The Rugby Thread

[Paddingtonwolf]

He is on a long contract with Wales I think. Plus he is specifically a defence coach as I remember.

 

[Dinowolf]

Sky report that RFU in preliminary talks with Bristol for Forwards coach Steve Borthwick

 

[Dinowolf]

Eddie Jones not able to travel to England yet due to problems with his work visa.
Should be sorted 'by the weekend' apparently.

 

[Dinowolf]

Henry Slade and Alex Corbisiero are both doubtful for the Six Nations in Feb., following leg surgery for Slade and knee surgery for Corbisiero.

Update: Corbisiero has said he will take 12 months out of Rugby after the end of this season.

 

[Dinowolf]

The RFU have confirmed that Rowntree, Farrell and Catt will all leave their England coaching positions with immediate effect.
They are also in on-going talks with Bristol over Borthwick and Saracens over Gustard, hoping to appoint them to the England set-up.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

There was almost a big shock as Japan/SA in the Challenge Cup at the weekend when Brive 5th in the Top 14, lost 10-7 to Enesai-STM from Siberia.

Its a bit cold out there this time of year, not sure what weather was like Saturday but when Connacht played there a couple of weeks earlier, the temperature during the game was -25C!

Now one swallow doesnt necessarily make a relationship, but there seems to be a feeling that Russia is starting to take the game a bit seriously

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

The RFU have confirmed that Rowntree, Farrell and Catt will all leave their England coaching positions with immediate effect.
They are also in on-going talks with Bristol over Borthwick and Saracens over Gustard, hoping to appoint them to the England set-up.

RFU announced Borthwick was joining. Bristol are not happy and have refused his resignation.

 

[Stan Hullis]

They'll want more £££

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

They hadn't agreed to it full stop. RFU have acted very poorly. Surprise, surprise.

 

[Dinowolf]

They hadn't agreed to it full stop. RFU have acted very poorly. Surprise, surprise.

Sky Sports pundit and former England international Will Greenwood believes Borthwick was left with no option other than to resign from his position.

He told Sky Sports News HQ: It's very interesting how it has been handled. I think the RFU, from what I have been led to believe, have tried their hardest with Bristol to come to an amicable conclusion.

"They even went as far as discussing job share with Bristol, lending him back to Bristol should they make the play-offs at the end of the season and allowing him to fulfil some role that Bristol would be happy with.

"But I don't think Bristol were prepared to play ball. They are in a position where they know that Eddie Jones wants their man and that puts them in a rather strong negotiating position.

"The unfortunate person in the middle of this would be the most honourable of the lot which is Steve Borthwick, who is nothing other than the most loyal bloke you would want to come across.

"He seems to have been put in an invidious position by his club who realise that their asset is the most wanted. Eddie Jones wants him, Eddie Jones will only go with him as his forwards coach and therefore, as they are holding his contract, they have put him in a position where, he really wouldn't have wanted to have done it, but he has reluctantly handed in his notice and, as of tomorrow (Wednesday), he's an England coach."

Not just the RFU that have acted poorly IMO, like Stan Hullis said ' They want more £££ '

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He is Bristol's coach. Quite within their rights to just say tough tits. Bristol have done nothing wrong.

 

[Dinowolf]

You sound like Stuart Barnes, no insult intended, but what about what Steve Borthwick wants? Doesn't that count for anything?

I haven't said Bristol have done anything wrong, just acted poorly towards their employee, so much so that he has resigned, which is his right. IMO Bristol know they have lost their man and are just moaning loudly so they get more compo..

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Borthwick is under contract. Not quite sure what is so difficult to understand about that. Bristol haven't acted poorly. Eddie Jones and the RFU have, and waved money under Borthwick's nose to get him to resign. It is fucking disgraceful.

 

[darlowolf64]

Borthwick is under contract. Not quite sure what is so difficult to understand about that. Bristol haven't acted poorly. Eddie Jones and the RFU have, and waved money under Borthwick's nose to get him to resign. It is $#@!ing disgraceful.

It doesn't matter if you are under contract in sport (or any business). Jimmy Flloyd was under contract at Burton but as soon as a team came along with the right amount of compensation, he was allowed to go. Bath are just making sure they get top dollar for their man and acting all "Woe is me" to get sympathy.

 

[Dinowolf]

Congratulations to Dan Biggar on his Wales Sports Personality of the Year win.

He should have been in the BBC SPOTY final too. He has improved brilliantly and his performance against England in the RWC was worthy on its own. No cricketer in there either, but that's another story.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It doesn't matter if you are under contract in sport (or any business). Jimmy Flloyd was under contract at Burton but as soon as a team came along with the right amount of compensation, he was allowed to go. Bath are just making sure they get top dollar for their man and acting all "Woe is me" to get sympathy.

Bristol - not Bath. If it was Bath the RFU would find it even more difficult as Bath are minted compared to Brizzle. If the RFU haven't offered enough compo then speaking to Borthwick to get him to resign is despicable.

 

[Tredman]

Why is it despicable? It happens in all walks of life, people move for better jobs. Don't really see why sport should be different.

Worst case they have to go to court and a settlement is arranged.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

In any case - much more in rugby than football - the clubs are there to serve the national side, not the other way round. The RFU contribute a large amount of Bristol's annual income so they should be wary of biting the hand that feeds it.

 

[Dinowolf]

Paul Gustard has agreed to join England in the new year.
Saracens have asked to keep him until the end of January which has been agreed.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Northampton now second club considering formal complaint about RFU approach for their coach.