Why Manu Tuilagi's case should act as a warning to Rugby Union
News emerged earlier this week that Manu Tuilagi and Denny Solomona had been sent home from an England training camp for “team culture issues”. Details are sketchy at best, and whilst initial reports of an altercation seem unfounded, the drunken incident was enough for Eddie Jones to send both to the naughty step to have a long hard think about what they’d done.
For Tuilagi, fresh off a much-heralded reinstatement to the England fold, many are suggesting this means the death of a once-promising international career.
Tuilagi burst onto the scene with Leicester Tigers in 2010, following in the footsteps of his brothers with his explosive power and unique combination of strength and speed. He was named in the England squad for the 2011 World Cup and in 2012 played an integral role in England’s historic defeat of the All Blacks. By 2013 he was a Lions tourist and so it was no surprise when, in 2015, Tuilagi signed a reported £400,000-a-year contract, becoming the highest paid player in English rugby.
However, pretty much ever since then, Tuilagi has failed to live up to these lofty expectations. Already nagged by injury problems, Richard Cockerill admitted at the time that it was something of a gamble. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s probably fair to say it’s a gamble that hasn’t paid off.
Tuilagi has spent more time on the shelf than the can of expired beans in my mum’s kitchen. That’s not to mention his numerous disciplinary problems, from punching Chris Ashton in 2011 (understandable), jumping from a ferry in Auckland in the same year and, most seriously, being convicted of assaulting two female police officers in 2015.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have realised that these incidents actually precede the signing of his hefty contract. That assaulting of two women wasn’t enough to stop Tuilagi becoming the highest paid player in the league tells you two things – firstly, how desperate Leicester were to keep him and secondly, that rugby has a superstar problem.
This article isn’t intended to bash Tuilagi, or anyone else for that matter. But he does serve as a test case, and something of a cautionary tale against following the football route of elevating players to megastar status.
The reason Leicester felt compelled to offer Tuilagi such a high salary was because they felt they would get a return on their investment. He is a demonstrably talented player, with a unique ability to create something from nothing. That equals wins, which equals silverware, which equals money.
He is also a famous name and a recognisable face. That equals publicity, which equals supporters, which equals money. It’s not cynical to suggest some serious financial pros and cons were considered when debating whether to let the in-demand star head off to rival clubs. Leicester, however, is not a particularly rich club. Historic, yes, successful, yes, but in comparison to the likes of Saracens, Bath, or any number of French clubs with a wealthy backer, Leicester’s bank balance is extremely modest.
This means that the offer of such a large amount of money to one player will have had serious repercussions elsewhere in the budget.
Whilst initial fears that it would lead to in-fighting in the squad don’t seem to have come true, even my GCSE maths is enough to know that subtracting a large percentage from a total means there’s less to go round for everyone else.
Tigers did make a few high-profile signings post-Tuilagi, including JP Pietersen and Matt Toomua, but seemingly did so cautiously, knowing a huge chunk of their playing budget was sat on the physio table. That Toomua largely played in the same position as Tuilagi, and would have been on a decent wage himself, would have been especially irritating to those in charge of the Tigers spreadsheets.
Tigers haven’t seen the on-field success they’d have liked in recent seasons either. Whilst it would be ridiculous to pin all the blame on one player or one investment, having the shadow of Tuilagi lurking over the squad can’t have helped. The promise that he may return at any moment as the saviour of Welford Road would almost certainly have affected day-to-day operations as the club looked for direction, not knowing whether to build their future around him or cut their losses and focus elsewhere.
This is symptomatic of a larger issue, wherein the growing wage demands of players but slower increase in revenue of many clubs has created a need for superstars – if clubs can’t pay everyone the big bucks, they have little choice but to put all their eggs in one basket and hope that player is enough to lift the team to glory. Rugby can’t sustain its growing salaries in its current form, and examples such as the Tuilagi case should serve as a warning against throwing money around with the hope that some of it sticks to a trophy.
Of course, these fears could be unfounded. Maro Itoje is arguably the next superstar of world rugby, and is rumoured to be in line to become the Premiership’s first £1m player when his contract expires.
Thus far, Itoje has only had one notable injury, no major disciplinary problems and seems to generally have his head screwed on properly, especially given that he completed his law degree at the same time as starring for the Lions.
He may well serve to be a shrewd investment, offering excellent value for money for whichever club snares his signature in 2019. But at a time when the global game is looking increasingly financially precarious, we should beware the words of charlatan agents promising magic beans. If all we end up with is beans, then we could have saved ourselves all the bother and just looked in my mum’s kitchen.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
3 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to comments