An 'are people still mad at Nigel Wray' post has fired up Twitter

Retired Saracens second row Jim Hamilton has fired up Twitter with a post wondering if rugby fans were still mad at Nigel Wray for his co-investments in player businesses which resulted in the London club being automatically relegated from the Gallagher Premiership.

It was January 2020 when Wray’s club were informed they would be demoted to the second tier following repeated breaches of the Premiership salary cap. Saracens took their punishment, dropping down into the Championship for a season and returning to the top flight for the 2021/22 campaign after being crowned second tier champions.

Since that return, a capital raise valued at £32million resulted in Saracens announcing twelve months ago the sale of a majority controlling stake in the club that has seen Wray take a step back from his long-held position as its established figurehead.

With the Premiership now in turmoil following the quick-succession RFU suspensions of Worcester and Wasps following their respective financial collapses, the funding of the sport at the elite level in England has become a hot topic and Hamilton, who won back-to-back league titles with Saracens in 2015 and 2016, has added fuel to the fire.

“Are people still mad at Nigel Wray and co for pumping money into a club and always looking after their people? Co-investing in businesses that will ultimately give players a sense of purpose and a life after rugby if and when the shit hits the fan. Asking for my neighbour, Steve,” he wrote on Twitter.

Worcesters owners have left players/ staff in the toilet. Sarries never and will never do that. Nigel Wray ultimately fell on his sword. He could have said f€$k that and walked. I know players (the most important in all this) that are desperate to be a”part of a club like that. https://t.co/ac09qB4na8

— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) October 13, 2022

He soon added: “Worcester’s owners have left players/staff in the toilet. Sarries never and will never do that. Nigel Wray ultimately fell on his sword. He could have said f€$k that and walked. I know players (the most important in all this) that are desperate to be a part of a club like that.”

While Hamilton’s original tweet was quickly liked by nearly 250 people, the majority of the written replies that his message got were hugely critical of Saracens. Here is a flavour: “They made the wages go up so much, Saracens have blood on their hands with Wasps and Worcester situation.”

“This is besides the point. I don’t doubt his principles – he wanted to look after players and wanted to win lots of trophies in the process – but there is a cap which is consistently subject to upward pressure. He knew the rules and he breached them. Wasps’ scenario entirely different.”

“People are mad that teams are going bankrupt trying to compete with a team who kept on filling their trophy cabinet by cheating.”

“Artificially inflating wages and causing clubs to try and keep up. Yeah, top job. Cheats.”

“Using other clubs’ demise to try and give cheating a better look won’t help any club. Just be grateful you get to keep your medals and trophies. Sarries don’t deserve them.”

“I dislike Salarysins as much as anyone, but the WHOLE blame for Wasps and Warriors lays at the doors of the people managing the money. It’s called FINANCIAL FRAUD. Sorry Jim, I have to disagree with you here. As a qualified accountant, it’s all on them.”

There was some support, though, for Wray and Saracens. “The traditionalists in rugby hate people that challenge the status quo and innovate because they don’t have themselves to implement such a strategy. Nigel was penalised for being ten steps ahead,” read one reply.

Another suggested: “What cosy arrangements are hiding under the surface that we don’t know about at other top-tier clubs? Contrast what Saracens did with Worcester where the impact on players and staff can’t be measured. Always thought Saracens were shat on from a height.”