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Joe Marler slams Ian McGeechan column praising Saracens owner Nigel Wray
Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler has started another storm with a typically to-the-point response to a Daily Telegraph article about Saracens’ owner Nigel Wray.
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“Crawl out mate” Marler tweeted in reaction to the piece in which hugely respected former Lions head coach Ian McGeechan paid tribute to Sarries’ outgoing owner.
While it is unclear if his comment is principally aimed at Wray or the author, the former British & Irish Lions loose head certainly dislikes the largely positive view taken.
McGeechan’s story came on the back of last week’s breaking news that a South African investment consortium is to take over the Barnet-based club.
This brings Wray’s 26-year term as Saracens owner to an end two years after the club was relegated from the Gallagher Premiership for breaching the salary cap.
Underneath the headline: “Nigel Wray is one of the good guys and leaves a great legacy behind,” Sir Ian paid tribute to a man who has divided English rugby.
“Nigel was all about making professional rugby the best product it could possibly be and Saracens the best club they could possibly be,” he wrote.
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“He made decisions in the best interests of the sport in general and his club in particular.”
Wray bore the brunt of criticism aimed at Saracens in the wake of the salary cap breach, not least because of his involvement as an investor alongside senior players in a number of business ventures which were not revealed to Premiership Rugby.
REF WATCH: 'In asking us to excuse the waterboy’s conduct on the basis that he was simply doing what he was told, Nienaber is telling us that chasing the AR to rant at him would have been acceptable had Carley’s decision been incorrect'
Paul Smith ???https://t.co/vvXDsuPf1t
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 3, 2021
Marler received plenty of support with close to 500 of his followers liking his tweet.
Others took a different view, however, suggesting that players – including Marler – have benefitted financially from the inflationary effects of Wray’s approach to funding professional rugby.
A number of other comments reminded the prop that his own club has a skeleton in the cupboard thanks to the Bloodgate affair, which took place prior to Marler’s involvement with Harlequins’ first team.
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Sarries’ new owners are led by Dominic Silvester, a long-standing supporter and the chief executive of Enstar Group, a multi-national insurance company.
Silvester’s new board includes 1995 World Cup winning skipper Francois Pienaar who in 1988 captained the club to their first trophy in 127 years, and England legend Maggie Alphonsi who is also a former Saracens player.
Wray retains a minority stake but becomes a passive investor without any direct influence over the club’s operation.
Sources close to the deal said shareholders will inject more than £30m into the club to accelerate development projects such as the completion of its new West Stand, the Saracens women’s team and the construction of a new high-performance facility.
Big news for rugby union Down Under ???https://t.co/ux0OvWykTU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Sly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to comments