Adams, Charteris and Francis are victims but PRL are not the perpetrators
Will we ever get through a season of rugby without a selection controversy surrounding English-based Welsh players?
The latest reared its head yesterday, as the trio of Josh Adams, Luke Charteris and Tomas Francis, all of whom play for Aviva Premiership clubs, were withdrawn from the Wales squad for their summer tour of Argentina.
As players for Premier Rugby Limited clubs, the three players have release to play for Wales during the international window, but they are not available to play the Springboks in Washington on June 2nd, as it falls outside of the upcoming window.
This has long been established as PRL’s policy in regard to international player release, it adheres fully to the regulations set out by World Rugby and yet, for whatever reason, Warren Gatland and the Welsh Rugby Union decided to test PRL’s resolve this summer by picking the trio as part of the squad that would take on the Boks.
Following the refusal from Worcester Warriors, Bath and Exeter Chiefs to release those players, the WRU has made the decision to withdraw them fully from the squad that will head on to Argentina after playing South Africa in Washington.
Those three clubs haven’t done anything wrong, they’ve abided by the rules set out by their governing body, whilst PRL has done nothing deceitful or petty, these are simply the requirements which players coming to the Premiership agree to and it holds true to players of all foreign nations.
The last thing PRL want to do is to set a precedent for players being released outside of windows, as this will only encourage more international fixtures to be scheduled during those periods. Both Northampton Saints and Bath have been fined in recent seasons for their releases of Taulupe Faletau and George North respectively, with Wales persistently playing extra games outside of the window in order to increase their revenues.
If the WRU is happy to compensate the Welsh regions for the loss of players outside of the window, much as the Rugby Football Union is content to do with Premiership clubs, then there is no drama or issue, but to expect a competition based in a different country, to whom you pay no compensation, to afford players the same release would seem hubristic.
There is no reason why Adams, Charteris and Francis couldn’t have joined the tour after it left the US and played roles in the two-match series with Argentina, but instead the WRU have looked to make an example of the situation.
By including – and then withdrawing – the three players, whilst knowing full well what PRL’s policy on player release is, they have attempted to create a furore and spectacle, one which, they hope, will encourage Welsh players based abroad to move back to Wales on contracts funded, in part, by these extra games outside of windows.
It’s not a bad plan.
In fact, it’s a smart plan, attempting to make the most of the limited resources available to the WRU.
That said, it’s a plan which has purposefully put these three players into the embarrassing situations of being withdrawn from the touring squad and having the media spotlight thrust upon them. They are victims, yes, but PRL aren’t the perpetrators of the crime.
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It’s easy to look to blame PRL.
As an organisation, they haven’t endeared themselves to everyone and with the season all but over, you can understand why some might say that PRL should just let it go and allow the players to join up early.
PRL clubs pay their players big wages to represent them, so why should they risk that player potentially picking up an injury that could leave them sidelined for months or worse, threaten their career, outside of the window? Again, the players were not in the dark or misled about this, this is the policy in the Premiership and they knew that when they joined the league or signed their most recent contracts.
To put it bluntly, it is not the responsibility of PRL to provide the players for the WRU to secure extra funding and they shouldn’t be branded as villains for that.
If the WRU are intent on playing more international matches in a season and want all their players to be available for those fixtures, then they need to approach World Rugby about expanding the international windows.
The motives behind the WRU’s actions are obvious and the potential long-term benefits to Welsh rugby are clear if this tactic does persuade Welsh players to move to the regions when their current contracts expire, but if you’re looking to blame someone for the situation affecting Adams, Charteris and Francis this summer, you need look no further than their own union.
The selection of the trio has been a tool for the WRU and that doesn’t sit well.
Hopefully the ends justify the means, because those three players certainly don’t deserve this.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments