The RFU are front and centre of the issues facing Engtlish rugby. From the premature contract extension to Jones prior to the last RWC to their abject failure to sort out out a meaningful 2nd tier competition and to have a fully supported development pathway working hand in glove with Premiership sides and the decimation of the RDO scheme in the Community Game which helped identify potential premiership/international p[layers of the future.sockwithaticket wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:45 am Tbh I view the problem of over-paying England players and getting poor value out of them in terms of matches played to sit entirely on the heads of those running clubs. They should be giving pay offers commensurate with what the player delivers for the club and if minutes on the field are lacking due to international commitments, that comes baked into the offer. With the salary cap being where it is the majority of players don't actually have that much freedom to negotiate hugely lucrative moves to rivals
I'd suggest that there is an incentive to keep up academy development in that producing a constant conveyor belt of talent helps the negotiation position of the club with any stars who might be making unreasonable demands. Someone threatens to leave and you've got a replacement coming through the ranks.
And fun.petej wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:43 amThe quality of play might not be the best but it is very competitive. They have clearly aimed towards a more American/nfl model for the league. The European comps with their daft structure are a bit shite.ASMO wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:16 am Too many commentators wank over the Prem as being the best domestic competition when it clearly is not. The moment Prem teams go into Europe they pretty much perhaps with the exception of Saracens get wiped out. The entertainment factor in the Prem might be high, but the skill levels and general rugby nous is way behind the URC and France...the sooner people recognise that, the sooner something might change. This is reflected fully at international level.
Until the RFU stump up the amount of cash to turn it into a dedicated feeder competition for the national side, all it's stakeholders need to produce is an engaging competition and they are delivering on that front.
Meanwhile as we watch our game limp along slowly failing at all levels, Sweeney is still being paid £750k a year to preside over the mess.