The Official English Rugby Thread

[Un Pilier]

Vindictive shmindictive. I'd just find it bloody hilarious.

Edit - and they've only been relegated and fined. New updated regs would have seen them stripped of trophies too.

Yeah, there’s a case for that. Maybe ceasing to exist might be seen as a smigeon harsh. (And cease to exist , they might.)

[Raggs]

Maybe, just as any other club is under the same threat. They've no divine right to survive and if they fail to earn promotion then they've earnt their place.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

It does seem a bit different when we're on the verge of saying those top clubs will be enshrined and not have to continually earn their place, but I take your point, and they're not easy to sympathise with.

[Raggs]

It does seem a bit different when we're on the verge of saying those top clubs will be enshrined and not have to continually earn their place, but I take your point, and they're not easy to sympathise with.

I was more referring to all the other championship clubs.

[Hal Jordan]

Ibitoye off to Agen, apparently over the pay cut.

[Margin__Walker]

Detailed summary of the Championship proposal.

Looks like Rugbypass have seen a copy

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/english- ... mpionship/

Some of the figures look a bit fanciful on first glance. With bands of players drafted after their first year in the regional hubs onto set salaries at prem clubs of 50 to 90k. Can't think there are many 19 year olds in the prem on that kind of money.

[geordie_6]

Detailed summary of the Championship proposal.

Looks like Rugbypass have seen a copy

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/english- ... mpionship/

Some of the figures look a bit fanciful on first glance. With bands of players drafted after their first year in the regional hubs onto set salaries at prem clubs of 50 to 90k. Can't think there are many 19 year olds in the prem on that kind of money.

It's certainly going to make avoiding relegation this season all the more important, or face disappearing into purgatory for a few years.

[Margin__Walker]

You'd assume no relegation this year was baked into the proposal and a 13 team prem envisaged. Can't see premiership clubs agreeing to it unanimously with the threat of semi permanent relegation.

[Hal Jordan]

Detailed summary of the Championship proposal.

Looks like Rugbypass have seen a copy

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/english- ... mpionship/

Some of the figures look a bit fanciful on first glance. With bands of players drafted after their first year in the regional hubs onto set salaries at prem clubs of 50 to 90k. Can't think there are many 19 year olds in the prem on that kind of money.

put together by Ed Griffiths, the former Saracens chief executive

Shenanigans!

Amusing to see the phrase "Return on investment" in the context of professional sport.

[SaintK]

Any Instagrammers come across Binjuice before? Wondering who it is!
https://www.instagram.com/teambinjuice/?hl=en ?

[sockwithaticket]

The Rugby Paper alleging that a top 4 club is currently under salary cap investigation.

That would be, for those who've forgotten or can't be arsed to check, one of Exeter, Northampton, Bristol or Sale.

On a scale of Quins (£12k over and a minor fine) to Sarries (wholesale financial doping, consistent lying about the situation and de facto relegation) what do we reckon?

[Raggs]

The Rugby Paper alleging that a top 4 club is currently under salary cap investigation.

That would be, for those who've forgotten or can't be arsed to check, one of Exeter, Northampton, Bristol or Sale.

On a scale of Quins (£12k over and a minor fine) to Sarries (wholesale financial doping, consistent lying about the situation and de facto relegation) what do we reckon?

Club in the running for top 4, so basically anyone in the top 6 currently I'd say.

[JM2K6]

Hah! In your FACE, better clubs!

[sockwithaticket]

The Rugby Paper alleging that a top 4 club is currently under salary cap investigation.

That would be, for those who've forgotten or can't be arsed to check, one of Exeter, Northampton, Bristol or Sale.

On a scale of Quins (£12k over and a minor fine) to Sarries (wholesale financial doping, consistent lying about the situation and de facto relegation) what do we reckon?

Club in the running for top 4, so basically anyone in the top 6 currently I'd say.

Ah, yes, so chuck in Bath and Wasps. Suddenly one team looks more likely than others...

[JM2K6]

The Rugby Paper alleging that a top 4 club is currently under salary cap investigation.

That would be, for those who've forgotten or can't be arsed to check, one of Exeter, Northampton, Bristol or Sale.

On a scale of Quins (£12k over and a minor fine) to Sarries (wholesale financial doping, consistent lying about the situation and de facto relegation) what do we reckon?

Club in the running for top 4, so basically anyone in the top 6 currently I'd say.

Ah, yes, so chuck in Bath and Wasps. Suddenly one team looks more likely than others...

FILTHY WASPS!



Er I'd say Sale/Bath/Bristol on the basis of not much except their spending habits (in Bath's case there's a lot more obviously)

[Raggs]

FILTHY WASPS!



Er I'd say Sale/Bath/Bristol on the basis of not much except their spending habits (in Bath's case there's a lot more obviously)

Still looking at Exeter myself. Lots of very good players, international or just sub international, where their worth is huge. And also a huge squad.

[JM2K6]

Yup I think I and others are sleeping on them purely because we want them to be the good guys to Sarries' bad guys, and because of how loud they've been about Sarries' cheating.

[sockwithaticket]

Yup I think I and others are sleeping on them purely because we want them to be the good guys to Sarries' bad guys, and because of how loud they've been about Sarries' cheating.

It would be a big blow to the league if they were to be found in contravention of anything. Even something small, due to their rivalry with Sarries and comments around the breach, would be blown up in the rugy media.

On the one hand the extent of their public comments could be a distraction technique, but being so stridently critical also brings out those going "they're all at it, let's look at your books", so you'd hope they've got their ducks aligned.

[SaintK]

The Rugby Paper alleging that a top 4 club is currently under salary cap investigation.

That would be, for those who've forgotten or can't be arsed to check, one of Exeter, Northampton, Bristol or Sale.

On a scale of Quins (£12k over and a minor fine) to Sarries (wholesale financial doping, consistent lying about the situation and de facto relegation) what do we reckon?

It's Fissler reporting it so a 50/50 chance of being wrong if some of his transfer "scoops" are anything to go by

[Margin__Walker]

Could be Fissler filling the column for the week or just a minor admin issue of the like we've already seen at a few clubs.

Looking at squads alone, Exeter is the one with a mountain of depth. Sale have a cracking 15, but run a small squad. Bristol have a lot of non premium players to go with the stars. Going down the table, Bath worth a mention based on previous alone.

[Margin__Walker]

Finally game week for the GP. Are we expecting any huge reversals in form from any club following the break

[Saint]

Finally game week for the GP. Are we expecting any huge reversals in form from any club following the break

It;s like the first day of the season isn't it? Some new players for every team, but there's been a reduced pre-season training, nor pre-season friendlies etc.

With the possible exception of Exeter, each match could be a coin toss I reckon

[Margin__Walker]

Yep, will be interesting to see if clubs that got through with little off season drama fare better.

Can't wait to watch some domestic rugby again. May well binge and watch every game.

[sockwithaticket]

Finally game week for the GP. Are we expecting any huge reversals in form from any club following the break

Really hard to know how any team will fare after such an extended break.

I really hope Wasps pick up where they left off, it was only 3 games, but we'd started to become enjoyable to watch again and winning in the process.

[ASMO]

Any Instagrammers come across Binjuice before? Wondering who it is!
https://www.instagram.com/teambinjuice/?hl=en ?

Hask uses teambinjuice a lot in house of rugby

[Un Pilier]

Yep, will be interesting to see if clubs that got through with little off season drama fare better.

Can't wait to watch some domestic rugby again. May well binge and watch every game.

Tigers should be good to go then

[geordie_6]

Yup I think I and others are sleeping on them purely because we want them to be the good guys to Sarries' bad guys, and because of how loud they've been about Sarries' cheating.

It would be vaguely amusing if Exeter were pinged, given how vocal Tony Rowe was about Sarries cheating at the time.

[SaintK]

Rowlands staying at Wasps, Flament staying put as well

Lee Blackett confirmed that the hulking Will Rowlands is to stay at the club, defying rumours linking him with a move to the Dragons in Wales. Much fancied young gun Thibaud Flament is also staying put. Together with England veteran Joe Launchbury, club stalwart James Gaskell and the up and the up and coming Theo Vukasinovic and Myles Edwards, Wasps engine room larder looks well stocked.

[sockwithaticket]

Rowlands staying at Wasps, Flament staying put as well

Lee Blackett confirmed that the hulking Will Rowlands is to stay at the club, defying rumours linking him with a move to the Dragons in Wales. Much fancied young gun Thibaud Flament is also staying put. Together with England veteran Joe Launchbury, club stalwart James Gaskell and the up and the up and coming Theo Vukasinovic and Myles Edwards, Wasps engine room larder looks well stocked.

Good news for our lock stocks. Rowlands has been a really key player for us over the last few years and keeps getting better. Not so great for our EQP average, but we've got plenty throughout the squad.

[Margin__Walker]

LI confirms Creevy signing with immediate effect.

[Margin__Walker]

Just one positive test (of a player) in the latest round of testing. Two tests this week, with the second taking place today and results on Friday

https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/p ... -1-results

Week One (6 July) - 804 players and club staff were tested. Of these, ten people tested positive. Of those ten, six were players and four non-playing staff

Week Two (13 July) - 856 players and club staff were tested. Of these, nine people tested positive. Of those nine, seven were players and two non-playing staff.

Week Three (20 July) – 896 players and club staff were tested. Of these, two players tested positive.

Week Four (27 July) - 846 players and club staff were tested. Of these, five people tested positive. Of those five, four were players and one was a non-playing member of staff.

Week Five (3 August) – 917 players and club staff were tested. Of these, two people tested positive. Of those two, one was a player and one was a non-playing member of staff.

Week Six 1 (10 August) – 989 players and club staff were tested. Of those four people tested positive. Of those three, one is a player and three are non-playing members of staff.

[notfatcat]

LI confirms Creevy signing with immediate effect.

Should be a cracking signing.

[Margin__Walker]

LI confirms Creevy signing with immediate effect.

Should be a cracking signing.

Yeah, great player. Hopefully he's got another campaign in his legs.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

LI confirms Creevy signing with immediate effect.

Should be a cracking signing.

Yeah, great player. Hopefully he's got another campaign in his legs.

Bigger thing is hoping he gets a campaign to play in

[Glaston]

Rokoduguni likely to go to Beziers, story in the Somerset papers.

Asked by Bath to take a 25% pay cut.





Also read that Alex Goode is off on loan to Japan for a season.

[sockwithaticket]

Wasps have confirmed their squad for the remainder of the season:

Forwards (26): Biyi Alo, Alfie Barbeary, Kieran Brookes, Tim Cardall, Tom Cruse, Levi Douglas, Myles Edwards, Thibaud Flament, James Gaskell, Ben Harris, Joe Launchbury, Simon McIntyre, Ben Morris, Gabriel Oghre, Jack Owlett, Will Rowlands, Brad Shields, Tommy Taylor, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Sione Vailanu, Theo Vukasinovic, Tom West, Jack Willis, Tom Willis, Thomas Young, Zurabi Zhvania

Backs (20): Josh Bassett, Michael Le Bourgeois, Malakai Fekitoa, Jimmy Gopperth, Juan de Jongh, Zach Kibirige, Rob Miller, Ryan Mills, Matteo Minozzi, Paolo Odogwu, Will Porter, Dan Robson, Callum Sirker, Will Simonds, Lima Sopoaga, Sam Spink, Jacob Umaga, Ben Vellacott, Marcus Watson, Sam Wolstenholme

A couple of them I'm not sure of their EQP status so I've erred on the side of caution, but I make it 34/46 as EQP.

[Margin__Walker]

LI also confirmed their squad for the rest of the season. Headlines are Phil Cokanasiga and Ollie Hassell-Collins stepping up to the senior squad and a few additional players seemingly released (Tom Fowlie, Max Northcote-Green and Conor Gilsenan). Several other players are just on short term contracts to complete the season.

Forwards
Motu Matu’u, Matt Cornish, Agustin Creevy, Sekope Kepu, Harry Elrington, Allan Dell, Will Goodrick-Clarke, Lovejoy Chawatama, Ollie Hoskins, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons*, Steve Mafi, George Nott, Jack Cooke, Albert Tuisue, Seán O’Brien, Blair Cowan, Matt Rogerson, Isaac Curtis-Harris

Backs
Ben Meehan, Nick Phipps, Rory Brand, Paddy Jackson, Jacob Atkins, Theo Brophy Clews, Terrence Hepetema, Curtis Rona, Matt Williams, Phil Cokanasiga, Ben Loader, Waisake Naholo, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Charlton Kerr, Tom Parton, Tom Homer

Short-term contracted players
Brendan Macken, James Stokes, Ross Neal, TJ Ioane, Sebastian de Chaves

Senior Academy (2nd and 3rd years)
Ben Atkins, Luke Green, Chunya Munga, Ben Donnell, Josh Smart, Izaiha Moore-Aiono, Caolan Englefield

*Joins after the conclusion of Super Rugby AU

[sockwithaticket]

I like that they've broken it down to that level of detail, it's interesting for us nerds.

I don't know from Wasps who's stil academy, but these guys were all senior squad additions for 19/20:

Alfie Barbeary, Tim Cardall, Will Simonds, Sam Spink, Jacob Umaga, Tom Willis

Tom West was the season before iirc.

It's nice to see the academy return to being a decent source of players for the club given how bad it had gotten follwing cuts during our period of existential financial difficulty.

[Jim Lahey]

Bookies have Sale by 6 tonight.
Anyone have any dissenting views? On paper and given the lack of home crowd advantage I think it might be a prison-style dressing down for Quins.

[Raggs]

Bookies have Sale by 6 tonight.
Anyone have any dissenting views? On paper and given the lack of home crowd advantage I think it might be a prison-style dressing down for Quins.

Struggle to argue with that. Sale are definitely favourites for me, but could see Smith and Marchant creating some magic with Dombrandt running lines. Problem is, I can see Sale winning with just basic grinding rugby, and not needing to do anything special, I don't see Quins winning the same way.