Interesting comment by Joe Simpson. Possible unintended consequence?
Also interesting is that the squeeze is in the middle and the superstars are still getting their money
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... nC3OPbJlyI
'With no relegation, there's no fear factor from the bottom teams to pad out their squads. There's not a great market or demand, so I could be in a new career in a couple of months' time. I'll stay in shape over the next four months and if something came up that would be brilliant.
"The squeeze is on the players in the middle, like myself, not the big high-end players. You need those high-end players to compete with clubs like Leinster or Toulouse.
'Clubs are squeezing out the middle men. Some players are getting offered lower salaries and it's take it or leave it. A low-end first teamer is often on around £50k, which in the real world is awesome, but recently I've heard of boys being offered £25k. For a job where you get your head kicked in, ribs popped, broken knees and retire at 30, I'm not sure it's worth it."
Lack of Relegation causing players to lose jobs.
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Margin__Walker
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Salary cap reduction will be causing far more players to lose jobs than the lack of relegation.
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sockwithaticket
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Joe Simpson may not be the best player to talk to about this. His form over the last few seasons has been crap, there's a reason he's been bouncing between clubs on short term deals since leaving Wasps.
Players like that got phased out when the cap was higher and relegation was still in place.
Teams no longer feeling the need to pad out squads (to use his phrasing) with waning experienced players probably isn't a bad thing...
A low ball salary of £25k for a seasoned pro is basically 'We don't particularly need or want you, but if you take it we've at least got another body in the squad' and should really be a sign to get your agent tapping up Japan, MLR or ProD2 if you still want to earn a living playing rugby.
Players like that got phased out when the cap was higher and relegation was still in place.
Teams no longer feeling the need to pad out squads (to use his phrasing) with waning experienced players probably isn't a bad thing...
A low ball salary of £25k for a seasoned pro is basically 'We don't particularly need or want you, but if you take it we've at least got another body in the squad' and should really be a sign to get your agent tapping up Japan, MLR or ProD2 if you still want to earn a living playing rugby.
Will probably be the middle ranking guys taking the hit again as well.Margin__Walker wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:23 am Salary cap reduction will be causing far more players to lose jobs than the lack of relegation.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
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Margin__Walker
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Yep, that bit will definitely be true. Plucking a figure out of thin air, plenty of experienced (but not irreplaceable) squad players on say 100k will find themselves pushed out for younger guys fresh out of the senior academy, BUCS or Championship with lower salary expectations.Slick wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:52 amWill probably be the middle ranking guys taking the hit again as well.Margin__Walker wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:23 am Salary cap reduction will be causing far more players to lose jobs than the lack of relegation.
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Dinsdale Piranha
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It usually is.Slick wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:52 amWill probably be the middle ranking guys taking the hit again as well.Margin__Walker wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:23 am Salary cap reduction will be causing far more players to lose jobs than the lack of relegation.
Some years ago we had a speaker at a work event who did performance analysis work in sports. He'd worked with some big clubs in several sports - Soccer, NFL etc.
His view was that in terms of their ability to influence results, the very top players were underpaid and most of the middle tier were overpaid.
My reading is that the Top Players will still get their £250k to £500k per year but the middle rankers will be squeezed from £100k to £50K and more youth players on £25k a year will be brought in.Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 11:02 amIt usually is.Slick wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:52 amWill probably be the middle ranking guys taking the hit again as well.Margin__Walker wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:23 am Salary cap reduction will be causing far more players to lose jobs than the lack of relegation.
Some years ago we had a speaker at a work event who did performance analysis work in sports. He'd worked with some big clubs in several sports - Soccer, NFL etc.
His view was that in terms of their ability to influence results, the very top players were underpaid and most of the middle tier were overpaid.
The other problem is that when you enter the real world you have to start at the bottom.
I earn £50K a year and whilst I am a homeowner, it is a 3 bed semi in the suburbs. After a mortgage and my general lifestyle I save £300 to £400 a month. I am not living like a monk but at the same time I am not lighting cigars with £50 notes. Hopefully I will have another 20 years before I retire. However there would be no way I could have enough to retire after 10 years.
If a rugby player had a similar lifestyle to me they could save about £40k in 10 years. Not sure if that is enough left over for the physical abuse.
Maybe that is why so many rugby players have degrees.