- Moderator
- #61
It all comes down to money. The 4 welsh Pro 14 teams can't keep up with the spending power of the English and French teams so have to have another incentive to keep players and protect the domestic game and that's the national shirt. Also when the players are based in Wales they come under the Rugby Services Agreement between the 4 regions and the WRU which means the head coach gets more time with the players before the likes of the Autumn internationals and Six Nations. 13 days i believe it is. As well they won't have to play on the rest weekends during the six nations or if they weren't picked for a weekend in the Autumn whereas in England and France they have to go back to their clubs and a lot of the time end up playing. The players generally get looked after better in Wales than they do in England or France who do seem to have less concern for player welfare especially the foreign players.
Wales have copied Australia in adopting the 60 cap rule, i think Argentina have a similar rule as well. The idea then is that senior players who have put the tie and effort into Welsh rugby can then go and get a pay day and stay able for Wales. England, Ireland and New Zealand have all out bans.
To give you an idea what the Welsh teams are up against financially here's the domestic league TV deals. France Top 14 £75 million a year. England Aviva Premiership £42 million a year. Pro 12 last year £11.5 million a year now it's the Pro 14 with the addition of 2 South African teams it's £17.5 million a year all rough figures. They just can't keep up with the wages that are offered.
As to whether it improves the individual players game by going abroad the evidence suggests it's doubtful. Players like Leigh Halfpenny, Johnathan Davies, George North and Bradley Davies didn't seem to get any better and some of them seem to have regressed as players though apart from North the others are back in Wales and the first 2 are playing excellent rugby with the Scarlets. Luke Charteris is the one player i can think of that improved by going to France i think he's at Bath now who have a couple of Welsh players as well. Playing in England or France might benefit the forwards more than the backs but i don't think you can play international rugby and domestically if you are a foreign player in France or England the wear and tear on the body may well just be too much.
Wales rugby produces a lot of talent but if it's going to keep that talent playing in Wales and not draining off to England at senior and academy level (last years England U20 fly half was a lad from Swansea, Mat Protheroe who now plays for Bristol Rugby) to England then it needs to offer an incentive other than money and that is putting on the red of Wales, other wise welsh rugby may end up like Welsh domestic football. I personally think it's an excellent idea and it also makes it black and white for the players.
Wales have copied Australia in adopting the 60 cap rule, i think Argentina have a similar rule as well. The idea then is that senior players who have put the tie and effort into Welsh rugby can then go and get a pay day and stay able for Wales. England, Ireland and New Zealand have all out bans.
To give you an idea what the Welsh teams are up against financially here's the domestic league TV deals. France Top 14 £75 million a year. England Aviva Premiership £42 million a year. Pro 12 last year £11.5 million a year now it's the Pro 14 with the addition of 2 South African teams it's £17.5 million a year all rough figures. They just can't keep up with the wages that are offered.
As to whether it improves the individual players game by going abroad the evidence suggests it's doubtful. Players like Leigh Halfpenny, Johnathan Davies, George North and Bradley Davies didn't seem to get any better and some of them seem to have regressed as players though apart from North the others are back in Wales and the first 2 are playing excellent rugby with the Scarlets. Luke Charteris is the one player i can think of that improved by going to France i think he's at Bath now who have a couple of Welsh players as well. Playing in England or France might benefit the forwards more than the backs but i don't think you can play international rugby and domestically if you are a foreign player in France or England the wear and tear on the body may well just be too much.
Wales rugby produces a lot of talent but if it's going to keep that talent playing in Wales and not draining off to England at senior and academy level (last years England U20 fly half was a lad from Swansea, Mat Protheroe who now plays for Bristol Rugby) to England then it needs to offer an incentive other than money and that is putting on the red of Wales, other wise welsh rugby may end up like Welsh domestic football. I personally think it's an excellent idea and it also makes it black and white for the players.
