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Scotty said:
Any rumours about how much he he is getting? I'd be curious if its the cash and lifestyle over prem and England caps. Or just so much he couldn't say no.
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Sanderson said they paid JLdP more than twice what we offered him as a renewal (and he had an offer from Japan for a third more than that), and he was one of our highest paid players - gotta imagine it's north 600k

Feels like France contracts are back in the Toulon heyday realms again, after being a bit more reasonable for a while
 
But presumably a current international could also expect to earn a chunk more on top of that through personal commercial activities?

At the end of the day he enjoyed his first stint in France, but came back to England to further his international chances and duly did so. But 18 months later he’s decided he’s off. So there was either something about France he really liked or something about England / the Prem he really didn’t. Probably a bit of both.
 
This is only going to increase when France get another strong TV deal as their football league continues its retreat as a product people want to pay for. That 3 million plus per year to try and prop up Prem clubs whilst keeping England talent is going to look like a waste when France just blow the RFU out of the water anyway.

There are going to be two options. Let players play for England and go abroad to save the millions of pounds on players contracts or accept that the Prem cannot compete with Top 14 so drop the cap down to a place where clubs are all actually showing a profit full of ambitious youngsters and lads happy to forgoe cash to play for England.
 
BPM said:
F**k off Tom.

And BTW. You clearly don't understand what people dislike about Owen Farrell. A significant proportion of the heat he has received isn't about him, it's about how he was fluffed up way beyond his ability by sections of the media and treated as undroppable even when he wasn't playing well enough to justify being picked. I don't have anything against him personally, but I don't buy in to the legend. That is what a lot of rugby fans dislike.
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Right, so if it's the media/coaches/RFU that's the problem, why not direct the ire there?

At one point an irate fan visited Farrell's children's school to make their issues known. His wife was being targeted with abuse. People need to dial it back.

The problem is that too many people can't differentiate between hate and criticism. Case in point with your "f**k off Tom" comment.
 
SéniorHuevo said:
This is only going to increase when France get another strong TV deal as their football league continues its retreat as a product people want to pay for. That 3 million plus per year to try and prop up Prem clubs whilst keeping England talent is going to look like a waste when France just blow the RFU out of the water anyway.

There are going to be two options. Let players play for England and go abroad to save the millions of pounds on players contracts or accept that the Prem cannot compete with Top 14 so drop the cap down to a place where clubs are all actually showing a profit full of ambitious youngsters and lads happy to forgoe cash to play for England.
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The RFU financially could really struggle with the second option. A noticeably weakened international side could well lose
revenue of its own such as broadcasting and the ability to sell out Twickenham at the prices it currently does
 
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Arcturus said:
Right, so if it's the media/coaches/RFU that's the problem, why not direct the ire there?

At one point an irate fan visited Farrell's children's school to make their issues known. His wife was being targeted with abuse. People need to dial it back.

The problem is that too many people can't differentiate between hate and criticism. Case in point with your "f**k off Tom" comment.
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Oh give over.

You're really comparing my comment with the story you shared about Owen Farrell?

The fact is Tom will have upset a lot of people with his decision, but I guess he can laugh all the way to the bank.
 
I dislike how Farrell was in the media. He created a load of his own issues by not speaking, he would have known what this would do as well.

I also dislike his tackling, lack of running game, the fact he played for sarries, his leadership and finally his smile.

On the French teams, how much more do they really have to spend vs a premiership club using the academy credits system. I’m guessing they have to have bigger squads as well due to more games.

Would be good to see total you could spend vs the amount of players in an average prem squad vs French top 14 squad. I’m going to do some googling I think.
 
Rugbyfan564 said:
The RFU financially could really struggle with the second option. A noticeably weakened international side could well lose
revenue of its own such as broadcasting and the ability to sell out Twickenham at the prices it currently does
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Perhaps but I would add a) The biggest money spinners Six Nations and autumn internationals but definitely 6 nations are for a casual sports market that I really don't think has much interest in who these guys are outside internationals.

B) I think they are going to lose more money trying to keep players than letting them go. Problem now is with the 30 game rule cap that's going to make it even harder to let players go to France because they could easily play 30 games for club. (Top 14 + Europe+Playoffs) .

Just seen the new deal for France kicks in from 2027 and that's a decent jump not just for Top 14 but ProD2 too.
 
On Tom Willis, what disappoints me is that he only just signed a central contract. I doubt he had no idea of potential French offers at the time, especially if it's a significant pay increase. If he's decided pay over international rugby that's fine, but the way he's done it is a big **** you to the RFU and England. I can't see him ever playing for England again after this.
 
As I said on another forum, the facts are as follows:

- He signed a central contract

- He still gets the pay/benefits of that contract for this season*

- He was a regular in the 23, probably first choice at 8

- He's made 0 mention of England in his comments thus far

I wonder how someone like Sam Underhill feels? He's always given 100% for England over an extended period and gets overlooked for a CC in favour of Willis, who then does this.

Even without speculation, the facts are enough to **** me off.

*Yes, I know Borthwick could pick him, but that would not be in England's best interests at all.

It feels completely self-interested to the point that it will really leave a sour taste for a lot of people, probably including other players.

Compare Willis’ actions with the sound bites from Ford and Fin Smith’s contract renewals …
 
SéniorHuevo said:
Perhaps but I would add a) The biggest money spinners Six Nations and autumn internationals but definitely 6 nations are for a casual sports market that I really don't think has much interest in who these guys are outside internationals.

B) I think they are going to lose more money trying to keep players than letting them go. Problem now is with the 30 game rule cap that's going to make it even harder to let players go to France because they could easily play 30 games for club. (Top 14 + Europe+Playoffs) .

Just seen the new deal for France kicks in from 2027 and that's a decent jump not just for Top 14 but ProD2 too.
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But if the team is not competitive and is getting thrashed by France and Ireland in the Six Nations constantly interest will decline and that will cause financial issues
 
Rugbyfan564 said:
But if the team is not competitive and is getting thrashed by France and Ireland in the Six Nations constantly interest will decline and that will cause financial issues
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We aren’t and won’t be getting thrashed though even if we lose another 3 or 4 players so that makes zero sense.
 
Rugbyfan564 said:
But if the team is not competitive and is getting thrashed by France and Ireland in the Six Nations constantly interest will decline and that will cause financial issues
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France, Wales and Ireland have won the 6 nations more times than England since 2003 i believe.

We still seem to get the numbers in.
 
JIFF rules make that improbable. Plus as we've seen from other players, the motivation to play test rugby is usually more of a draw than money.

I could see someone like Marcus Smith doing it post RWC given the fact that Quins are going nowhere and he’s not in the box seat to be England’s 10, but for most of the other ‘top players’, I just don’t see it.
 
BPM said:
JIFF rules make that improbable. Plus as we've seen from other players, the motivation to play test rugby is usually more of a draw than money.

I could see someone like Marcus Smith doing it post RWC given the fact that Quins are going nowhere and he's not in the box seat to be England's 10, but for most of the other 'top players', I just don't see it.
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Through he will probably want to see if Borthwick is still there first. A different coach might prefer him over Fin Smith for example.
 
Rugbyfan564 said:
But if the team is not competitive and is getting thrashed by France and Ireland in the Six Nations constantly interest will decline and that will cause financial issues
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I don't see England getting tanked and do casuals really watch for that? RFU is losing players on central contracts anyway and clubs are going bust. Gloucester are seeking 'investment' (subsidy) but who would want it?
 
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SéniorHuevo said:
I don't see England getting tanked and do casuals really watch for that? RFU is losing players on central contracts anyway and clubs are going bust. Gloucester are seeking 'investment' (subsidy) but who would want it?
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Mike Tindall would if he wasn’t a greedy *******.

Gloucester have a great stadium and a brilliant fan base. Would be a great club to invest in.


I guess people are put off by the amount of inbreeding in the area though.
 
Don't Skip Leg Day said:
Mike Tindall would if he wasn't a greedy *******.

Gloucester have a great stadium and a brilliant fan base. Would be a great club to invest in.


I guess people are put off by the amount of inbreeding in the area
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What hope is there of a financial return for your "investment"? Zero it seems. The CVC cash that was propping up clubs accounts as they spread it out of accountancy periods is gone now and all we are left with is the deal that takes a 27-30% cut from future growth.

Maybe more owners like Newcastle who use the club as free advertising and therefore don't have to give that money to CVC will be the way forward but the premiership is now a weird mix of one or two clubs who try to live within their means and are punished for it with people happy to lose millions every year. That's not a healthy place.
 

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