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Saracens will not be saved from relegation

Ben Spencer

Saracens will not be saved from relegation and players are not threatening to strike as English rugby struggles to cope with the financial ramifications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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RugbyPass has been told there is no threat of a player strike in the wake of the 25 per cent wage cuts imposed by some Premiership clubs yesterday with all but Exeter expected to follow suit.

WATCH: Jim Hamilton is joined by Italy International and Benetton player Ian Mckinley to discuss the effects of COVID19 on the everyday life of a rugby player living in Italy.

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It has been suggested the players would not agree to training camps once the immediate threat of the virus has ended until their full contracts are honoured. The unprecedented pressure on finances and the negative publicity that kind of stand would deliver has seen top officials move swiftly to deny there is a strike threat or that Saracens will be saved from relegation by the disrupted season.

Damian Hopley, the chief executive of the Rugby Players Associaton which represents professional players in England, told RugbyPass: “Any talk of strike action is misplaced. We are only 24 hours into this process and we want to establish a mature best practice with the Premiership clubs, a number of whom are in a better position than others, like Exeter who aren’t cutting wages.

“Suggestions of players taking any action is grossly exaggerated and my personal view is how would they go on strike when they are not playing matches? A lot of players are distressed about what has come out and we all recognise we are living in unprecedented times and the last thing anyone wants to see is half the league go out of business. We are in constant dialogue with the Premiership about the news from the Government about support for businesses and players would not want to put their clubs or colleagues in jeopardy.

“Once we get the information we need, the players then face a straight forward chocie – do they accept the pay cuts or not. In the conversations we are having with the players they want to know if is this a deduction or deferment?

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“It is all about getting the most accurate information out to our membership and we recognise it is a time of crisis and we need to act collectively to come out the other end stronger. From an RPA perspective there is legal situation in terms of breach of contract but the last thing we all want is to throw money at lawyers when we need to get a clear direction of travel. There hasn’t been a uniform approach from the Premiership clubs and we are collecting information about the short and mid-term situation for players in terms of pay cuts.

“The meetings started on Thursday and were completed yesterday and this is about how the relationship between players, clubs and Unions redefined and are their better ways we can work. It is an horrific time and what is lost is that many clubs have backers who have stuck by them through thick and thin but away from rugby they are suffering horrendously at the moment. We understand the world is in freefall and all we are asking for is more information.“

With the Rugby Football Union ending all rugby below the Premiership, Championship leaders Newcastle have to wait until mid-April to find out if they are promoted while there are significant concerns over the ability of clubs such as Wasps – who are carrying debts of nearly £40m – to stay in business. Wasps are adamant their future is not in danger but their future may revolve around more loans from owner Derek Richardson. A scenario in which one of the Premiership clubs goes to the wall and that Saracens would then stay in the top flight has also been knocked down.

Saracens are still able to rely on the financial support of former chairman Nigel Wray and he has previously pledged to stand by the club despite standing down following the fine and points reductions which will see them operating with a much-changed squad in the Championship next season.

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The Premiership clubs and Newcastle shared out £200m this season from private equity company CVC who bought a 27 percent share of the competition with 12 teams also netting £350,000 each from the Saracens fine of more than £5m but it is understood 50 per cent of that nearly £13m windfall was used to clear old debts by the clubs.

The remaining money has been used for player wages and planned stadium redevelopments leaving clubs like Gloucester facing outgoings of £1m a month with no revenue coming in. This has triggered the wage cuts that have also seen players, coaches and officials in all of the home Unions accepting smaller pay packets for the foreseeable future.

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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
C
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.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
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