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The Bath squad update that should worry the 13 Barbarians players charged by the RFU
It’s a good job Saracens have been relegated and don’t have a Gallagher Premiership campaign this winter as they could have been left scratching around for additional players if a warning about Tom de Glanville contained in a Bath squad update is anything to go by.
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Saracens provided eleven players to the Barbarians for last month’s planned fixture at Twickenham, only for the match to be cancelled after it was found that a chunk of the Baa-Baas squad had broken the virus protection protocols.
It resulted in a furious RFU calling 13 Barbarians players to account for their behaviour, charging them with misconduct following the embarrassing cancellation of the Quilter Cup match with England which cost the union a reputed £1million in much-needed revenue.
Ex-England captain Chris Robshaw, new Leicester signing Richard Wigglesworth (who joined from Saracens) and Saracens’ back row Jackson Wray were among a contingent of players who publicly apologised on social media for their behaviour which led to the match cancellation.
The RFU investigation into the fiasco will continue next week as disciplinary hearings are set to start on Tuesday and a squad update issued by Bath on Thursday evening suggested the penalties could be punishing. Having trained with England at a three-day camp in early October, Bath’s Tom de Glanville was allowed to join the Barbarians squad for their match with England.
'Coronavirus has really put the kibosh on the nights out and socialising outside the hotel'…
Barbarians lock Tim Swinson spoke to @heagneyl ???on what the team knew they could and couldn't do, and a whole lot more…https://t.co/3HyEUL7EUN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2020
Updating their squad ahead of their 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership new season opener at home to promoted Newcastle on Saturday, the Bath website wrote: “Tom de Glanville – Although Tom is plying his trade at full-back, he has the ability to cover wing, but the 20-year-old is currently undergoing review with a potential ban looming following the cancellation of the Barbarians’ fixture last month.”
This description was later updated to read: “Tom is fully fit and plying his trade at full-back as well as having the ability to cover wing. We await the results of the review following the cancellation of the Barbarians’ fixture last month.”
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The October 29 statement by the RFU after it had charged 13 players – which they didn’t name – read: “The players will face a range of charges including individual breaches of the protocols (e.g. leaving the hotel without permission or without informing organisers of their whereabouts) and providing false statements during an investigation.
“The RFU recognises the pressure public scrutiny is placing on the players and therefore it will publish players’ names, full judgements and sanctions after the hearings have concluded. There is no sanction table applicable to charges brought under rule 5.12, therefore the independent panel can issue a range of sanctions at their discretion – including fines and/or match bans and/or any other suitable sanction.”
A ban for de Glanville would be a disappointing conclusion to a positive few months where he featured in eight of Bath’s ten post-lockdown matches, including the Premiership semi-final at Exeter, before being called up for England training by Eddie Jones. He has been selected at full-back for Saturday’s league opener versus Newcastle.
Bath’s squad bulletin also contained updates on England caps Joe Cokanasiga, Ruaridh McConnochie, Semesa Rokoduguni and Anthony Watson. “Joe continues to improve and return to fitness following his extensive knee injury, which kept him out on the sidelines for 16 months.
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“Ruaridh is currently on England’s reserve list with a full flurry of International games coming up but is fully invested in Bath and the start of the 2020/21 campaign. Semesa is another of our players who is fit and ready for the beginning of the new campaign. Anthony has recently been back at the club for treatment on a very minor injury, but the British and Irish Lion and England international will return to camp to help Eddie Jones’ side in the Autumn Nations Cup.”
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Incoming from the NFL ? https://t.co/Gp4TIxtqQh
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 19, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
9 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
3 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
3 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
1 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
2 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
3 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
9 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
9 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
17 Go to commentsGreat news for the URC. Leinster will always attract top talent. Another huge name added to their stable
9 Go to commentsWhen you look at Australian Rugby you can see the talent coming through. There’s young players everywhere. They have the makings of a strong Wallaby team for years to come if they trust their young players. There might be some short term pain but after 30 or 40 caps together a Wallaby group comprised of the current youngsters will really be top class. It seems like the threat of going under has focused the Rebels both on and off the field. They are having a go like a team with nothing to lose and winning back the fans whilst silencing their detractors. Its funny how an existential threat can spur a team on to new highs. Taking rugby back to the communities will help to build support and create a true team for the community and one rooted into it. It may just work and save the Rebels and if they can get the financing then maybe let them have a go at reinvention. I do feel though that Australian Rugby has one too many franchises. If the Rebels die all these solid young players get infused into other franchises who will have more money, depth and resources. It would make the Australian Rugby franchises so much stronger and they may come to achieve parity with the best franchises from NZ. Super Rugby is throwing up some really entertaining games. Not too much good defence but certainly high pace, try scoring magic on display. Melbourne are no exception to this.
9 Go to commentsMost articles (none Irish) said JGP might be second best globally (after Dupont). Anyway, he is playing great. Different player but maybe he is equal to Dupont in how he is reading games now. He is also running a lot of Dupont support lines and scoring a lot of tries. Dupont is best scrum half but JGP in next pack.
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