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as the trio of Josh Adams, Luke Charteris and Tomas Francis, all of whom play for Aviva Premiership clubs, were withdrawn from the Wales squad for their summer tour of Argentina.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
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
27 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis 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.
5 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 comments