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Steve Diamond scolds 'gang' looking to form breakaway players union
Sale boss Steve Diamond has given his full backing to the Rugby Players’ Association, insisting his club won’t entertain any of its players joining the proposed breakaway players union. Upwards of 100 Gallagher Premiership players have reportedly shown interest in joining the union that England and Leicester prop Ellis Genge has suggested could happen following the pay cuts that have hit the sport in England during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Genge has claimed some players were frustrated by the advice they were given, prompting him and others to check out if there would be a groundswell of sufficient support to potentially set-up an alternative to the long-standing RPA which has been in existence since the late 1990s. However, if that ambition does come to fruition and a separate representative body is founded, it would likely encounter trouble getting support from Sale judging by the sharp remarks of the Sharks boss in a RugbyToday interview on BT Sport.
Speaking amid uncertainty that the game in England will be given the green light to resume the indefinitely suspended 2019/20 season, Diamond claimed: “As well as rugby, my background is I’m a builder, a printer in the newspapers. I was the last apprentice in Manchester in the newspapers from 1983 to 1985. It was union-led and it was fantastic. Unions are good if they are not radical and the RPA do a good job.
“Players have got to be careful for what they wish for sometimes and players have to understand the economics of life. No disrespect to players, sometimes they don’t when they are playing. They see this vacuum they are in and some earn a fantastic living. Course it’s not football money and you probably can’t retire on it but you know what, it’s a fantastic, fantastic way of life and generally if you’re good at it you can earn upwards of £300K, £400K, £500,000 a year, certainly if you’re an international.
“It’s the only time in my generation that we have had to go to our employers and accept that we do need to take a reduction and that is just one aspect I am looking at. The RPA do a good job. They can be better in some areas but can’t every organisation? The worry for me is that people are looking at it selfishly.
“The masses at Sale, for example, all agreed immediately that this was the thing for the club. Nobody asked what are other clubs doing. We said: ‘This is our club, this is how we run it’. And I just think it sticks in the back of the throat a little bit that people are suggesting another union would get them more or look after them better.
“They are looked after by all the clubs very well and the players’ union, with its limited resource, does a fairly good job. You have got to be careful what you wish for some of the time. In these sporting and world days of austerity, I would be tempted to keep my head down, work hard, support the club I work for and if you’re a good player, at your next negotiation you can get some more money.
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“If you think you have had bad advice off the RPA there is plenty of lawyers about who you can go have a chat with for an hour and it will cost you £100 or so. None of the players who I feel are in this gang who want to start their own union are short or £100 for half an hour’s advice. I wouldn’t be entertaining any union at Sale.”
Diamond added that getting players and staff on board with the pay cut idea at Sale was a straightforward exercise. “I don’t know how other clubs have done it but when we asked our players to take a 25 per cent wages cut people like Faf de Klerk agreed immediately and signed the document there and then.
“Within six days, every single player, member of staff at Sale had signed it and some were in tears that they had still got a job. That for me has been really refreshing and you know you have got good people. Not even a question. There are a couple of people who fell into a hardship category we have helped and we would always do that but we have got a really good thing going at the club and I’m proud to be part of it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
5 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
5 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty 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.
11 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
11 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.
11 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.
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