A transfer market could hold the key to making rugby even more competitive
Rugby has increasingly become a sport of the haves and the have-nots since the advent of professionalism in 1996. However, the one thing that has eluded the sport as its commercial appeal has grown has been a transfer market.
Unlike football, rugby union clubs strengthen their teams almost solely through their own academy pathways and the contracting of players whose previous deals have ended at their former clubs. There are examples here and there of teams paying compensation for a player to be released early from their current contract, but they are rare occurences.
Recently, Leicester Tigers and Gloucester engaged in a transfer of sorts, with Ed Slater and Jonny May moving between the two clubs while still under contract.
Mako Vunipola is another success story of the model. Saracens paid compensation to get him out of his senior academy contract at Bristol Bears back in 2011 and the loosehead has gone on to be a staple of Saracens’ domestic and European success. It will probably go down as the best sports bargain signing in north London since Thierry Henry arrived at Arsenal in 1999.
One of the larger contributing factors to the lack of a rugby transfer market is the short-term nature of contracting in the sport.
High praise for @Mako_Vunipola from @maroitoje. Leading the way in terms of the modern day Prop forward… @Saracens @EnglandRugby #SaracensRugby #Englandrugby pic.twitter.com/Xql49KceBi
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One-year, two-year and three-year deals are all commonplace in rugby and although four-year deals are also offered and accepted, they are far less common. The concept of four-year deals being the standard and five- or even six-year deals being struck, such as there are in football, is a relatively alien one in rugby.
With the shorter-term nature of rugby, clubs are happy to wait for a player to reach the end of their current deal and then attempt to lure them to their team in the final year of that contract.
For the have-nots in the sport, this represents a significant problem as they regularly lose players they have invested time and money into developing for no financial reward.
The now-annual exoduses from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand to Europe and Japan have undeniably hurt Super Rugby as a product, while the national teams have faced their own fair share of problems. Only the All Blacks have consistently maintained the former stranglehold of the “Big Three” at the top of the international game.
It’s not just a cross-hemisphere issue, with domestic northern hemisphere teams such as London Irish, Yorkshire Carnegie and RC Massy all having been preyed upon by larger clubs who can offer players higher wages and more realistic shots at trophies.
No one can begrudge the players their willingness to move for those factors, but it does leave their former clubs in the tough spot of having very little to show for their role in developing that talent.
Of course, the haves would generally wield more financial firepower in any rugby transfer market if it were to exist, but at least it would compensate teams and unions for losing players that they currently receive nothing for.
That money could then be re-invested into the playing squad or into the side’s academy, generally redistributing wealth within the professional arm of the sport which currently predominately resides in Europe, although the corporate model in Japan allows for big money signings even if there is not too much left over to distribute among the other players at the clubs.
With the Gallagher Premiership and Top 14 both operating under a salary cap, the Japanese Top League having a quota on the amount of foreign players who can feature in a matchday 23 and the Guinness PRO14 having a mix of salary caps and foreign player rules, depending on the nation of the side in question, the hoarding of players would not necessarily follow the uptake of a transfer market.
In football, as long as a side is compliant with the financial fair play regulations, they can attempt to hoard young talent from as young as 15 or 16, and the cost of doing so, through both transfer fees and wages, is largely irrelevant in comparison to the huge revenues they draw.
In rugby, rules prevent players being poached prior to the age of 18 and the lower revenues – and thus salary caps – would prevent teams from stockpiling players at a young age, if they still want to put out a competitive senior squad.
For example, if a club near the top of the Premiership were to look at a talented 19-year-old at Worcester Warriors and fancied adding that player to their squad, they may only need wait until January next year, offer the player improved terms and a realistic shot at silverware, and he could be leaving Worcester as soon as the summer of 2020.
'It has been a whirlwind the last two-and-a-half seasons of just non-stop playing bar a couple of injuries'
– Young hooker @JackSingleton14 talks to @heagneyl about the excellent Worcester apprenticeship that is getting him many admirers ? https://t.co/uGVnPNaDuA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 16, 2019
If he had a four-year contract upon coming into the senior academy, even on the basic senior academy wage in the competition, that top club may have to pay £90k or more in compensation to sign that player now rather than waiting until 2022 for his contract to be up and for him to become available. That money would then be available for Worcester to reinvest, rather than losing him for nothing a year or so later.
With the multitude of rich benefactors in French and English rugby, as well as the corporate backing in Japan, the fact smaller clubs in those countries can go financially unrewarded for their efforts in developing talent seems unfair. The southern hemisphere isn’t iummune to the lack of reward, either.
Rugby’s ability to generate revenue is severely limited in comparison to football or a number of the major US sports, so a way of bringing through an extra stream of income from involved and committed owners that can be redistributed across the global game could be a welcome one.
It was February when RugbyPass revealed that Naholo would be playing for London Irish next season https://t.co/iiwxrbfwaR
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If the haves are already able to exert strangleholds on their leagues due to their lure as a destination for players out of contract, at least the odd transfer fee here or there would allow teams improve their fortunes through reinvestment of the funds. Having a productive academy would not only pay-off on the pitch, it would also be rewarding on the bank balance.
Opposition would, of course, be rife. There is a reluctance among many rugby fans to embrace anything remotely football-related, while the sport’s limited player pool and unavailability of players during international windows would put teams off significant investment in transfer fees.
That said, with rugby’s limited wealth and the club game’s secondary status to international rugby, it is almost an inbuilt safeguard against the sport going too far down the road of football with extravagant transfer fees and risky financial management.
A major shake-up for South African rugby which could have a lasting impact on the @Springbokshttps://t.co/1ud4uVckr9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 7, 2019
Regardless of where you stand on the idea, it’s not something which is likely to happen any time soon. To successfully create a market, you would need a global buy-in from clubs – and their respective unions – players and agents.
The clubs that are regularly pilfered for players may be keen, as could their agents who would have a new source of fees, but the bigger clubs are unlikely to be keen on giving up the shorter-term contracting and zero-fee additions they are currently able to make.
The introduction of development compensation could help in that regard. It could ensure that if clubs sign a player at the end of their contract and that player has been developed by their former club (eg: four years prior to the age of 22), that club is due a small but signficant payment as compensation, regardless of the fact he is out of contract.
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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 6, 2019
If clubs are no longer able to snap up talent from elsewhere with no financial repercussion, the idea of a transfer market may become more appetising.
If it can encourage teams to develop their own talent and see them rewarded when that talent moves on, as well, as helping unions in countries where they can’t economically compete with the money on offer in Europe and Japan, then it is at least worth consideration.
WATCH: Episode one of The Academy, the six-part RugbyPass documentary series looking at how Leicester Tigers develop their young players
Comments on RugbyPass
This looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to comments