EUROPEAN CLUB FINALS AN EXCEPTIONAL SHOWCASE AS GAME CHANGING DECISIONS LOOM LARGE
Was it really 6 weeks ago that Saracens took their game to new levels by shutting out Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup Final. It was a ruthless show of how to close out a pressure game from behind - a true International game in club jerseys. All played out in the sporting hotbed that was Newcastle. The irony of their relegation shows some dysfunction in the game nationwide. The North needs top class rugby not relegation and bankruptcy, Yorkshire Carnegie now effectively bust. Benign neglect in the case of the latter, unacceptable when even limited vision could have changed this outcome.
Another International clash as Glasgow Warriors stormed the Leinster stronghold for the Pro 14 Crown and only just failed despite the strongest challenge. I have called the Scottish revival for a while and it is real and vibrant. They have finally got it right off the field and look what happens. A World Cup surprise could await - replay the second half of the England game if you doubt me. Meantime a just return for the Irishmen and if you think they are a busted flush, listen to the intent in Sexton’s rebuttal that they have peaked too early. I like that language, they will come again.
The Premiership Final was a triumph - Gallagher must have been smiling. On field the Chiefs did everything right other than the last 20 minutes. The great Bath teams never lost that part of the game, and Sarries provided their own masterclass. Liam Williams pound for pound is the best player in the world currently and the performance of the Saracens big names in the closing stages was truly remarkable. England genuinely have no excuses in Japan…...when you add in the exceptional Slade and Nowell at Twickenham the crowd there were thrilled like at no other time in the last 12 months. I truly love the Chiefs and the next step is to turn the hurt into big wins.
Finally an error strewn Top 14 Final could not take away the shining rays of hope streaming from the Toulousains - their supporter chant is wonderfully threatening and meaningful, their squad and club are going places, and not just in France. Cheslin Kolbe is already one of the world's best as a game changer, what a talent! A word also for Clermont who are a wonderful rugby family on and off the field and that is it really - the best rugby families are winning and despite their Stade de France disappointment they remain a powerhouse. It's culture not just training, process and grimfaced physicality.
With Europe in mind, the scrap in the last couple of league weekends to make it into Europe shows the order of things in a good place - Montpellier, Sale, Bath, Ospreys were all smiling at the end.
Lastly, by the end of week the rugby world will know more on how the game may or may not change for both hemispheres. Big meetings are in train. I do not think that the world's administrators need any further reminders of the growing jewels in our club game, attracting huge crowds as destination rugby takes hold. I say embrace this because it's not going away, only becoming stronger. Entirely complimentary to an International game where ‘less is more’ as we were told by the CEO of World Rugby himself. As for the money, it is all about allocation and clear thinking, always has been. Step forward some clear thinkers please.
Very finally, some strong words at the beginning of the season on disciplinary matters finally got through and changes are making our game safer. If that is work in progress, we should ignore at our peril the issues for all our players worldwide. The pathway to a sustainable post career life is full of potholes and it has to change. My question is for rugby's leaders - what are you doing for the players? In a world of investment, media interest, global trends, do NOT treat the player as a wasting asset. Or else they will become exactly that and we cannot allow it.
Let us meantime celebrate the season, and look forward with excitement to Japan - the game is on the rise no doubt and we must all harness the growth - at every level.
I would say hit the beach and enjoy but over here that would be an invitation to be wet, cold and miserable. Bring on the sunshine........H
Great writing Simon. Thanks?
Associate Director @ Axiom Project Services Limited | RFU Registered Agent RFURA/22/288
5 年Agree completely with the issue of drawing the attention back to the players and ensuring they're considered in decisions that directly influence their performance.? Take the Racing Top14 semi-final for instance and the poor decision making the administration of the club took at the start of the season to book out their showpiece stadium the same day as the potential semi-final. As a player you thrive on playing in your home stadium, it's the one place you feel you get an advantage that the opposition don't have, compound that feeling with the atmosphere you get at the?La Défense Arena and you're already onto a winner. Can you imagine Spurs moving an FA cup Semi-Final from their new stadium to another stadium??? However, when it comes to players I do agree with the importance that must be placed on the 'powers that be' to ensure that investment isn't squandered on pulling in marquee signings but invested in future proofing the club's existence at the top level. Take Newcastle for instance, a club that has been relegated but is continuing its plans to redevelop their stadium to safeguard the future commercial success of the club. A further investment in the Academy and Community programs will surely reap rewards.? Professional rugby has moved on from its infancy and is now flourishing off the back of enhanced TV/Sponsorship exposure, this is a pivotal time for the game. From my experience of networking and exploring opportunities to break into the Administration side of the sport it is abundantly clear that there is no clear model across all divisions of the game in Europe that is defining the structure of professional clubs. I think we could learn a lot from the American NFL and American sport in general, additionally cross border and cross competition learning needs to be encouraged, not just at the top of the game but in cases such as the Super Six in Scotland, the new competition bridging the gap between amateur and professional Rugby. Exciting times in the game and one I hope to be a part of now that I'm no longer playing.?
Company Chairman
5 年Interesting times ahead, me thinks......