Ex-England player doesn't want 'bang average' Welsh in Premiership
Former England international Andy Goode has explained why he doesn’t want Welsh clubs joining the Gallagher Premiership now or at any time in the future. The recent RFU suspension of Worcester ignited speculation that two URC Welsh-based teams could jump leagues and move across to the English top-flight. However, that prospect has turned the stomach of Goode, the retired out-half who played for five Premiership clubs during his lengthy career which also included stints in France and South Africa.
Tournament officials have reacted by cancelling the Worcester matches versus Gloucester and Harlequins amid grave doubts that the club can be resurrected in time for its next scheduled game, the October 22 Premiership visit to Bristol.
Four Worcester players – including England duo Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence – joined Bath on loan on Monday to keep their careers ticking amid the limbo at the Warriors, whose last match was the September 24 home win over Newcastle.
For years there has always been hearsay that Welsh clubs would jump at the opportunity of joining up with the Premiership, chit-chat that has now been reignited by the Premiership currently having only twelve clubs that can field a team.
Goode, though, doesn’t even want to see the Welsh invited across the Bristol Channel into the Premiership. He insisted that while the carry-on at Worcester has been awful, the English league was delivering quality on a weekly basis and there was also no guarantee the inclusion of teams from Wales would add to that entertainment value given how inconsistent they are in the URC against teams from Ireland, South Africa, Scotland and Italy.
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Chatting on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod, the show he co-hosts with former Leicester teammate Jim Hamilton, Goode said: “I don’t want to continue on a negative but you asked a question about the Welsh clubs, there are rumours of two of them joining the Prem. No thank you is what I am saying. No thank you. I know the Ospreys absolutely destroyed a Scottish team at the weekend in Glasgow but the Premiership to me is so sacred in terms of what we are seeing at the minute. The Premiership is a quality league and I personally always said that 13 teams were too many.
“I got why they got rid of relegation because of the covid pandemic but we are sat here now and what you cannot do is just add in two Welsh teams and go, ‘There you go, you have a crack’. It just doesn’t work for me in terms of the Premiership and the quality product that you see week in and week out.
“Look at the games at the weekend and we spoke about last weekend, you chuck a couple of Welsh teams in and it just divides opinion hugely and dissipates the quality a little bit. Let’s be honest, we have seen how bang average at best some of the Welsh teams have been.”
Co-host Hamilton agreed. “You don’t need it. This isn’t about being horrible and about taking the p***. The Prem has got a lot of things going on. Andy knows a lot in terms of the back end of the business and stuff like that but why, why do the Welsh teams need to come into the Gallagher Premiership when what we are seeing on the pitch is unbelievable, and actually it could make things worse because they are not in a financially stable place either?”
Goode chipped back in: “Scarlets have played three, lost three in the URC. The Dragons, we have talked about them at length even though results are improving for them. Cardiff, don’t bring them over because they have been egging pubs left, right and centre apparently. Who even eggs anymore?
“And then the Ospreys, it’s just I don’t know… Whoever has come up with that idea, and we had a debate with BT Sport on Friday when I was up at Newcastle. Some people were, ‘Yeah, I think it would be great’. I’m like, ‘No!’”
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments