European Club Rugby

[Stargazer]

@Machpants It might be bad for Mitre 10 Cup though. Unless NZR stays strict on SR players who are allowed to go on an overseas' stint (as in "only those who have earned it" by playing SR for several years and staying loyal to NZ for a long time).

[Machpants]

Nerd numbers

Analysis: How European clubs are managing wage inflation, increased revenue and squad growth

The latest 'European Rugby by Numbers' review from Esportif Intelligence is out and it makes for intriguing reading for anyone interested in rugby finances.

€$£

[Machpants]

It's getting a little ridiculous

Especially in this case, is not in the ruck as the standing guy at the front is not properly bound!

[Bovidae]

The first time I saw that tactic was from a SA team in SR.

Another more common in the NH was the halfback sliding the ball along the ground because the ball is not out until it is lifted off the ground and outside the hindmost foot. Even at the RWC we saw halfbacks and other players using their hands to move the ball back from a ruck. Make the fuckers use their feet!

[mooshld]

@Machpants
Its ridiculous, if its a ruck the ref should have his arm out the 5 is off side. If its not it should be obstruction as soon as the half back picks it up.

The laws need to be enforced properly. As well as the 5 seconds to use it. I didn't see this live but I highly suspect it took them more then 5 seconds to form that up and roll the ball to the back.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Machpants

[booboo]

Stuff

[mooshld]

@booboo said in NH club rugby:

Stuff

They should rip up his contract. He's a bit part player for racing anyway. In the matches I've seen him play he's lucky if he's still running after 15 minutes on the pitch.

[antipodean]

@mooshld said in NH club rugby:

@booboo said in NH club rugby:

Stuff

They should rip up his contract. He's a bit part player for racing anyway. In the matches I've seen him play he's lucky if he's still running after 15 minutes in the pitch.

I'm astonished it's that much. Pathetic to see someone like that in a professional sport.

[Machpants]

@antipodean I remember people ripping up the ABs for letting him go LOL

[Bovidae]

When Tameifuna played for the Chiefs he was very mobile and fit despite his size. I'm not excusing his work ethic over there but it probably says a little about the standards in French club rugby too. Think of Bastareaud as another example.

[gt12]

@Bovidae said in NH club rugby:

When Tameifuna played for the Chiefs he was very mobile and fit despite his size. I'm not excusing his work ethic over there but it probably says a little about the standards in French club rugby too. Think of Bastareaud as another example.

He took so much hand holding by the coaches to stay at that (over) weight too. Little wonder that some senior AB supposedly told him that the only AB jersey he'd ever wear was the one for the squad photo.

Don't get me wrong, I loved him for the Chiefs, but he was miles away from staying an AB squaddie. For whatever reason, Akira seems to be in the same boat, whether that is for attitude or fitness, we still don't know

[Daffy Jaffy]

English rugby giants Saracens have been slapped with an unprecedented 35-point deduction and £5million fine for breaching the salary cap.

It's a bombshell for the North London club and will send shockwaves through the global game with Saracens being the current Premiership and Heineken European Cup champions.

It now sees Saracens heading into next weekend's Premiership clash with Gloucester at Kingsholm on minus 26 points and in real danger of being relegated to the Greene King IPA Championship next season.

The punishment comes after a seven-month investigation involving Premiership Rugby and then specialist arbitrators Sport Resolutions, the outcome of which was delayed during the Rugby World Cup so as not to derail England's campaign.

In March a newspaper investigation reported investment partnerships between owner Nigel Wray and top players including England skipper Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Billy and Mako Vunipola. PRL launched a formal review in April, and it is understood the case was then passed to Sport Resolutions for a formal disciplinary panel late in the summer.
In addition to Farrell, Itoje and the Vunipola brothers, Saracens also have Liam Williams and Vincent Koch on their books and have signed England star Elliot Daly, from Wasps, for the coming season.

[Bones]

@Daffy-Jaffy Holy smokes! I imagine they'll be able to make up those 26 points with that roster though...puts them 30 points behind Bath....only 6 bonus point wins isn't it?

[MajorRage]

Holy shit, this is massive.

Saracens are the darlings of the UK rugby media! How the hell are they going to spin this!

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bones Imagine being the team who gets relegated instead of them when you had a 26 point head start!

[gt12]

Is there talk of taking away the Heineken Cup? If it was unfairly earned, no reason why they should be able to continue to keep the champisonship.

[Bones]

@gt12 fair question - although isn't the salary cap for the premiership? If it was for the Euro cup I imagine a lot of French teams would be in trouble!

[gt12]

@Bones

Probably. Hmm.

I assume that the RFU will do fuck all (assuming this doesn't get turned over on appeal), which will mean that these guys will be essentially unpunished - will they not still make the playoffs and be in to win again?

[MajorRage]

@gt12 said in NH club rugby:

@Bones

Probably. Hmm.

I assume that the RFU will do fuck all (assuming this doesn't get turned over on appeal), which will mean that these guys will be essentially unpunished - will they not still make the playoffs and be in to win again?

Well, they'll take into the account that they are "rugby guys" firstly I suppose ...