'Time England had central contracts'
The Rugby Paper|July 30, 2023
Ben Jaycock talks to former Ireland captain Rob Saunders, who won 12 caps between 1991 and 1994 before venturing into business life in the City, about the state of game in Britain and Ireland
Ben Jaycock
'Time England had central contracts'

Ben Jaycock: Premiership rugby finds itself in an extremely difficult time, it’s incredibly sad to see three clubs go isn’t it? 

Rob Saunders: It gives me no pleasure in saying this but I don’t think it gets any better, I think it gets worse. If you look at a game whose revenue hasn’t really developed in the past 20 years yet player wages have gone up in some cases tenfold, it doesn’t take an economic genius to work out that if you have a business where revenues are stagnant and costs are rising at a significant level, you get yourself into a bit of trouble. I’m very happy to be wrong here but London Irish, Wasps and Worcester won’t be the only casualties. I think the game is in a pretty perilous state at the moment.

BJ: What do you think can be done to ease the financial strain?

RS: Mark McCall has gone on record to say England players need to be centrally contracted, that to me is a no brainer. You find yourself in a ridiculous situation where the marquee player who’s an international won’t play club rugby until possibly March next year. Business is business and why would you ever put money on the table for an asset that you’re not going to be able to use for the best part of a season. Seems crazy to me and the only way out of it is for England to centrally contract players and take the pressure off clubs because there’s no doubt the wages are killing them.

BJ: Do you think the league should be ring fenced or would you encourage promotion and relegation to put more meaning in games?

Esta historia es de la edición July 30, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición July 30, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE RUGBY PAPERVer todo
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
The Rugby Paper

Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash

LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
The Rugby Paper

Dramatic late win boosts leaders

A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
England need to be more consistent
The Rugby Paper

England need to be more consistent

I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
The Rugby Paper

Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver

ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
The Rugby Paper

Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions

TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
The Rugby Paper

Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot

LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
The Rugby Paper

Four-try David calls the shots for Bears

MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
The Rugby Paper

Scott-Young keen to follow his father

TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
When value for money is not part of the deal
The Rugby Paper

When value for money is not part of the deal

ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
The Rugby Paper

'I want to prove my worth to Bath'

OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 10, 2024