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Referee Luke Pearce fires Jackson Wray as Saracens captain

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Referee Luke Pearce effectively fired Saracens backrow Jackson Wray in a bizarre moment that left many television viewers scratching their heads during the final moments of Harlequins win over Saracens at the Twickenham Stoop.

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Saracens 41-14 loss to their London rivals was their heaviest Premiership defeat in four years, and possibly as a result Pearce and Wray’s relationship went into decline as the game wore on.

Then in the 77th minute Pearce – who was reffing his 95th Premiership game – appeared to lose patience with Wray. He asked Wray ‘Are you willing to work with me?’, to which Wray said: “I am here to work with you.”

Pearce then brought Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw and Wray together for discussion, at which stage Pearce appeared to lose patience after Wray, yet again, interrupted him.

“Okay Jackson, you just go back for a second,” said Pearce, before motioning to Saracens 10 Manu Vunipola, saying: “Number 10, can I work with you please? So Jackson is refusing to work with us, so that’s his choice.

“You’re now captain for the last two minutes okay?”

The unorthodox move left commentator Nick Mullins somewhat confused: “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before. Luke Pearce has clearly decided that the relationship he has been developing with Jackson Wray over the course of this match is now unworkable.”

According to Rugby Union’s Laws definition, a captain is: “The player nominated by a team to lead that team, consult the referee and select options relating to referee decisions.”

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It seems here that Pearce has taken the step of denominating Wray as captain.

Previous to this, Saracens’ only loss in their last six first-team matches was 7-14 at Exeter in round 7 of Gallagher Premiership Rugby. Saracens had won their last three matches against Harlequins in Premiership Rugby since the Quins victory by a single point at Twickenham Stoop in December 2017.

WATCH: How the Saracens salary cap scandal could strengthen New Zealand rugby.

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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