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Andy Goode's nemesis Dave Ward may have made a terrible career choice

Dave Ward's post-Harlequins plans could be in doubt (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Harlequins’ Dave Ward could be set for an unsettling few weeks as the financial crisis enveloping Championship club Carnegie has potentially thrown into doubt his planned summer move to the Yorkshire outfit.

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The Rugby Paper are reporting that the second tier strugglers are facing swingeing cutbacks after investor Jon Wright withdrew his promise of a £3.3million budget for next season for reasons that remain unclear.

Ward was one of eight senior players already contracted for next season. Despite having a deal at Harlequins that would have taken him through to summer 2020, the 33-year-old decided to knock that option on the head and instead take up an offer at Carnegie that would not only continue his playing career but also give him his first steps on the coaching ladder.

Faced with the threat of possible relegation from the Championship following a terrible start to this season, Carnegie managed to muster together enough finance to allow director of rugby Chris Sterling, whose own future is now uncertain, recruit mid-campaign.

That influx led to the strong revival that now sees them moving into sixth position following Sunday’s win over Doncaster. However, with the financial outlook again uncertain amid speculation that Carnegie’s budget might only be a third of the initially promised £3.3m, Ward’s planned arrival could become a casualty along with the club’s famed academy set-up.

https://twitter.com/AndyGoode10/status/1079141189264293889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1079141189264293889&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rugbypass.com%2Fnews%2Fandy-goode-brands-harlequin-an-absolute-coward-and-twitter-row-ensues%2F

Seventeen of the club’s young recruits have played age-grade internationals for England or Scotland in the last four years, among them Dan Lancaster, son of Stuart, who represented the Scots. But that conveyor belt could be halted amid the feared budgetary cuts.

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Ward made headines earlier this season following a situation with Wasps’ Thomas Young which sparked a Twitter spat involving Goode, the former England international who is now a RugbyPass columnist.

Goode branded the Harlequins hooker a coward following the 12th minute incident he was yellow-carded for in front of a packed Twickenham.

“Pretty conclusive pictures here of Dave Ward spitting directly at Thomas Young whilst looking at him before his premeditated trample on his ankle. Absolute coward,” write Goode in a tweet where he also tagged Ward.

Former England skipper Chris Robshaw took exception to Goode’s targeting of Ward. “You’re entitled to your opinion, but to @ him the way you have because of your own personal agenda isn’t play on,” he tweeted in reply.

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Easy_Duzz-it 45 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .


Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .


anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

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LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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