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

(Photo by Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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.”

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“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.”

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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.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
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CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

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