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'Some Quins players had clandestine meetings with the CEO': The Rugby Pod's inside story on hurried Gustard exit
Paul Gustard revealed his next move on Tuesday, penning a three-year assistant coach deal at Italian club Benetton, but the dust is still only settling on his sudden exit with immediate effect from Harlequins last Wednesday. Having joined the Londoners in 2018 after serving under Eddie Jones as England defence coach, Gustard’s existing deal was up for renewal.
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However, in contrast to the headlines which last week suggested Gustard had been sacked, it has now emerged that he had been offered a contract extension and negotiations apparently soured after senior players allegedly held secret meetings with club CEO Laurie Dalrymple
Gustard, who spoke candidly to RugbyPass in September 2019 about what his targets were at Harlequins, was immediately linked with Wales and elsewhere as soon as he exited The Stoop last week with Harlequins sitting in seventh spot in the Gallagher Premiership, but Italy will be his next destination and it will be interesting what impact his departure will now have on the London club.
“It’s a strange one,” said ex-England international Andy Goode when addressing the fallout at Harlequins on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod. “When Gussy [Gustard] took over, Quins were in a really bad place. They were tenth in the league or something.
“He has taken over, got them up to fifth in the first year and sixth in the second year, got them to a final [Premiership Cup]. It looked like progression. There needed to be some sort of broom taken through that club to get rid of some of the older players and a coach like Gussy needed time for that.
Surprise destination for Gustard on 3?? year deal#GuinnessPRO14
https://t.co/rku2AUT8FO— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 26, 2021
“People are looking at this as ‘Paul Gustard sacked by Harlequins’. That’s the kind of headlines that have come out. But doing my research and speaking to some of my sources, Gussy was offered a contract extension by Harlequins that he wasn’t happy signing.
“They had put a contract on the table. His contract was running out at the end of the season, he hadn’t signed it because wanted a few things to change at the club. When some players got wind that Gussy hadn’t signed his deal yet, they had clandestine meetings with the CEO Laurie Dalrymple. They kind of said, ‘Gussy is trying to change things etc, etc’.
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“From what I am hearing they got wind of Gussy not signing his contract yet and they ushered it along and forced the situation where Gussy has now got somewhere else he wants to go to. They realised that if he wasn’t going to sign his contract some of the players started voicing their opinions because they didn’t think he would be there in the long run and they just got rid of him and cut ties pretty quickly.”
Delving further into the break-up, Goode added that an interview released by the club with Dalrymple left him confused. “What I struggle with, and this is Quins down to a tee for me, they won the league in 2012 and people have got this impression of Quins, their culture, who knows what their culture is unless you have been in there?
“But the CEO has come out and said, ‘Individuals suit certain environments and the club has taken time to reflect on the way that they want to live and operate and create the identity and culture that is reflective of us as a club’ and they say Paul Gustard doesn’t suit that.
“What is Quins’ culture because Gussy was trying to change from the old to the new club and I don’t get what their culture is? What do they think they have got, a winning mentality? They have won nothing, they have won one league.
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“What Gussy has done is he has improved that club. He took the club forward but there is people at that club holding them back. Sometimes you have got to move on, you have got to have a fresh broom. Look at Toulouse.
Harlequins have made a stunning admission just days after Paul Gustard departed the West London club.
– reports @chrisjonespress ???https://t.co/Lmo0DNkwR4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 23, 2021
“They had a load of old players, the coach took a broom, got rid of some of the old boys and brought in some of the young lads, which Gussy was trying to do. Toulouse, a few years down the track, win the Top 14 and effectively rugby and sport is cyclical, so you have to regenerate your squad.
“Leicester for years had the best squad and were always in the finals and then they changed their whole emphasis around recruitment and have been s*** for years. There is a lot of time when you are DoR where you need to be given complete autonomy in trying to implement your plan.
“I don’t think it happened with Gussy at Quins, I don’t think he was given complete autonomy. By all account, clandestine meetings by senior players have led to Gussy leaving. To be fair to Gussy, I don’t think he wanted to stay there because he has got a more exciting option.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments