I need to start off with an apology for the lack of posts for the past couple of weeks. I've been away on holiday where, annoyingly, internet is a premium and I was unable to get any posts out. In my absence, I've been reading about some truly troubling and some interesting news stories about our game. The most troubling seem to come from France. Specifically the Toulon way.
Mourad Boudjellal is no stranger to making strange and controversial statements. This week though, he has issued two very troubling statements, regarding players in his squad. His most recent speech was regarding Lions Man of the Series Leigh Halfpenny. His groin injury is now being investigated as it "may have occurred before he joined Toulon." I don't buy this at all. Firstly, it flies in the face of everything I know of rugby players. Why would Halfpenny risk himself on an injury that wasn't fully healed just for some extra cash? Ok, that sounded better in my head. But he's a goal kicker with a pinpoint accuracy. If he'd been carrying a groin strain, it probably would've been noticed well before now, particularly as he has been in the combined hands of the Cardiff, Toulon and Wales physio teams for the past six months whilst continuing rehab for his shoulder surgery. The fact is, Halfpenny had his shoulder injury on Wales duty, and hasn't played since it happened. He has yet to return to the pitch because of this and a groin strain that has been apparently picked up in preseason or during his physio.Calls of terminating his contract are completely premature. Even if this groin issue was before he joined Toulon, how the hell did it get past the Toulon medical staff? Groin injuries are very hard to hide, especially for a kicker. The good news for him though, if he does end up losing his Toulon contract, Cardiff Blues will welcome him back with open arms. And with the new agreement in place for the Welsh regions, we may see our first dually contracted player.
The other statement was aimed at Boudjellal's South African and Argentinian players who are currently on a rest week between legs of the Rugby Championship. Understandably, they've been rested as the return journey from New Zealand to South Africa is a bloody long way. But Boudjellal has said he wants them back in the rouge et noir of Toulon. And he is prepared to go to court over it.
It's hard to know where to start with this. On the one hand, he has the point that he pays their very significant wages and should be entitled to call his men back. On the other, they're playing for their country and keeping the continuity with their country squads will surely be better for the national teams when they face the All Blacks and the Australians. Also, and forgive me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a huge uproar by the England camp about not being allowed to play players who'd been selected in the Premiership Final in the first test against the All Blacks because of an IRB guideline regarding jetlag? Aside from the necessity of Lee Dickson having to play because Danny Care injured himself, none of the Northampton or Saracens players were allowed to play that match. So why would the players Boudjellal is planning to call home be any different? From a coaching point of view, it's insane. Aside from the safety issue, there's bound to be annoyance within his squad for dropping players for those who've not been training for the past five weeks. Chucking out those who've worked hard to keep the shirt is a fine reward, just ask the former London Welsh players. I can see both sides of the story here, and I can empathise, but for God's sake, let's leave this out of the court rooms, shall we? It's reading about stories like this that make me think "We have it right in England." As long as tests are within the IRB times, we let our players go if they're selected. I also think this adds to the point of not selecting Steffon Armitage. If he's a risk of being called back to his club side, then we shouldn't select him. It's disruptive to the squad, and I imagine very annoying for coaches and players to be called back from international duty to play a club fixture.
That little rant brings me neatly onto the new Premiership salary cap. The last couple of seasons have seen it gradually increase to its new total of £5.1 million, with an increase also added to the Home Grown Player credits to £400,000 (from £240,000) to encourage players to stick with their club from the academy days. The biggest change now though, is that teams are allowed to have a second player who is outside the balance sheet. This could be brilliant in tempting players like Armitage back from overseas, or calling over Australians and Kiwi's who want to experience the Premiership as part of a sabbatical. This is how it works. The first player can be nominated from the current squad, and his wages are left out of the calculations for the salary cap. Think George North, Piri Weepu and Joe Launchbury. The second player has to have met the following conditions: they must be new to the Premiership and/or have not played in the competition for at least 12 months. This time, think Dan Carter, Israel Folau and Will Genia, the later of whom has been long linked with Bath, post World Cup. Interestingly, Richard Cockerill is against the whole concept of a second exempt player. Unusually, I agree with him. Unless these signings are for more than a single year, what's the point? Teams and director's of rugby will be looking to build a squad for the future, and so will want to sign contracts for three years as a minimum. Cockers was quick to point out that, although Brad Thorne is only on a one year deal, he is 39 and probably only has that left in him. The rise of the overall salary cap will suit the bigger clubs who are just on the edge of overspending, and the smaller ones might be able to tempt in some big names to bolster their squads in the seasons to come. The best benefit though? Clubs will be able to compete with offers from France to keep their England players in home nations after the World Cup.
And on that note, I'm off to apply for my tickets. After all, it's only a year away today!
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