In defence of Nigel Wray
In a guest opinion piece, Jonathan Beardmore of the Egg Chasers Podcast comes to the defence of Saracens chairman Nigel Wray.
Nigel Wray is not just an important rugby man, but a great one.
For a quarter of a century he has been at the heart of Saracens, an organisation that has mounted the summits of both domestic and European rugby.
However, one suspects he might not be remembered for these achievements.
Wray brought the world’s biggest names to the English game, men like the colossal French captain Abdel Benazzi and World Cup heroes like Francois Pienaar and Tim Horan.
Saracens, the club he built into the professional era, has developed some of England rugby’s brightest and best. Despite this, Wray’s legacy might end as being regarded as the English game’s biggest cheat.
Earlier this week Premier Rugby handed down an unprecedented 35 point reduction alongside a fine totalling over £5million – one of the biggest fines in the history of British sports.
No doubt this fine, along with most financial burdens Saracens encounter, will be shouldered by Wray. As hard as people have tried, professional rugby clubs just don’t make money and Saracens are no different. The irony is, it is the actions of people like Wray that have contributed to professional rugby being seen by many as unsustainable.
Saracens’ biggest worry should not be point deductions or fines but the prospect of their owner and chief benefactor walking away.
The crime, as has now been well-documented, was Wray co-investing with senior players into limited companies. A process that is perfectly legal but also in direct contravention of the more than 50 pages of the salary cap agreement Saracens sign up to every year.
For those baying for more blood, you might just get what you wish for as legal action from other clubs seems to be in the offing.
But once the dust has settled there may be a way back for Wray. Johan Ackermann, the outstanding Gloucester head coach, was banned for using steroids as a player. He is completely open about his mistake and a shining example of how to make good on past mistakes. Also what of the man at the helm of rugby’s last great scandal, Bloodgate, Dean Richards? Bloodgate rocked rugby to its core yet only 18 months ago Richards was one of the most lauded Directors of Rugby in the land.
Rugby is a harsh, demanding and brutal sport but it is also very forgiving at times. The road to redemption is long and painful but it is available for those willing to take it. A useful start would be to contextualize Wray’s alleged crimes. In its most severe guise Wray has cheated his way to the top, robbed others from life-changing victories, revelled in stolen valour and most importantly compromised the integrity of the game he so clearly loves. On the other hand, this form of cheating is somehow less offensive than the only comparable scandal, Bloodgate.
What happened at Harlequins was blunt and blatant. It required the type of callousness one would need to steal another’s life savings. It was the product of rotten values.
That’s not to say Wray’s cheating has no losers. Exeter Chiefs will tell you exactly the cost. Wray’s actions have consequences that are hard to comprehend. Bloodgate failed to influence a single game but Wray may have manipulated almost half a decade of domestic rugby. There are hidden costs to this behaviour like player wage inflation. Rival clubs offered good deals to players, only to have them bafflingly rebuffed and go to Saracens for less money. In order to keep key squad members, eye-watering deals had to be tabled and tough decisions had to be made, a point starkly made by a number of Harlequins this week.
For all the wrongdoing, you could not point the finger of self-enrichment at Wray. He has never got rich from rugby, indeed, been part of rugby has cost him a small fortune, its cost many owners a small fortune. Wray’s crime was a crime of passion, a man wrapped up in an organisation. He spent substantial sums of his children’s inheritance propping up not only a rugby club but local schools, charities and, yes, helping his players, as he would see it, set up in the world of business.
Why Wray thought this might be a good idea only he knows. Frankly, most of what Saracens have built would still be in existence – the academy, the coaching, a new stadium, a league-leading community programme and yes, outstanding player welfare.
The biggest tragedy is 99 per cent of his achievements could have been met without breaking any cap.
How should rugby react? The complex answer is that sadly even good people do bad things. Saracens should pay the fine and accept the points deduction but Rugby as a sport needs to behave proportionally. Gloucester’s gesture of stopping the sale of Wolfpack lager this weekend is a bell-weather for how strongly fans feel. Wolfpack is one company set up by ex-Saracen captain Ali Hargreaves and Winger Chris Whyles and is a premium example of players transitioning from the game into the real world using exactly the entrepreneurial spirit Saracens and Wray wish to encourage. Chris Whyles was a USA international who made it the hard way, signing from Nottingham Rugby Club. Ali Hargreaves retired after suffering multiple concussions playing the sport we love. Is it these guys we wish to make an example of?
In a similar vein Saracens attracted lots of new eyeballs to the game, many of whom where children encouraged to the games via generous offers to local schools (probably at the expense of Wray). They will be feeling as let down anyone so make sure they feel welcome when they come to Sandy Park or Kingston Park. If I know rugby, I have a feeling the after a good deal of mocking and yes “bantz” the good folk up and down the Premiership will do just that.
“We accept the hate we are going to get, but we think it is misplaced and misguided,” said the Saracens DoR.https://t.co/uFARLmsL6g
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 9, 2019
I am strongly in favour of a salary cap. I am of the harsh sporting sanctions bought down on Saracens, yet somehow I can’t get as outraged as I know I should be. The accusation of Wary giving away some of his wealth so that the great players of this generation can get a little bit more financial security just does not make my blood boil.
Let’s not abandon our principles in search of punitive punishment. Even good men do bad things and for all his sins, Nigel Wray remains a great rugby man.
Comments on RugbyPass
This article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
1 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
18 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
18 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to comments