Every Premiership club must back Myners report to restore integrity - Andy Goode
Lord Myners’ independent review into the Premiership’s salary cap regulations has now been published and all 13 clubs should be clamouring to agree to his recommendations. It’s the culmination of months of meticulous work and everyone should be signing up to work within the strengthened regulations to restore the integrity of a competition that has come into question in recent seasons.
The suggestions need to be accepted by at least ten of the 13 clubs in order to come into force and Lord Myners has said that it should be a case of all or nothing and clubs shouldn’t be allowed to cherry-pick the ones that suit them.
Saracens should be the first club to sign up to this, publicly displaying their intent to move forward and repair some of the reputational damage that has been done to them as well as helping to create a sustainable league that people can trust.
One recommendation is that there should be more flexibility to impose different and more severe sanctions if necessary to ensure ‘the punishment fits the crime’ and the removal of titles is even mentioned specifically, so perhaps the fate which befell Saracens could have been worse.
The most important aspect of this review is perhaps that it is aiming to make absolutely everyone accountable, whether that be clubs, chairmen, CEOs, DoRs, agents or players. That can only be a good thing.
Nigel Wray has done a lot of good in his involvement in rugby and charity but it can’t be right that he reportedly hasn’t read the salary cap regulations for the past 20 years. It will be incumbent on everyone to do so now.
It’s important that applies to players too, although they will be looking for agents to assist them. I remember having a meeting towards the end of my career with the salary cap manager and being surprised at how much he knew about my financial situation. As unnerving as that may be even though I had nothing to hide, it’s only right.
Players haven’t had a huge threat hanging over them previously in terms of those conversations with the salary cap manager but knowing they could face sporting sanctions and potentially be banned would be a powerful addition to the regulations.
It’s interesting that Lord Myners said that to the best of his knowledge “no agents replied to the consultation document”. He is recommending that breaches of the relevant regulations should lead to a suspension of an agent’s licence so there is a serious threat of sanction for them too.
The mystery that still hasn't been solved https://t.co/fJLv3MlE0Z
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 14, 2020
You want there to be a fear factor around the salary cap, otherwise clubs and individuals will try to find ways around it and that will render it not fit for purpose and erode the integrity of the competition. The salary cap has to become an effective tool again.
Transparency is a vital part of that. In addition to it being vitally important so that fans as well as everyone involved in the game know what the rules are and if they are being breached, clubs will be far more reluctant to risk breaking the rules if they know they will be exposed.
Lord Myners is right that every one of these recommendations should be ratified. If they are, that should get rid of any ambiguity and mean there is no excuse or loophole for clubs or individuals to use.
There is so much detail in this review and it looks like he’s done a great job, now it is up to the clubs to make sure it comes into force and the three aims of increasing accountability, reducing ambiguity and restoring integrity are all achieved.
Lord Myners said in his conclusion that rugby is a complicated game with a simple ethos. Some work is needed on making it less complex but its ethos has taken a hammering of late. These recommendations would go some way towards repairing it in the Premiership.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments