Woodward makes bold claim about Six Nations and absence of Owen Farrell
Clive Woodward is advocating for a significant change to the Rugby Football Union’s policy on foreign-based players – a move that would allow talents like Owen Farrell to represent England in the Six Nations next year.
Woodward’s call to action comes as current regulations prevent the selection of players employed by clubs outside England and questions whether the Six Nations can be called the pinnacle of the game with so many England players missing.
Woodward – who has stepped back from his role as an on-air rugby pundit for ITV – makes the comments against a backdrop of Henry Arundell’s ineligibility for England after his transfer last summer to Racing 92 – a move that has sparked discussions on the RFU’s squad selection policies.
Farrell followed suit by signing for the Parisian club and is currently taking a break from playing for England at Test level. It’s likely, however, that the Racing 92 bound standoff would return next year to Test rugby given the chance.
Writing in his Daily Mail column Woodward highlighted the predicament “England can’t select the likes of Henry Arundell and Jack Willis because they are employed by French clubs” noting that Farrell will face a similar issue next season.
“The Six Nations is arguably the No 1 rugby tournament,” wrote Woodward. “You could make a case for it being as big, or bigger, than the World Cup because of its unrivalled history. While I hope I’m proved wrong and that we see brilliant matches and great entertainment, I’m not sure we can say ahead of this year’s competition that it will be the pinnacle of the game.”
Farrell was lured to France by another former England head coach, Stuart Lancaster. Lancaster is set to build his Parisian team around the 32-year-old for the next two seasons, with the Englishman playing alongside the likes of Siya Kolisi, Cameron Woki and Gael Fickou, as well as fellow Englishmen Christian Wade and Henry Arundell.
“I have not spoken to Owen a huge number of times but we didn’t need to,” Lancaster told RugbyPass recently. “When we did speak we had a really good, deep conversation about what the challenges were, what the opportunities were, the strengths of the move, what were the potential threats, but he has got a lot of really good people around him; he has got a great family.
“So ultimately it wasn’t my decision, it was his decision. We presented a case where we thought we could develop him and he took that. In terms of the timeline, he made the decision (in November) not to play for England and things rolled off the back of that. That was how it played out.
“It’s similar in that people were generally surprised initially at the decision to step away from international rugby because that is such a big decision for any player. I can’t comment on externally because I don’t know that many people in Paris to ask.
“But I can say internally, even the players who play in his position (at Racing) are excited because they can see that they can learn from him. And the experienced players, the lads who have played against him like Siya (Kolisi) and Gael (Fickou) etc, they were the first people to come up to say to me, ‘What a great signing; we can’t wait to have him here’. That’s good enough for me. And the young players, they will just benefit from his experience.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Love and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
3 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to comments