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You have to feel for the players in these cases. The timing of the tours is all completely wrong, and the IRB should address this matter. You can’t even call them tours these days, not when you rock up in town on Tuesday, play Saturday, train, play the next Saturday then on the aircraft back home on Sunday!! This is the business end of the season for many Northern hemisphere clubs, cup comps, promotion play off’s etc and this is where the bread and butter is earned. As an ex player, I would have given all I had and more to represent my country, and I firmly believe that all future, current and ex players are in full agreement with this way of thinking, but unfortunately these days, the clubs are in a position where they find they must discourage the players from international duty, and they are forced into this for financial reasons.
Having said that, as we all too well know, a rugby career is short lived, and these guys need to make provisions and look after their families. Their main wages come from the individual clubs, therefore, you can see why the clubs are somewhat reluctant to release them for a meaningless tour when they are needed at this time by the clubs. For many rugby clubs, winning cups, promotions etc means a huge influx of funds into their coffers, which then goes towards player development, facilities development, and of course player contract money. It’s a balancing act, as if you are demoted, then you end up with less spectators, and you attract players of a slightly less calibre because you can’t afford to pay them top whack and thus the vicious downward spiral begins. For example, in the UK, there are many once great clubs who are now either defunct, or have their backs to the wall and are surviving in the smaller leagues. Take Blackheath for one, once a major provider for the national team, there are many others, Moseley, Rosslyn park, Orrell, Waterloo etc,…….
I for one am completely against annual internationals. These are now just a money spinner for the various Unions and the IRB, and unfortunately, it takes the mystique out of an international test match. Do you remember good old “tours”, the only team that does still do this is the British and Irish Lions, and even this four yearly event is now becoming more commercialised. I’m talking about the old fashioned six weeks plus tours, where you have your Saturday team and your Wednesday “dirt trackers”, the first three weeks or so, you play the top club teams, and regional representative sides, then go on to play a three match test series. As a kid, I remember standing on the terraces watching my county, Lancashire playing against Australia, also standing on the sidelines at Otley rugby club (Yorkshire) and watching the mighty All Blacks humbled by the North of England regional side 21-9, a monumental effort, one that will live with me for the rest of my days. You were lucky if you saw the Wallabies or the All Blacks once or twice every five years or so. Discounting South Africa who were still in the sporting wilderness.
The Southern hemisphere countries have it right when it comes to touring. The tours are always timed not to coincide with other fixtures, and so ultimately, the coaches are able to pick from a full compliment of players, barring any injuries of course.
This is not a vindication of Northern hemisphere teams coming down here with weakened teams to play meaningless one-off matches, it’s just my take on how I see things……ok, rant over, bring on the RWC when we will see quality rugby from the worlds best players……oh, and yes, I will be there too!