Agents Poll: The best and worst destination clubs in the Premiership
The recent stories regarding players at Saracens and their business interests away from rugby – and a possible connection with breaching the salary cap – have dominated the news in recent weeks.
Saracens’ signing of Elliot Daly added fuel to the fire this season about how the north London club were able to do so whilst still adhering to the cap, but there is much more to players moving clubs or opting to re-sign with their current one, than simply the money on offer.
We polled 13 leading agents on what their top three destinations were for players within the Gallagher Premiership, as well as the three destinations that they were least likely to advise their clients towards.
Putting aside money, which is a great leveller across the competition, what is it that makes clubs appealing to players?
Starting with the most desirable destination, Exeter Chiefs were remarkably selected by all 13 agents as one of their top three clubs, with effusive praise for what the side from the south-west has done.
“The culture that Rob Baxter has created there is a massive pulling factor” were the words of one agent, whilst another polled said that there’s “a chance to win, there’s great coaching and they make you a better player.” The quality of life and attractiveness of the location was also mentioned and was second only to the London clubs in terms of frequency of citation.
Saracens were next up, following close on Exeter’s heels with 11 of the 13 listing them among their top three, with agents quick to mention how good they are to work with.
“You’re London-based, you win stuff, they make you a better player, they look after you like no other club and if you’re a regular starter, there’s a good chance you’ll get capped” was the response of one person polled, whilst others mentioned the off-field success players there can achieve, as well as the attractiveness of the location.
The votes were a lot more split behind those two perennial title challengers, however, with Harlequins making it into five top threes, whilst Northampton Saints and Bath both made it into four. Gloucester were the other side to make the cut, with two agents including them in their selections.
With Quins, location and stadium were both given as reasons, as well as the brand of rugby they play, whilst Saints were praised for their honesty in and speed of negotiations, with the club from the East Midlands usually keen to conduct their business early and give players time to plan moves or know that they are staying in the area for another season.
The facilities, ambition and link with Bath University were all reasons given in regard to Bath, as well as there still being an “aura around the club and a feeling if that they can get it right, they could fly.” As for Gloucester, their upward trajectory under David Humphreys and Johan Ackermann was mentioned.
Unfortunately, it can’t all be positive and there were some notable trends among the Premiership clubs listed as less desirable destinations for players.
N.B. Of the 13 agents polled, one wasn’t comfortable giving a bottom three, so the maximum possible selections for each club in this section were 12.
Newcastle Falcons and Worcester Warriors both led the way with nine selections, with the threat of relegation understandably at play for both of those sides.
On Newcastle, one agent said, “location is not the most appealing, they aren’t the best communicators and Premiership stability is a question,” whilst another raised the issue that it is “not seen as a club you can really progress at, with the exception of Mark Wilson.” Comments on Worcester were similar, with another stating that “it’s a fight for survival every year and not the most desirable place to live.”
Wasps were next up with seven selections, with their training facilities cited by most respondents, whilst another said there are “a lot of off-field distractions and a big crop of homegrown players have left. They’re about to go through some rebuilding.”
Sale Sharks followed that with five selections and a lack of communication and feedback from the club was questioned, whilst Leicester Tigers (three) and Bristol Bears (two) were the other sides to receive multiple selections. Quins were listed by one agent and they are the only club to appear in both the top three and bottom three selections.
What the poll revealed is that away from financial security, the primary motivators for players to move are their ambitions to win things.
As runaway leaders in the top threes, the positions of Exeter and Saracens in the Premiership table and their ability to compete on multiple fronts each season are impossible to ignore. With that culture and environment that has been created, their competitiveness at the top of the table and in Europe, not to mention their attractive locations, is it any wonder that players are willing to pass up some earnings to stay or move there?
Unfortunately for Newcastle and Worcester, that is mirrored at the bottom of the table, where players and agents are reluctant to move to sides that are threatened by the spectre of relegation.
Everything is dealt with on a player-by-player basis, however, and one agent opted not to give a top or bottom three, based on the fact that they felt it was an impossible question to answer, with certain clubs fits for certain players, whilst they wouldn’t be for others.
The poll does show, though, the importance of factors such as environment, culture, training facilities and open and honest coaching staffs, and although titles are not something a club can necessarily offer in the short-term, all of these other factors can be improved and highlighted regardless.
No one is suggesting that potential success is not the biggest lure at Exeter or Saracens, but there are lessons to be learned there for other clubs. If culture can be a swing factor in recruitment and player retention, it could be decisive in bringing about on-field success. With the latter of those two seemingly impossible without the former, it’s a good starting point for clubs looking to build a side capable of taking them to the top.
Watch: Eddie Jones is frustrated by England’s mental lapses
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
75 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments