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Aussie Player Exodus

Omar Comin'

Chilla Wilson (44)
Maybe it is. But I bet they have strong generations come through again.

What's for sure is that rugby in France is more popular and richer than it's ever been.
 
T

TOCC

Guest
Maybe it is. But I bet they have strong generations come through again.

What's for sure is that rugby in France is more popular and richer than it's ever been.


English Premier League has been one of the richest and most popular for decades... England haven't won't the FIFA world cup since the 60's.

There are some big similarities between English Football and French Rugby Union, wealth at a club level doesn't mean a strong national team.
 

Omar Comin'

Chilla Wilson (44)
Not saying it does, but it's not impossible to have both. And what's better - having a strong national team or having rugby be hugely popular in the country with tribal support of a couple of dozen clubs for more than half the year every year?

The EPL is not necessarily the reason the English soccer team hasn't won another world cup. There are multiple factors involved.
 

Marcelo

Ken Catchpole (46)
English Premier League has been one of the richest and most popular for decades. England haven't won't the FIFA world cup since the 60's.

There are some big similarities between English Football and French Rugby Union, wealth at a club level doesn't mean a strong national team.

That's because the clubs are private companies and are more powerful than the Associations. The FA (Football Association) and the FFR can't compete against them
 

Lindommer

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
Surely we in rugby have learnt from the folly of pandering to powerful club owners in soccer. This is one of the great shames in professional rugby: the aping of soccer ownership and competition models in Europe. It is absolutely essential for the health of the game world-wide the national unions keep a check on ambitious private owners and not let them hold power when competitions are organised.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
You've got to buy into it though. If the national/worldwide bodies don't buy into private consortiums pumping lots of money into the sport then they lose out.

We saw it originally with World Series Cricket. It was a farce until the various cricket boards mended fences with their best players.

Today in cricket we see it with the IPL and other lucrative T20 tournaments. The ICC has to buy into the event and make it part of their calendar otherwise they lose players because the money on offer is so high.

The challenge is for the national unions not to cede too much power to the private clubs and ensure the integrity of the international game. A global season would help that substantially but it seems almost impossible unless the northern hemisphere changes their season.

The international unions need to ensure there is enough money in test rugby that keeps the quality and prestige to a level that ensures players want to play and will want to seek leave from their clubs to do so. The biggest challenge here are for the Tier 2 nations whose national teams don't generate the sort of profits that can allow them to pay their players well.
 

Omar Comin'

Chilla Wilson (44)
Depends what the goal is and how you measure the health of the game. If the goal is to grow the sport then you could argue that powerful clubs or franchises do that better.

I think the key is really to sort the global season out. There needs to be a separation of club windows and international windows. Having them overlap creates a lot of problems including this power struggle.
 

kaze33

Stan Wickham (3)
In the "Midol" today, UBB prepare an offer, more than 450 000 AUD, for David Pocock for the next season (François Louw is another possibility) ;)

It could be something like the player sign a three or four years contract with the ARU and have the permission to play one year in a another country.

For people who don't know, Bordeaux-Bègles don't have a very rich owner like Toulon, Racing 92 ou Stade Français. The most important part of our budget come from fans with nearly 30 000 persons at each game (largest rugby public in Europe last year) and our principal sponsor was "UBB Grands Crus", an association of local and famous wine producer who give each years some bottles which are sold in auction.
 

kaze33

Stan Wickham (3)
sans_t12.jpg
 

kaze33

Stan Wickham (3)
The offer will be clearly upper than his current salary considered at 300 000€ (450 000 AUD) the season ;)
 

Highlander35

Steve Williams (59)
It's been far to long since I've tried to read French, but it's suggesting that Toulouse would throw a big money offer his way too, while if he continues to play at 8, Racing 92 may throw their hat into the ring too? While Larkham is basically saying he doesn't know a lot about negotiations, but is hoping to secure him till the next World Cup?
 

kaze33

Stan Wickham (3)
Highlander bad new for you but your french is perfect :p
They keep an eye on Pocock but the priority for Toulouse after loosing Picamoles is Toby Faletau ;)

Just for you: wednesday Richie gray will be in Bordeaux for discuss about a contract for next seasons ;)
 

Highlander35

Steve Williams (59)
Since Richie isn't coming home, the most important thing is that he's happy and motivated. He seems to love France, but not necessarily Castres, so if he ends up with your mob, that'll hopefully be a win-win-win for him, UBB and Scotland. Won't say anything more on that, is an Aussie thread after all.
 

Sword of Justice

Nev Cottrell (35)
If Pocock stays injury free you'd have to think that the next time his contract comes around the ARU and Brumbies would be giving him double the 450k said French team would, at least.
 
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