'We haven't made England the best paid international squad in the world for the last 16 years by going into meetings and agreeing the first number put on the table'
Premiership players’ chiefs will take part in one of the most important meetings in the history of the sport today to try and deliver a return to play programme to get rugby started again and are adamant their role has not been undermined by a call to set up a rival organisation by Ellis Genge, the Leicester and England prop.
Genge has claimed the Rugby Players Association (RPA) should have been more proactive in dealing with the average pay cuts of 25 per cent imposed on Premiership players due to the suspension of the season, although individual deals are handled by player agents who annually take out more than £6.5m in fees from the professional game in England.
RugbyPass understands the RPA and Genge have held discussions about the prop forward’s concerns over the handling of pay cuts imposed by the Premiership clubs, however, a return to play timeline will be the main focal point of today’s Professional Game Board (PGB) online meeting.
The PGB meeting will involve the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby and the RPA with player welfare top of the agenda with plans to play up to three games a week in controlled environments once the government give the green light to start playing. It is understood to complete the outstanding nine regular rounds of matches and the play-offs by mid-August, any mid-week games would only take place every other week and all clubs will have to commit to using their entire playing squads to share the playing load.
Damian Hopley, chief executive of the RPA which receives funding from the RFU and Premiership Rugby, said: “There has never been a more important time for players to be standing together. There is a lot of discussion around return to play and we have sent out the five stages to achieve this to all our members and the PGB meeting will have this front and centre in terms of getting the game back up and running. Of course, it is all linked up with government advice and there is a huge collaboration between the RPA, RFU and Premiership Rugby to try and move this forward.
“Rugby normally only plays mid-week during Rugby World Cups and British and Irish Lions tours and that is unique to those tours and tournaments and we are seeking squad rotation and to ensure the opinions of strength and conditioning experts are critical to make sure players are not playing three games a week. That is fundamental to any return to play to navigate our way through this.
“Our funding of £1.5m goes to our insurance, development and education programmes and all of our trade union activity and legal costs come from our members’ subscriptions and the successful commercial programme we run. We haven’t made England the best paid international squad in the world for the last 16 years by going into meetings and agreeing the first number put on the table.”
Hopley confirmed that players who have contracts with new clubs starting on July 1 would be part of their new team’s squad which means, for example, Harlequins losing England prop Kyle Sinckler to Bristol on that date. The situation is similar to a player who moves mid-season like Chris Ashton joining Quins from Sale, although the number involved is going to be much greater than normal and could throw up extra complications with teams having to change line out calls as one of their forwards has switched the opposition taking that inside information with him.
Comments on RugbyPass
You 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?
43 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.
5 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
5 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.
5 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
5 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.
5 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.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments