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Premiership clubs block the England appointment of a Saracens coach

By PA
Saracens' Phil Morrow (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

Saracens head of performance Phil Morrow has been blocked from joining the England set-up by Gallagher Premiership clubs. The Premiership owners have voted seven to three against the move because of a perceived conflict of interest.

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Morrow, who recently signed a new four-year deal at Saracens, had been identified by England boss Steve Borthwick to replace Aled Walters as head of strength and conditioning. Walters left his England role in August to become head of athletic performance with Ireland.

England’s strength and conditioning department, as part of the latest professional game agreement, would play a key role in overseeing the individual development programmes of the country’s leading players.

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    Saracens boss Mark McCall had urged the clubs to approve Morrow’s dual role before the Premiership vote was taken, telling the BBC he hoped all parties “can come to an arrangement that suits everybody”.

    McCall said: “I can understand why he is in demand because he is outstanding in his field. Hopefully small-mindedness doesn’t get in the way of a good decision.”

    England start their autumn fixtures against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on November 2 before hosting Australia, South Africa and Japan.

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    Comments

    1 Comment
    E
    Ed the Duck 182 days ago

    Have to laugh at McCall’s brass neck comment on “small mindedness”. This role would have given salarycens a view on the latest s&c trajectory of their opponents key players. Further still it would have given them a say on whether those same players were permitted to take the field when playing against them.


    With their track record, is it any wonder the clubs don’t trust the fcukers…?!!!

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    fl 47 minutes ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

    Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


    “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

    I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


    “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

    I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


    “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

    I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

    176 Go to comments
    J
    JW 5 hours ago
    French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

    Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


    They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


    That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

    9 Go to comments
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