On The Bright Side - We Could Be Welsh

OK – Being Me, I could not miss the opportunity of recycling a quip I saw on Facebook, this week: “Strike – I thought they went on-strike two weeks ago.” But, not-withstanding that one, the Welsh players downing tools now is maybe the worst bit of timing of industrial action, since Arthur Scargill decided to fuck the NUM all those years ago.

It also makes Louis Rees-Zammit into a 21^st century Nostradamus, after his comment: “All the problems they have to deal with, and they do this first,” after the Cardiff-based branch of 'Old Farts Are Us' decided, banning the singing of 'Delilah' was top of their 'To-Do' list.

Makes you proud to be Scottish and have Sodoff Baldrick TCD running our Union. Compared to the in-fighting among the Taffia, the Scotia Nostra in EH12 are playing a blinder.

The Junta has also shown-up the original Old Farts in South-West London, by actually consulting the congregation on lowering the tackle height. OK, it might be typically, dourly Scottish to question the time-scale. The decision to consult the stakeholders is announced on 14 February, with the first such meeting due on 22 February.

Eight days' warning might be a tad short for some clubs, but, at least, they have consulted, so it would be a bit unfair to be too critical.

The tackle height HAS to be brought down, so perhaps a one-handed bout of applause for the game's high heid yins in accepting this and doing something, quickly.

It goes without saying, some will be unhappy – whatever the final decision, but, the clubs cannot say they were not consulted.

MIGHT WE perhaps, over the next decade or so – see Super6 finally vindicated as the way forward?

And before the usual suspects around the Premiership point out that that is simply more bullshit from me – reflect on this statement: “there is “no room for manoeuvre” on the budget for player contracts in Wales despite the threat of strike action.”

Or, how about this, from the same article, in The Guardian: “The new agreement offers a complete funding package to the professional game in Wales, but it does come with financial limitations which will directly affect salary negotiations,” said the PRB chair, Malcolm Wall, in a statement on Wednesday evening. “The cold facts are that the WRU and clubs have been paying salaries that their businesses cannot afford, so the new agreement establishes a new framework for contract negotiations.

“There is a stipulation that all current contracts will be honoured, but these businesses must return to a sustainable footing in order for the success we all crave to follow.

“The average salary of a Welsh professional rugby player under the new framework will be around £100k per year. We are confident that our salary packages are in line with the UK market. The PRB accepts that some better-funded English and French clubs are paying more, but this is where we must set the mark of sustainability in Wales.”

I would argue with the use of the word “average” for salaries, it ought perhaps be “median”, but, that's semantics. The fact is, the WRU is recognising that their model for professional rugby hasn't been working and they will need to change.

This might mean a reduction in the number of professional teams in Wales from the current four to three, or maybe mirroring Scotland, two. But, if Wales, where Rugby Union has traditionally been the people's team sport of choice cannot afford full-time professional rugby – where stands Scotland, where our game trails a long way behind round ball football in popularity?

Yes, some English and a lot of French clubs are able to pay their players well, but, particularly in England – how much longer will this last? The professional game in England is a huge loss-making entity, bankrolled by rich “sugar daddies”. This is not, in the long term, a sustainable business model.

Might the SRU be forced to allowing our best players – the Finn Russells, Stuart Hoggs and Jonny Grays of the future, to decant to English and French sides who can pay them what they are worth, while the other players back home have to, as so-many did in the past, balance real jobs with playing rugby – albeit now being paid to play?

It is fairly well-known, although not accepted in England and France, the only level of Rugby Union which makes money is the International one. So, international-class players can make a living from the game – everyone else has to be, at best, semi-professional.

Thus, we can maybe afford two full-time teams, say a maximum of 60 to 70 players, on central contracts – everyone else will be semi-professional. That's the way ahead.

TO BRING the above two parts of this post together; rumours are abounding that Ealing Trailfinders, who last week signed big Andy Davidson from Gloucester, are set to join the Welsh Rugby Union, amalgamate with one of the Welsh Regions and play – IN LONDON - in the United Rugby Championship.

Now, the suggestion has been bouncing around Scottish Rugby for years – even before Super6 was thought of, that London Scottish should become the third Scottish Region, playing in the URC.

Wouldn't it be typical if, after The Junta has dithered and dallied for years, the WRU grasp the nettle and get the URC the London presence which could make all the difference to that league.

FINALLY – I had to laugh this week, when I read a Guardian article which informed us, Steve Borthwick and his coaching team have been bringing-in the likes of Wayne Barnes to try to help them sort a “reckless” England scrum.

No need for that, it has been obvious to many among the Celtic fringes, for years, that no English prop can scrum properly. The likes of Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler and Maku Vinupola are very-good ball carriers.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the basics of their job, scrumming, they are, to a man – shite. They cheat outrageously, and, in the English game, they get away with it.

Teaching them to scrum properly would be a good place for Borthwick & Co to start.