What factors do players consider when moving clubs?
This summer has already seen movement on the Premier 15s player front. The biggest announcements so far have come out of Gloucester-Hartpury, with the signings of England’s Alex Matthews and Maud Muir, as well as Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap.
Other clubs have got in on the act with Bristol Bears bringing England hooker Lark Davies across from Loughborough and retired Ireland stalwart Claire Molloy from Wasps, as well as others.
However, in a game which is slowly shifting from amateur to professional and is currently somewhere in between, we ask what players look for when deciding to move clubs. Is money a determining factor, or is it still very much based around development and club culture?
With Gloucester Rugby recently announcing a significant boost in investment towards Gloucester-Hartpury women’s side, a more established connection between the Premiership club and Hartpury University and increasing their shared resources, it’s becoming clear how investment attracts stand out players.
RugbyPass spoke to two of the club’s new international signings, Muir and Lillicrap, both leaving successful clubs they’ve been a part of for three seasons or more, to experience pastures new.
Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap spoke of the reasons for her move from Bristol.
“I like what Gloucester-Hartpury are trying to achieve and do, their partnership and link up with Gloucester Rugby and Hartpury University is hugely positive.
“I like the culture and ethos that they’re building there, it was obvious when I went to look around and it’s something I’m keen to be part of. I also think I can add something to the Gloucester-Hartpury squad and share some of my experience.”
Lillicrap also spoke of the personal development side which makes the decision to transfer more appealing.
“It’s quite easy to become complacent in the same squad. You want to learn new things off a different coach and being part of a different team can help you as a player.
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? Joining Gloucester-HartpuryWe are delighted to announce the signing of @SiwanLillicrap ahead of the 2022-23 season! ?
? https://t.co/9eDHTpYD1I pic.twitter.com/ijtfIwV7Om
— Gloucester-Hartpury (@Glos_PuryWRFC) June 21, 2022
“I’ve had a great time at Bristol over the past three years, but I need a fresh training environment. I think that’ll be important for me post-World Cup to have another focus which will hopefully take my game to the next level.”
So how does the transfer process actually work in the women’s game still trying to shed its amateur status and find its feet in the world of professionalism?
“Having these negotiations is still quite new for us players and the beginning saw a lot of conversations with the Welsh girls already at Gloucester-Hartpury. When I knew Gloucester were interested I went and met with Sean Lynn the head coach and had a tour and asks lots of questions. Things were made simpler by the fact that my contract with Bristol was up for renewal this year.
“It’s about other things as well including travel considerations and how we get to the club. Being based in Wales, Hartpury University is an easy place to get to and not too far which is a huge bonus and the fact that there’s a group of girls who come from west Wales means there’s a car share option.”
Aside from the logistics and culture, with the game slowly sliding along the train tracks towards professionalism and clubs having deeper pockets, how bigger part does money play in a player’s decision?
“It’s obviously part of the discussion,” said Lillicrap. “From a financial side you obviously have to make sure it’s financially sustainable for you.”
20-year-old Muir, moving from Wasps Women to the West Country was in agreement around the reasons for her move.
“To be honest, with the game moving to professional a lot of people now might say it’s about the money, but that really isn’t a big thing for me. It’s obviously a huge bonus but the main thing for me was that closeness within the squad, similar to what I had with Wasps.
“I’m really excited for the change, I’ve been at Wasps for four seasons, I graduate from Brunel University next week and it’s just the right time to move on.
“The increased investment at Gloucester-Hartpury is being reflected in their recruitment drive which is really exciting and obviously it’s encouraging to see so many have resigned.
“When I went down I was amazed by the facilities both at Gloucester and at Hartpury, which we’ll have access to the majority of the time. The investment is really showing.”
It goes without saying the women’s game is still far behind the men’s when it comes to player movement and big money signings and Muir expresses how she hopes the women’s game can catch up in the next few years so that transfers become more commonplace, and more about business than personal.
“It was funny, a club actually approached me after I signed with Gloucester and said they were interested but the coach didn’t feel like they could approach me. I think within the game at the minute it’s quite hard as people have loyalties within the coaching community but it’s good for players to have options. I think if we were more where the men are, coaches coming to any player wouldn’t be an issue.”
We've got another Red Rose joining our ranks! ?
A huge welcome to England international @MaudMuir who has joined the Cherry & Whites ahead of next season. ?
? https://t.co/3bRAYXcWtM pic.twitter.com/ngyGnWNkGs
— Gloucester-Hartpury (@Glos_PuryWRFC) June 17, 2022
It’s encouraging to see how more clubs are investing in their women’s set ups and the league having more summer movement and players opting to test the waters of a new club as a result.
Lillicrap commented: “As we saw this year, more clubs are now competing with the previous top four teams and the competition of the league is going from strength to strength. This is due to a wide range of clubs linking up with their men’s Premiership clubs and off field investments, which is superb. Whether that’s sharing facilities or staff resources it really benefits the game. Doing things jointly is massive and that’s what we look for as players.”
Muir also reinforced the point that investment encourages cross-pollination between clubs and the spreading out of talent across the league: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the teams that are committing and investing are attracting big players.
“Gloucester are putting together a strong squad, they’ve come so close to being in the top four these last few seasons and I think there’s a great season up ahead.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“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?
11 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.
9 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.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
22 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
4 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments