RFU and PRL tensions right on schedule a year out from the Rugby World Cup
Here it is, right on schedule. The breakdown in relations between the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby Limited.
A timely arrival, right in conjunction with England’s loss of form and a Rugby World Cup just over a year away.
The sailing had been all too smooth over the last three seasons, afterall.
Fresh off the back of an extremely financially successful RWC in 2015, the RFU and PRL signed a ground-breaking Professional Game agreement in 2016, giving Eddie Jones a level of access to his players that no previous England coach had enjoyed during the professional era and providing the Premiership clubs with the most extensive compensation package in the history of the competition.
Over the first four years of the deal, which will conclude at the end of the 2019/20 season, the Premiership clubs are set to earn £112m from the RFU, with at least that amount agreed to be paid again from 2020 to 2024, but with the scope to increase, should revenues in the game rise between now and then.
Everything was rosy in England’s garden.
The clubs and the RFU were cooperating harmoniously, England were marching forward on the field and advances in player welfare seemed to be being made, thanks also to a deal between the RFU, PRL and the Rugby Players Association, which had been struck in 2015.
Good times and English rugby inevitably fail to last, though, and tensions and frayed nerves are beginning to emerge between the two parties.
After enjoying a relatively injury-free debut season, Jones’ charges have had less luck in the past two seasons, with critics keen to point the finger at the intensity of Jones’ training sessions, something which had been championed as a primary cause for England’s excellence in the 2015/16 season.
It led to Bath owner Bruce Craig breaking ranks recently, labelling the situation of players being injured with England as “totally unacceptable” following the news that Bath loosehead Beno Obano could face 12 months out from the game, after suffering multiple ligament and hamstring tendon damage whilst training with England.
Unsurprisingly to anyone who has followed Jones’ career over the last 20 years, the Australian was quick to fire back.
The England head coach said that he hadn’t “seen any figures to suggest that they are [unacceptable]”.
“No one within our staff has suggested they are, but Bruce is obviously an expert in training ground injuries, so I’ll have to be subservient to his greater knowledge.”
Jones’ stinging retort has not gone unnoticed with PRL, either, with the organisation’s CEO Mark McCafferty describing the relationship as having “hit a roadblock” and that it would be a subject of discussion at the upcoming Professional Game Board meeting in June.
Craig, too, chose to hit back at the comments by Jones, when speaking to The Telegraph.
“Mr Jones’ cynical remarks on an important player welfare issues are inappropriate.”
“If his judgement that 15 serious injuries in England training and a career-ending injury for Sam Jones is acceptable and doesn’t warrant explanation, apology or some deeper analysis, then that is the problem.”
Disharmony between the two organisations is nothing new and it has been a battle long-waged by both sides but following the ground-breaking deal between the two in 2016 and the recent success enjoyed by England, most people would have hoped not to see these kinds of tensions rear their head until much closer to the 2024 date that the current deal expires.
It’s no secret that Jones pushes his players hard in training, and creates an environment where comfort is at a premium and work rate is not just expected, it’s demanded. It’s something which splits opinion on Jones and always has, with the Australian receiving as many plaudits as he does criticisms for his intense approach.
He’s also not likely to change at this point in his career. This is the way he has always done things.
It won him friends early in his tenure as the Wallabies head coach and lost him some towards the end. They made the final at the 2003 RWC and certainly weren’t a worse outfit for Jones’ presence, they just happened to come up against an England side that is arguably the best to have ever left these shores.
Years later in his role with Japan, certain players were not good fits in the set-up because of his rigid way of doing things. As coach, he wasn’t going to bend to accommodate particular players – something his critics will point to in his selections as England head coach – but he took Japan to a higher level of play than we expected they were capable of.
With that in mind, there doesn’t seem to be much that can be said or done in the upcoming PGB meeting to change Jones’ approach.
And why would you want to?
The RFU hired Jones to be Jones. Not Jones-lite or semi-Jones.
If the RFU wanted a different approach, they wouldn’t have hired him in the first place or, having discovered more about him as a coach over his first two seasons, offered him an extension beyond the 2019 RWC back in January.
There’s really only one way to make these tensions disappear in the short-term and that’s to start winning games again.
England winning has no tangible short-term benefit to Premiership clubs. Sure, a successful England will help grow the sport and therefore the potential appeal of the Premiership to new fans, but in relation to losing valuable players to injury, it doesn’t really register in importance.
And yet club owners, chairmen, directors of rugby and coaches will all be more content if England get back on the winning track. They won’t be happy about losing the players, but you can bet your bottom dollar that there’ll be less angry backlashes and retorts.
It’s easy to criticise the England set-up when the team is losing. It’s a lot harder when they’re winning.
So, no pressure, Eddie.
You’re not just playing to beat the Springboks and prepare for the RWC, you’re playing to save the future of harmonious RFU and PRL cooperation and, consequently, the future of rugby in this country.
No dramas.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments