He bought into Saracens when I was rugby correspondent of the News of the World. We became friends, then good friends. Nigel and I invested in a sports business. I put together a coffee book of his remarkable sporting memorabilia, called the Priory Collection. And I helped write his book Skin in the Game which came out in late 2017; if there’s a reprint, the title might change to Skinned Alive!
Basically he’s a mate – and for the past three months, this mate has been hounded from pillar to post over the Saracens salary cap saga.
Nigel is a genuinely nice bloke, who didn’t deserved the kicking he received on November 5th – or the boot going in on an almost daily basis ever since. Why have those attacks been so vicious and personal?
He’s not perfect by a long way; he’s the first to admit that. And I feel he’s made mistake after mistake in this sorry saga. Most of those mistakes have centred on him being too loyal, too generous and far too nice!
There’s hardly a cricket or rugby beneficiary who hasn’t benefited from that generosity over the past 30 years – and anyone in trouble will find no more loyal friend. It’s all done quietly. He would always walk away rather than do anyone a bad turn. That’s his nature.
When Premiership Rugby announced a £5.3m fine (and the docking of 35 points) three days after England’s defeat in the RWC final, Saracens had no option, but to appeal.
How could a club game that’s been struggling to make any sort of money over two decade enter the Guinness Book of Records with the biggest fine in sports history?
Football obviously took exception to rugby’s deliberation; in mid-February Manchester City were hit by a two-year Champions League ban and a £25m fine from UEFA!
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 23, 2020 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 23, 2020 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
