So let’s do away with the funnies and put on our serious faces, for the very good reason that the latest financiers to throw money at the sport – the Luxembourg-based private equity company CVC and the American technology investment specialists Silver Lake – are not in it for the giggles. These people get their laughs in the counting house, not the Comedy Store.
Finance is the first thing on the game’s mind as it starts peeking through the curtains of the pandemic in preparation for a return to full exposure. For the Premiership clubs in England, the f-word is not merely the number one priority, hence the rush towards an extended period of ringfencing as a Stateside-style form of sporting wealth management.
Most informed chroniclers confidently expect the Rugby Football Union to sanction a lengthy suspension of relegation from the top flight when the issue appears on its agenda in the coming weeks. In truth, Twickenham does not have a fat lot of choice, given the lack of appetite for a post-Covid ruck with the top-flight clubs and their contracted players.
Yet the governing body can still do the game a significant favour – hardly a familiar phrase in this corner of the paper – if, in return for its acquiescence, it insists on the maintenance of a half-sensible salary cap at Premiership level. Preferably, a cap without the “marquee player” exception – a mechanism open to all manner of abuse.
Denne historien er fra May 16, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 16, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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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.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
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.
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.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.