The News Review:
- Rugby’s European black hole
- Rugby: Cup sticks with 14 teams despite calls for change
- Rugby union: The only Guinness Premiership weekend in two months |…
- Rugby union: Robert Kitson talks to the Springboks’ rising star…
- RUGBY: Lions determined to get show back on road.
- Handcuffed Dalton in court; Wife claims rugby star tried to kill…
Rugby’s European black hole
The Australian – Nov 24, 2007
At present there are two key impediments to the player drain to Europe: import restrictions and Test ineligibility. It was the relaxing of import restrictions that paved the way for the success of the English Premier League in soccer. This has not escaped the attention of the English and French rugby clubs or even the Italian clubs for that matter. An open market in Europe would almost certainly result in the world’s best players joining clubs in England and France. In the amateur era rugby players would play for the honour of representing their country but those days are gone. Professional players in any sport want to play at the highest standard for the greatest reward. While the jersey is still important the vast majority of rugby players today started their careers in the professional era and their outlook is totally different from the previous generation… This has not escaped the attention of the English and French rugby clubs or even the Italian clubs for that matter. An open market in Europe would almost certainly result in the world’s best players joining clubs in England and France. In the amateur era rugby players would play for the honour of representing their country but those days are gone. Professional players in any sport want to play at the highest standard for the greatest reward. While the jersey is still important the vast majority of rugby players today started their careers in the professional era and their outlook is totally different from the previous generation. ARU chief executive John ‘Neill has talked about reining in players’ salaries which will provide further incentive to go overseas. The problem for Australlia and New Zealand is the international not domestic market dictates the value of a player.
Rugby: Cup sticks with 14 teams despite calls for change
New Zealand Herald – Nov 24, 2007
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Rugby union: The only Guinness Premiership weekend in two months |…
Guardian Unlimited – Nov 24, 2007
And such is the complexity of the domestic calendar that it will be another month before the next round. The International Rugby Board is holding a conference in Woking next week and will examine ways of engineering an integrated global season. The international game is clearly its priority with the board’s executive tabling four proposals. These include holding the World Cup every two years or retaining the four-year cycle but having an inter-hemisphere tournament in the years between.
Rugby union: Robert Kitson talks to the Springboks’ rising star…
Guardian Unlimited – Nov 24, 2007
“If we only get 50% of our decisions right we’ll still dominate world rugby for the next eight years” insisted a South African friend in midweek utterly convinced the Springboks’ triumph in France last month will be just the start of a special era. It does not always work out that way as England have found in the past four years. A few minutes with Ruan Pienaar though suggest last month’s pot of gold does not mark the end for the ecstatic rainbow nation.
RUGBY: Lions determined to get show back on road.
highbeam.com – Nov 24, 2007
find Rugby Advertiser (Rugby England) articles. Harrogate come to Webb Ellis Road on Saturday (kick off 2. 30pm) in a better position to feel confident of a victor.
Handcuffed Dalton in court; Wife claims rugby star tried to kill…
highbeam.com – Nov 24, 2007
find The Independent on Saturday (South Africa) articles. BYLINE: ZELDA VENTER and HANTI TT JAMES Dalton was the subject of two separate court cases in Pretoria ye.