'It's almost like shamelessly going wherever the money is': Ex-Wales captain's withering put-down of disastrous PRO14/Rainbow Cup
This week’s build-up to the launch of the new Rainbow Cup has been disastrous and it has now resulted in ex-Cardiff Blues back row Sam Warburton, the two-tour Lions captain and long-time Wales skipper, slamming the direction the PRO14 has taken by inviting in even more South African sides.
Ahead of next season’s expanded Guinness PRO16, the current dozen PRO14 clubs were set to take part in a one-off cup competition that would feature cross-hemisphere matches in late May/early June against the four ex-Super Rugby franchised being brought into the fold by the clubs in Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
Those three rounds of cross-over matches, though, along with a finals weekend have now been cancelled after tournament organisers admitted defeat in trying to bring the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions to Europe despite the ongoing pandemic.
Due to the initial planning for the Rainbow Cup, the PRO14 opted to cut short its regular season with twelve teams minus the axed Cheetahs and Kings, and an all-Irish final was contested between Leinster and Munster in Dublin at the end of March rather than that tournament continuing through to June as will happen with the rival Gallagher Premiership and Top 14 competitions.
However, that decision to cut short the regular season has been left looking embarrassingly rash due to the Rainbow Cup farce that now won’t see the South African teams play against their European counterparts, resulting in a hurriedly revised fixtures schedule.
"Destinations in the Middle East were also explored as potential hosts for fixtures involving South African teams"https://t.co/OK2BDaQheh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 21, 2021
Ex-Blues forward Warburton is tired with the whole scene and feels the PRO14 has taken a wrong turn in trying to add even more South African teams to its list of participants. “I’m not going to lie, the whole PRO14/Rainbow Cup has turned into a mishmash competition,” he said.
“You need to keep domestic leagues. Ideally, I would have it as just a Celtic League. The Italian teams should go into the French league. It would be much better for them and I think they would agree with me. Keep it to how it used to be [just Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams prior to 2010/11].
“Obviously the ideal situation would be to have a British and Irish League but the brutal fact is that England doesn’t need Celtic teams. But the PRO14 is changing every year and it’s almost like shamelessly going wherever the money is, not where the best quality of the product is going to be. Personally, I’d much rather watch Welsh teams play each other, Irish teams play each other. That would make better games to be honest.”
RugbyPass Offload EP 26 with Maggie Alphonsi & Mike Brown ?
Mike gives us a very honest reflection on what happened at Harlequins & his career going forward ?
Maggie tells us everything we need to know about Super Saturday in the Six Nations ??
?? – https://t.co/q0RJSbNqrJ pic.twitter.com/MRMDvfWGFI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 21, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments