The very mixed reaction to Nigel Wray's departure bombshell
Nigel Wray has left a mixed legacy throughout the rugby world after he announced his departure as Chairman of Saracens with immediate effect.
This comes two months after Saracens were deducted 35-points in the Gallagher Premiership and fined £5.36m for breaching salary cap rules over the past three seasons.
In a statement released by the reigning Premiership champions, Wray said: “As we enter a new year, a new decade, it is time for the Club to make a fresh start. I am not getting any younger and feel this is the right moment for me to stand down as Chairman and just enjoy being a fan of this incredible rugby club. I will always be committed to the wonderful Saracens family.”
The statement also added that a new Chairman will be appointed imminently. Elsewhere, Edwards Griffiths will serve as an interim CEO for twelve months while Mitesh Velani will take up a consultancy role whilst remaining on the Saracens board.
It was also stressed by the long-time Chairman that he is not ending his association with Saracens. He said: “The Wray family will continue to provide the required financial support to the Club, and I will remain actively engaged in the work of the Saracens Sport Foundation and Saracens High School, as part of the club’s ongoing commitment to our community in north London.”
In the wake of an unprecedented few weeks in the history of professional rugby, this announcement has garnered a mixed reaction. The salary cap scandal has certainly tarnished Wray’s and Saracens’ reputation, but many seem to look beyond that and realise the impact that he has had on the game.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1193868712429989895
Having been associated with Saracens throughout the professional era, Saracens’ success was not instantaneous, and the club’s focus on developing players has been praised. The litany of stars that have come through the Academy is one department where the London side seem to have an edge over their rivals.
However, Wray has been showered with praise for many more things, particularly for his fundamental role in the transition to professional rugby 25 years ago, as well as England’s recent success. Boasting eight players in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final matchday squad against South Africa, as well as the Springboks’ Vincent Koch, it is hard to deny that Saracens have been a driving force in England’s growth over the past ten years.
https://twitter.com/sussexfox1/status/1212671921621475329?s=20
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I will remember him as being the Chairman who built the finest Academy in the country. One that has already produced some of the finest talents this country has seen but is still producing more and more each season….
— Richard Edwards (@Redwards36) January 2, 2020
However, the recent scandal has left a black mark against Wray which many people cannot look beyond. Although Saracens have only been punished for the past three years, they have been labelled as cheats ever since the investigation began in early 2019, and their success throughout this past decade has been marred by the findings.
Chairmen, players and fans have chastised Saracens over the past weeks, with some even calling for them to be stripped of their five Premiership titles. While Wray leaves a legacy to some as being a pivotal architect of the Premiership’s success, some feel this was done dishonestly.
https://twitter.com/s_hayes93/status/1212673398075281408?s=20
https://twitter.com/Velo_Vicar/status/1212675582984695808?s=20
https://twitter.com/AnnaSels/status/1212679473025429506?s=20
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https://twitter.com/conorgmcnamara/status/1212686649781575680?s=20
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https://twitter.com/Geraint_Bull/status/1212688591626878976?s=20
Regardless of the differing views after this announcement, the consensus is that Wray’s resignation as Chairman was inevitable given the ordeal over the past months. Many clubs have voiced their indignation in light of this, with Exeter Chiefs being one of the most vocal, and they were able to enact revenge in some way last weekend by beating Saracens at Sandy Park.
This leaves Mark McCall’s side sitting at the bottom of the Premiership table, 18 points behind eleventh place Leicester Tigers, and fighting for their survival in England’s top flight.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments