The Official English Rugby Thread

[JM2K6]

Always a shame. He was a wholehearted club player.

[sockwithaticket]

Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.

https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins

Seems like an odd signing.

[inactionman]

Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.

https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins

Seems like an odd signing.

Did he manage to make a game out in NZ?

A 35 year old who hasn't played in a year.

He's got real defensive strengths - although a bit kamikaze - but I'm not sure he quite fits the Quins' attacking game?

It does seem a bit odd. maybe a stepping stone into coaching a la Adam Jones?

Yet another question, although I should perhaps know this- who is he injury cover for?

[Sandstorm]

Quins love an elderly fullback or two.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.

https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins

Seems like an odd signing.

Did he manage to make a game out in NZ?

A 35 year old who hasn't played in a year.

He's got real defensive strengths - although a bit kamikaze - but I'm not sure he quite fits the Quins' attacking game?

It does seem a bit odd. maybe a stepping stone into coaching a la Adam Jones?

Yet another question, although I should perhaps know this- who is he injury cover for?

Murley and possibly David.

I'm generally not a fan of signing late career players unless they are there just as cover and to mentor up and comers. Having said that, I said the same about Adam Jones who has worked out very well for Quins.

[inactionman]

Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.

https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins

Seems like an odd signing.

Did he manage to make a game out in NZ?

A 35 year old who hasn't played in a year.

He's got real defensive strengths - although a bit kamikaze - but I'm not sure he quite fits the Quins' attacking game?

It does seem a bit odd. maybe a stepping stone into coaching a la Adam Jones?

Yet another question, although I should perhaps know this- who is he injury cover for?

Murley and possibly David.

I'm generally not a fan of signing late career players unless they are there just as cover and to mentor up and comers. Having said that, I said the same about Adam Jones who has worked out very well for Quins.

Ta, wasn't aware Murley was crocked. I was aware Lynagh has moved to sunnier climes but that's of course not injury cover.

[SaintK]

Ha'penny to Quins for the season apparently.

https://www.quins.co.uk/article/leigh-h ... harlequins

Seems like an odd signing.

Loose head prop Wyn Jones has also signed.

Harlequins have followed the signing of Leigh Halfpenny by recruiting his former Wales and Scarlets teammate Wyn Jones.
The 32-year-old loosehead prop has joined Quins with immediate effect as injury cover for the upcoming season.
The 48-cap Wales international has become the second prop to move to the Stoop this summer, with former Saracens tighthead Titi Lamositele also arriving.

[Hal Jordan]

Makes sense if Baxter and possibly Marler are away, and Marler is also injured at the moment.

[Jim Lahey]

I hope he's on a pay per game contract.
He has a shocking injury profile, and no longer has any gas.
Hopefully he can still be a 90%+ goalkicker though.

[TedMaul]

Anyone here got or had children in a Prem Academy? Be interested to make some connections as stepson looks like joining one shortly.

[SaintK]

Well, that's a bugger!

Aled Walters has left his role as England's head of strength and conditioning to take up a position as head of athletic performance with Ireland.
Walters joined England from Leicester Tigers before the Rugby World Cup in 2023, having worked in rugby for 18 years including roles with Munster and South Africa.
The highly-rated Welshman, who was head of athletic performance for the 2019 Springboks' Rugby World Cup-winning squad, replaces Jason Cowman in the role.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c3033n01yy9o

[SaintK]

Rumour doing the rounds that Racing are in for Zach Mercer
Will be a few bob to buy out his contract if true.

[inactionman]

Rumour doing the rounds that Racing are in for Zach Mercer
Will be a few bob to buy out his contract if true.

It's just not worked out for him from an England perspective, so it's a real shame but I wouldn't really blame him. It went brilliantly for him at club level in France.

If I was him I'd have been pissed to be stuck behind later-years Billy in Eddie's teams, but he's still behind Earl, Dombrandt and arguably Barbeary so can't see where he'll get a look-in.

[inactionman]

I'm a bit behind the curve on this one - the RFU are redrawing/have redrawn the academy system and boundaries given the demise of the 3 teams.

The London & South Central, Midlands Central and Midlands West
Academies won't be continuing, and the 11 remaining will be rejigged.

https://nextgenxv.com/2024/04/10/rfu-pr ... e_vignette

Does anyone have any view on what the new boundaries will look like? The Bath website refers to the old 14 regions so either I've been given duff info or it's still work in progress.

[sockwithaticket]

Well, that's a bugger!

Aled Walters has left his role as England's head of strength and conditioning to take up a position as head of athletic performance with Ireland.
Walters joined England from Leicester Tigers before the Rugby World Cup in 2023, having worked in rugby for 18 years including roles with Munster and South Africa.
The highly-rated Welshman, who was head of athletic performance for the 2019 Springboks' Rugby World Cup-winning squad, replaces Jason Cowman in the role.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c3033n01yy9o

Felix Jones gone now too according to The Times (saw it on reddit, so no link).

[duke]

Story in the Times that Felix Jones has quit the England coaching set up - big loss if true especially following the departure of Aled Walter’s as well.

https://apple.news/Ave66Vy_hSvu1fkpVc6WqPw

[SaintK]

Telegraph reporting that Felix Jones has resigned as England defence coach and left with immediate effect!!!
That is a huge blow!
Behind a paywall so no link

The Times reports that Jones exits his role at the Rugby Football Union due to becoming “unhappy with an unstable working environment” in the England set-up.

Sounds like Borthwick is a shit manager.

[sockwithaticket]

Is that an allusion to the lengths being gone to to accommodate Sinfield? From the outside that situation has been very weird. First of all he's leaving, then he's hanging around a bit longer in a vague role before he goes, now he's sticking around.

I'm sure he's a lovely bloke they all respect, but I don't think he warrants this level of special treatment.

Apparently another longstanding S&C bloke left with Walters.

[Margin__Walker]

Hey guys. Bad news. I heard Felix Jones has left

[tc27]

This isn't good at all. Just when there was cause for some optimism.

[SaintK]

Is that an allusion to the lengths being gone to to accommodate Sinfield? From the outside that situation has been very weird. First of all he's leaving, then he's hanging around a bit longer in a vague role before he goes, now he's sticking around.

I'm sure he's a lovely bloke they all respect, but I don't think he warrants this level of special treatment.

Apparently another longstanding S&C bloke left with Walters.

Yes all very odd regards Sinfield. Evidently the players like him and wanted him kept involved. Hopefully he'll be nowhere near defence as it was utter shite on his watch.
Felix Jones is a major loss. O'Shea better pull his finger out a get a decent replacement in as soonest.

Walters was offered a lot more money and far wider remit with the IRFU

[fishfoodie]

Telegraph reporting that Felix Jones has resigned as England defence coach and left with immediate effect!!!
That is a huge blow!
Behind a paywall so no link

The Times reports that Jones exits his role at the Rugby Football Union due to becoming “unhappy with an unstable working environment” in the England set-up.

Sounds like Borthwick is a shit manager.

Well don't be too hasty, I mean it could be RFU that is what's broken.

But on the other hand, Borthwick might have picked up his management technique of his coaches, when he himself was first a coach .... under EJ

[inactionman]

12 month notice period apparently, although expect some arrangement will be made

Bit of a kick in the nuts, as others have noted we weren't great defensively for a few years, and we went from passive and porous to encouragingly aggressive on his watch

[inactionman]

Not directly England any more, but I note Tuilagi is injured again, the poor sod.

He's broken his hand which I think is a new one for him.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... y7vgdn8nwo

[Hal Jordan]

Does anyone think that the England management (whoever they are) will get the message, stop picking players to act as a placeholder for him and finally move on, or are we all still waiting for that run of fitness when he solves everything?

[inactionman]

Does anyone think that the England management (whoever they are) will get the message, stop picking players to act as a placeholder for him and finally move on, or are we all still waiting for that run of fitness when he solves everything?

He's gone from England reckoning - his move to Bayonne from Sale means he's ineligible.

[inactionman]

I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here

[fishfoodie]

I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here

Nah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etc

There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism

[petej]

I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here

Nah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etc

There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism

Armitage was in his peak playing age and playing for a team winning lots of trophies.

We all know the RFU is a bit dysfunctional.

[geordie_6]

I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here

Nah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etc

There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism

Suspect it will be Fazlet that becomes the new overseas Messiah.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

I'm working under assumption I'm not being whooshed here

Nah, he can now become the new Steffon Armitage, & the UK Media will never STFU about him & how he should be the first choice, etc, etc, etc

There's plenty of clowns writing about Rugby, & this kind of crap is catnip for them, & saves them having to actually go to games, or expend any effort at actual journalism

Suspect it will be Fazlet that becomes the new overseas Messiah.

Not sure about Owen, or Manu or Billy. Some names will interest, perhaps not Ribbans or Ludlum, but Arundell, Willis, Mercer, Marchant, Sinckler, probably not either Simmonds, and then of course there is the mighty Dan Lancaster, who are we to overlook Dan Lancaster?

[SaintK]

Rumour doing the rounds that Racing are in for Zach Mercer
Will be a few bob to buy out his contract if true.

It's just not worked out for him from an England perspective, so it's a real shame but I wouldn't really blame him. It went brilliantly for him at club level in France.

If I was him I'd have been pissed to be stuck behind later-years Billy in Eddie's teams, but he's still behind Earl, Dombrandt and arguably Barbeary so can't see where he'll get a look-in.

Toulon have bought out his contract for start of 25/26 season

Star number eight Zach Mercer will swap Gloucester Rugby for French Top 14 glamour side Toulon at the end of the 2024/25 season, GloucestershireLive understands.

Toulon are understood to have come to a compensation agreement with the Cherry and Whites to buy the 27-year-old out of the final two years of his initial four-year contract with the Gallagher Premiership side to bring him to the Stade Mayol for the 2025/26 season.

[sockwithaticket]

Rumour doing the rounds that Racing are in for Zach Mercer
Will be a few bob to buy out his contract if true.

It's just not worked out for him from an England perspective, so it's a real shame but I wouldn't really blame him. It went brilliantly for him at club level in France.

If I was him I'd have been pissed to be stuck behind later-years Billy in Eddie's teams, but he's still behind Earl, Dombrandt and arguably Barbeary so can't see where he'll get a look-in.

Toulon have bought out his contract for start of 25/26 season

Star number eight Zach Mercer will swap Gloucester Rugby for French Top 14 glamour side Toulon at the end of the 2024/25 season, GloucestershireLive understands.

Toulon are understood to have come to a compensation agreement with the Cherry and Whites to buy the 27-year-old out of the final two years of his initial four-year contract with the Gallagher Premiership side to bring him to the Stade Mayol for the 2025/26 season.

Good for both parties that I guess. Glaws can surely do with the money and Mercer gets to go back to a league where he was more effective and enjoy life in the south of France rather than waiting for an England call that's never going to come in an underperforming English team.

[inactionman]

It's just not worked out for him from an England perspective, so it's a real shame but I wouldn't really blame him. It went brilliantly for him at club level in France.

If I was him I'd have been pissed to be stuck behind later-years Billy in Eddie's teams, but he's still behind Earl, Dombrandt and arguably Barbeary so can't see where he'll get a look-in.

Toulon have bought out his contract for start of 25/26 season

Star number eight Zach Mercer will swap Gloucester Rugby for French Top 14 glamour side Toulon at the end of the 2024/25 season, GloucestershireLive understands.

Toulon are understood to have come to a compensation agreement with the Cherry and Whites to buy the 27-year-old out of the final two years of his initial four-year contract with the Gallagher Premiership side to bring him to the Stade Mayol for the 2025/26 season.

Good for both parties that I guess. Glaws can surely do with the money and Mercer gets to go back to a league where he was more effective and enjoy life in the south of France [rb]ather than waiting for an England call that's never going to come in an underperforming English team.[/b]

He's not had the best of luck with England - he presumably came back on a nod and a wink about a cap, but timed it for peak Ben Earl.

I'd agree with the bulk of your post but query whether the England team is currently underperforming, particularly back row - it's a real shame he was in France when Billy was out of form, and I understand why he left for France the first time round when he was stuck behind underperforming incumbents and Edie was being Eddie. It's in a better place now, although with a way to go, but Earl in particular has been excellent.

[sockwithaticket]

Toulon have bought out his contract for start of 25/26 season

Good for both parties that I guess. Glaws can surely do with the money and Mercer gets to go back to a league where he was more effective and enjoy life in the south of France [rb]ather than waiting for an England call that's never going to come in an underperforming English team.[/b]

He's not had the best of luck with England - he presumably came back on a nod and a wink about a cap, but timed it for peak Ben Earl.

I'd agree with the bulk of your post but query whether the England team is currently underperforming, particularly back row - it's a real shame he was in France when Billy was out of form, and I understand why he left for France the first time round when he was stuck behind underperforming incumbents and Edie was being Eddie. It's in a better place now, although with a way to go, but Earl in particular has been excellent.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear there, English team referring to Gloucester. Even if Mercer was in personally good form, which he hasn't been particularly, it's bloody hard to stand out playing for Glaws at the moment.

Having mentioned it, I'm willing to hold off on judging the Endland team for a little while yet . We only stopped playing cancerous rugby in the last 2 games of the 6N and actually looked reasonably good at the new alternative. To then only have a couple of tests against New Zealand on their own turf to go on makes it difficult to draw any conclusions.

[epwc]

Who knows what'll happen with England at the moment, coach turnover is as bad as Eddies isnt it?

[inactionman]

Who knows what'll happen with England at the moment, coach turnover is as bad as Eddies isnt it?

I'm still not sure what the deal was - one reading is that Borthwick is an arse to work with, another that Sinfield is queering the pitch, yet another that Walters wanted to move back to Ireland (he spent many years at Muster) and Jones was unsettled by Walters going.

Net immediate effect is the same, of course, but I'd be a lot more worried long term by the first of those readings in particular.

[inactionman]

Good for both parties that I guess. Glaws can surely do with the money and Mercer gets to go back to a league where he was more effective and enjoy life in the south of France [rb]ather than waiting for an England call that's never going to come in an underperforming English team.[/b]

He's not had the best of luck with England - he presumably came back on a nod and a wink about a cap, but timed it for peak Ben Earl.

I'd agree with the bulk of your post but query whether the England team is currently underperforming, particularly back row - it's a real shame he was in France when Billy was out of form, and I understand why he left for France the first time round when he was stuck behind underperforming incumbents and Edie was being Eddie. It's in a better place now, although with a way to go, but Earl in particular has been excellent.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear there, English team referring to Gloucester. Even if Mercer was in personally good form, which he hasn't been particularly, it's bloody hard to stand out playing for Glaws at the moment.

Having mentioned it, I'm willing to hold off on judging the Endland team for a little while yet . We only stopped playing cancerous rugby in the last 2 games of the 6N and actually looked reasonably good at the new alternative. To then only have a couple of tests against New Zealand on their own turf to go on makes it difficult to draw any conclusions.

Right, apologies - I misinterpreted. Glos were poor last season, and you're right that its hard to impress in a team going backwards.

[SaintK]

Who knows what'll happen with England at the moment, coach turnover is as bad as Eddies isnt it?

I'm still not sure what the deal was - one reading is that Borthwick is an arse to work with, another that Sinfield is queering the pitch, yet another that Walters wanted to move back to Ireland (he spent many years at Muster) and Jones was unsettled by Walters going.

Net immediate effect is the same, of course, but I'd be a lot more worried long term by the first of those readings in particular.

Heard he virtually doubled his money and will take on additional responsibilitie within the IRFU
Reckon Jones may well end up there asd well

[inactionman]

Hmm.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has been handed more control over his elite players by a landmark new agreement between the powerbrokers of the men's game.

As part of the eight-year deal, up to 25 England players will be given "enhanced contracts", with Borthwick getting the "final say on all sports science and medical matters".

The Rugby Football Union will pay the Premiership clubs £33m per season as the Professional Game Partnership aims "to create world-leading English teams and thriving professional leagues".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... vjlk3gr88o