else that he might chase for a while.

Big ideas are one thing - and big thinkers are an essential part of development but many big thinkers lack the patience or indeed the interest to fill out the detail. By the time most others are getting interested in their big idea, they've already lost interest and another dream needs thinking about.  That's just how many of them are.  And that's not a criticism because I'd rank myself as one of them.

But Moffett is the guy who created the Regions in the first place and then rode out of town as the indifference/contempt for them settled into situ in Wales and amongst Welsh club fans.

I wouldn't say he stirred up the hornets nest. It was already stirred. He gave it some focus and pulled it together. People were bitching in Wales way before Moffet came back.

Best case view is that he pulled the various elements together to get the EGM and now he's left them to sort it out for themselves (which they need to).

Worst case is that he was on a power trip and buggered off when he thought he would make it.

Either way there will be a EGM and whatever the outcome, it's what the Welsh Rugby scene has decided for itself.

SecretFly wrote:Like him or loathe him - he's stirred a hornet's nest and then seemingly powerboated himself back 'home' before the natural conclusion or resolution of his involvement could be assessed.

Is that - like him or loathe him - the actions of a man people could trust to sustain interest in the required real long term nuts and boring bolts of backroom - quiet - non-continuous public utterances - nitty gritty - office-bound - normal day-today administration of the solution he said he'd bring about to Welsh rugby woes?

Did he look like a long term quiet down-to-business guy?  Does his history suggest he likes hanging around?  I don't think so.  I think he's an ideas man (big or small but mostly big!) who quickly tires of detail AND indeed tires of the actual topic itself if the thing drags too long.  I think he had loads of energy for the battle in the beginning but inevitably got bored with the topic and probably saw something else dangling glitteringly before his eyes perhaps back in New Zealand or somewhere else that he might chase for a while.

Big ideas are one thing - and big thinkers are an essential part of development but many big thinkers lack the patience or indeed the interest to fill out the detail. By the time most others are getting interested in their big idea, they've already lost interest and another dream needs thinking about.  That's just how many of them are.  And that's not a criticism because I'd rank myself as one of them.

But Moffett is the guy who created the Regions in the first place and then rode out of town as the indifference/contempt for them settled into situ in Wales and amongst Welsh club fans.

I'm glad you agree that we have a hornet's nest in Wales and i'm glad you agree that Moffett has stirred it up.
I'm not glad however that you suggest he created the regions, coz he didn't. I suppose you could say it was a combined man sausage up.

HammerofThunor wrote:I wouldn't say he stirred up the hornets nest. It was already stirred.

There was a Hornet's nest.  As in the people in it were already Hornets (Welsh rugby people) and some of them didn't like each other.  But he was an outsider, and he stirred it.  
He knew what he was doing.  He took a blunderbuss to a Tuberware party.  He's a mouth who likes his teeth.  Good for him.  But he's also a saddletramp and the evidence is there to prove it.  He stirs and he moves on.  He's done it again.

And if he decides to return with his cape and his dark mask, if he arrives at the EGM unannounced with cinematic flourishes and camera friendly announcements, and if Welsh rugby fans forgive him his theatricality and hire him to a central role again, well then don't come crying about spilt milk again like they've been doing about the creation of the regions in the first place  

That's all I'm saying.  Moffett leaves a lot of spilt milk in his wake. Welsh people have proof of it and still some of them seem to welcome the Dark Avenger back with open arms to save Gotham once more.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

I'm not glad however that you suggest he created the regions, coz he didn't.

Was it his initial idea?  Whose idea was it?  Was he against the idea?

HammerofThunor wrote:I wouldn't say he stirred up the hornets nest. It was already stirred. He gave it some focus and pulled it together. People were bitching in Wales way before Moffet came back.

Best case view is that he pulled the various elements together to get the EGM and now he's left them to sort it out for themselves (which they need to).

Worst case is that he was on a power trip and buggered off when he thought he would make it.

Either way there will be a EGM and whatever the outcome, it's what the Welsh Rugby scene has decided for itself.

We were bitching long before Moffett appeared on the scene. It's typical though that some like to have a dig at him. They forget or have never known that he was employed to sort our rubbish in the first place.

SecretFly wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

I'm not glad however that you suggest he created the regions, coz he didn't.

Was it his initial idea?  Whose idea was it?  Was he against the idea?

Wiki it.

SecretFly wrote:

That's all I'm saying.

Thank feck for that!

Wiki suggests it was his lightbulb idea.  As do other sources over the time I've been reading about him

But you put me right - whose idea was four regions situated at the southern tip of one Region in Wales?  
If it was a concerted effort - amongst many sources - in an overall attempt to solve age old issues then he's still a head honcho at the time who rubber stamped the idea and then evaporated from the scene as it bedded down.

People will say he killed off or at least eased off debt - where did he kill off the debt?  It seems to me that Wiki thinks most of the debt was lifted off the shoulders of the WRU?!  The WRU - the beast that most Regionalists (who never quite liked regions as a solution anyway) detest.  

So in a sense, Moffett created the powerful WRU beast, the beast that killed off the Regional villagers; but he's back now (or was) to kill off the Beast that he initially created and hand the power over to the Regions instead?

He's havin' a larf, surely, Dave?  The man is havin' a bloomin' larf?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

That's all I'm saying.

Thank feck for that!

I told you - I know Moffett...'cause he's like me!

I'm gone and have said all I'm gonna say on the matter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  

SecretFly wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:I wouldn't say he stirred up the hornets nest. It was already stirred.

There was a Hornet's nest.  As in the people in it were already Hornets (Welsh rugby people) and some of them didn't like each other.  But he was an outsider, and he stirred it.  
He knew what he was doing.  He took a blunderbuss to a Tuberware party.  He's a mouth who likes his teeth.  Good for him.  But he's also a saddletramp and the evidence is there to prove it.  He stirs and he moves on.  He's done it again.

And if he decides to return with his cape and his dark mask, if he arrives at the EGM unannounced with cinematic flourishes and camera friendly announcements, and if Welsh rugby fans forgive him his theatricality and hire him to a central role again, well then don't come crying about spilt milk again like they've been doing about the creation of the regions in the first place  

That's all I'm saying.  Moffett leaves a lot of spilt milk in his wake.  Welsh people have proof of it and still some of them seem to welcome the Dark Avenger back with open arms to save Gotham once more.

An angry Irish all-in, with potatoes?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:I wouldn't say he stirred up the hornets nest. It was already stirred.

There was a Hornet's nest.  As in the people in it were already Hornets (Welsh rugby people) and some of them didn't like each other.  But he was an outsider, and he stirred it.  
He knew what he was doing.  He took a blunderbuss to a Tuberware party.  He's a mouth who likes his teeth.  Good for him.  But he's also a saddletramp and the evidence is there to prove it.  He stirs and he moves on.  He's done it again.

And if he decides to return with his cape and his dark mask, if he arrives at the EGM unannounced with cinematic flourishes and camera friendly announcements, and if Welsh rugby fans forgive him his theatricality and hire him to a central role again, well then don't come crying about spilt milk again like they've been doing about the creation of the regions in the first place  

That's all I'm saying.  Moffett leaves a lot of spilt milk in his wake.  Welsh people have proof of it and still some of them seem to welcome the Dark Avenger back with open arms to save Gotham once more.

An angry Irish all-in, with potatoes?

Well he's English, ain't he?... on his New Zealand side of the fambily  

But yeah - he took an Irish potato fight (pitchforks, begorrahs, beer and all) to a kid's slumber party.

SecretFly wrote:But yeah - he took an Irish potato fight (pitchforks, begorrahs, beer and all) to a kid's slumber party.

If that is true that could be why he fled the country pretty rapidly   

What's a begorrah?

SecretFly wrote:Wiki suggests it was his lightbulb idea.  As do other sources over the time I've been reading about him

But you put me right - whose idea was four regions situated at the southern tip of one Region in Wales?  
If it was a concerted effort - amongst many sources - in an overall attempt to solve age old issues then he's still a head honcho at the time who rubber stamped the idea and then evaporated from the scene as it bedded down.

People will say he killed off or at least eased off debt - where did he kill off the debt?  It seems to me that Wiki thinks most of the debt was lifted off the shoulders of the WRU?!  The WRU - the beast that most Regionalists (who never quite liked regions as a solution anyway) detest.  

So in a sense, Moffett created the powerful WRU beast, the beast that killed off the Regional villagers; but he's back now (or was) to kill off the Beast that he initially created and hand the power over to the Regions instead?

He's havin' a larf, surely, Dave?  The man is havin' a bloomin' larf?

Moffett aint the problem though. Those running the show is.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Moffett aint the problem though. Those running the show is.

And he's showing them how to run things right    Sorry, you did leave it there for me.  I just had'tuh use it.

Cardiff Dave wrote:What's a begorrah?

Something you might leave the country quickly for if caught with a pitchfork at a kid's slumber party.

SecretFly wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:What's a begorrah?

Something you might leave the country quickly for if caught with a pitchfork at a kid's slumber party.

I reckon you're mad. Are you Welsh too?

'Celtic too' is as close as I can get, Dave.

Which is closer than ol' Moffett though...

Oh here.  I'm exhausted.  I'm done for the day on this topic.

I shall not return to it ever!

....Be back tomorrow, same time same place.

........................

Cardiff Dave wrote:What's a begorrah?

It's one of those words that makes you thankful for Google definitions.

Cardiff Dave wrote:What's a begorrah?

It's an exclaimation of delight used by Irish people in American films - see also "Hoots mon", "(Name of Person) the (Jerob of person) Bach", "I say old chap" for the Scots, Welsh and English equivalents.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:What's a begorrah?

It's one of those words that makes you thankful for Google definitions.

I'm with you now. I feel the urge to do a Gazza all of a sudden.

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!!!  Did yis bloydin' miss me, mites??!!!

Anyway.  Everyone is only half right about 'begorrah', which is usually good enough to be all wrong.

Begorrah is what potato munchin' Oirish Yanks speak (and pretend Michael Flatleys) when they want to Leprechaunise us Natives.

Example: Oxford educated Irish Tour Guide taking a group of green capped, camera totting Yanks around the top of Blarney castle:

Tour Guide: "So if you'll follow me, and do be careful on the steps, we'll form an orderly queue and wait to be fondled by the guy that will get you all positioned carefully to kiss his stones...I mean the stone"

Yank:  "Oh tis begorrah to be sure, don't we just love you're Irish brogue, isn't it - and us all from Texas and places like that, see; that our mothers before us cried across the ocean to get to on the famine ships and all, to be sure to be sure to begorrah it is"

Tour Guide:  "Eh.........................  I thought you were Americans.  I was meant to take an American group.  Japanese?  I'm afraid I don't speak Japanese."

Now I'm gone again.  Never to return.

Moffet left because the regions and the WRU have done a deal
They basically left him out to dry,firstly backing the 43 member clubs and Moffet,
only to meet the WRU and agree terms prior to any EGM .Well done regions

thespreys wrote:Moffet left because the regions and the WRU have done a deal
They basically left him out to dry,firstly backing the 43 member clubs and Moffet,
only to meet the WRU and agree terms prior to any EGM .Well done regions

Just out of interest, where is this deal you say is done?

To be announced this weak, apparently.

Mark Orders blog: David Moffett will be missed more than many think

Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Mark-Orders-column-David-Moffett-missed-think/story-21215174-detail/story.html#0thbhtsc6wqy3xup.99

Don't get me wrong but we have heard that peace has been made, and then unmade, more times than I can remember of late. Until it is announced, it is still just talk.

They have agreed a 6 year deal.

A 6 year deal, I guess that would take them to 2020, which is when the union will have paid off the MS and be ready to ditch the regions and bring in their own union-owned teams?

So does this mean the EGM is going to be a WRU/Regions "love in" then - and for the lower clubs is it a case of "Thanks for the support but now we've cut a deal thanks to Moffett stirring things up and now have a sustainable business for the next six years, we're offski"..?
Or if the deal is done can they now cancel the EGM as no longer required?