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Ex-England wing Yarde set to play first match since January arrest

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ex-England winger Marland Yarde is poised to play his first match in ten months following his exit from Sale earlier this year as he has been named in the provisional Barbarians squad of 23 to take on Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on November 26.

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It was last January when the Manchester club admitted that an unnamed player belonging to them had been arrested by police, and it was September 2 when the 13 caps international took to social media to confirm he was the subject of that investigation.

His statement two months ago, which was soon deleted, read: “In January, as I think it is known by some of the rugby community, I was arrested on suspicion of having committed a very serious offence. A necessarily lengthy police investigation followed but I can now confirm that no further action is to be taken against me.

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“I have not been charged with any offence. Whilst I never doubted my innocence, I understand that the investigation had to be handled with care and sensitivity for the protection of all involved. Although innocent of the crime alleged against me, I take full responsibility for having put myself in a situation where an allegation could be made against me.

“I am working hard to improve as a person using what the incident has taught and shown me. I want to apologise to all my family and friends for the hurt and distress I have caused them. Their love and support gave me the strength to see a positive future, and I look forward to resuming my career doing what I love which is playing rugby.”

It was a few days later at his weekly media briefing that Sale boss Alex Sanderson, speaking ahead of their start to the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season, confirmed that the club had parted company with Yarde during the off-season. “He left by mutual agreement. That was sometime in the summer because of all the negative press and all the association.

“This is a sticky subject because I care for him and his family and I was the correspondence for him and his mum, so I am not going to go into his mental state or the difficulties he has had over the last eight months which have been extreme. Extreme. I can just say right now from what I hear he is in a good place and he is looking to keep playing the game.”

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That Yarde ambition to keep on playing will now be realised ten months on from his last Premiership appearance for Sale as he has been named by coaches Geordan Murphy and John Mulvihill in a 23-strong Barbarians squad that also features former Northampton pair Luther Burrell and Tom Wood, along with Danny Cipriani, Dan Robson, Owen Williams and Francois Hougaard.

Barbarians president John Spencer said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the popular Saints faces of Luther and Tom back to Northampton, as well as a squad with a large Wasps and Worcester Warriors contingent, and a sprinkling of seasoned internationals too. We are confident that this is a group that can dazzle a Northampton crowd with our world-famous Baa-Baas skill, flair and passion come November 26.”

The exhibition fixture at Northampton replaces the Premiership game that was originally scheduled for that afternoon against Worcester, who were suspended from playing for the remainder of the 2022/23. The Warriors and Wasps both fell into administration in recent weeks, leaving all their players and staff unemployed.

Barbarians (provisional squad vs Northampton, November 26)
Forwards (13): Will Boyde, Tim Cardall, Tom Cruse, Hika Elliot, Ben Harris, Brok Harris
Graham Kitchener, Murray McCallum, Ben Morris, Olly Robinson, John Ryan, Elliott Stooke, Tom Wood;

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Backs (10): Luther Burrell, Danny Cipriani, Will Haydon-Wood, Jonah Holmes, Francois Hougaard, Perry Humphreys, Dan Robson, Gareth Simpson, Owen Williams, Marland Yarde;

Coaches: Geordan Murphy, John Mulvihill.

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J
JW 12 minutes ago
France push All Blacks to 80th minute in narrow Dunedin defeat

Yes, is most the rugby home to Pay TV, and FTA gets its pieces after if interested?


Can you pin point a time to when the broadcasting of the tour was confirmed? Before or after Galthies comments that top players would tour.


Thinking about it now, actually (after having this discussion with jfp123) what he said back then about the top 20 not touring would have been a better result!


It’s good theres interest, but this might have been helped by the controversy really. One poster said Live viewers for this sort of game/tour might not amount to more than 100k, that’s an incredibly low number even considering total subscribers.


Has their been talk about whether FFR lost out on funding/broadcast revenue because of the stance?


I’ve been meaning to go check but how would the end of this (regular) Top 14 season have panned out if it was a pure ladder based comp, like football their right?


Exciting times ahead for sure. Sorry for all the questions don’t feel like you need to answer I was just throwing out thoughts. Like I really wonder exactly where the clubs are coming from. There is huge benefit to having players in these matches, it drives world wide viewers and fans. Is it a insurance issue? Are they worried about having the player ruled out for a whole season by injury? And you don’t need to worry about Kiwis understanding pro sports, they heavily follow american club sports and League (rugby) and Cricket are both bigger sports than rugby (than in France specifically) here (including Aus) and are dominated by club, IPL and NRL (which is why we know what the TOP 14 is doing is not the best way, because these sports here weren’t always like that).

225 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 27 minutes ago
Who is telling the truth about France's tour of New Zealand?

So Nick you’ve certainly prompted a little debate this time! Been thinking through your main point and there’s a wider context that delivered the tour outcome that you haven’t touched on by focusing solely on French playing time.


Q. Are 2000 minutes AND 25 games sensible welfare limits? Yes and particularly if the French have decided this, since it’s their unalienable right to do so.

Q. Why have the clubs not ensured the players remained within that for the NZ tour, a la SA model? Because their league is the most commercially successful in the world and they own the rights to the players, clubs are entitled to say when they play as things stand.

Q. Why do the Top14 play offs take place so late? Because they eliminated Top 14 games from the 6N period which extended their calendar.


Now, the real crux of this comes down to resting players to stay below the limits in preparation for the summer tour and that’s where the FFR/LNR agreement appears to have failed. Unlike England, where the RFU pays large sums to retain those controls AND ensure player welfare is respected, the French have a different agreement.


Now, if WR are unhappy with this then they know who to talk to but it will be a difficult conversation against the backdrop, and ultimate driver of this scenario, which is the success of the Top 14.


NZR ofc, knew EXACTLY what they were getting, since players touring is one among many aspects covered by tour agreements. Just look at the Lions issue with Aus to see that.


And after all that has been said and done, the French didn’t do too badly after all, did they…???

520 Go to comments
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