Transfer News

So who are the brave players taking the plunge and making the move so far this season and who are certainly staying put?

Bath

New Signings: Rob Webber, Dominic Day,

Contract Extensions: Ross Batty, Chris Cook

Exeter Rugby

Contract Extensions: Tom Hays, Simon Alcott, Jason Shoemark, Hoani Tui

Gloucester Rugby

New Signings: Billy Twelvetrees, Huia Edwards,

Contract Extensions: Rupert Harden, Peter Buxton, Freddie Burns, Akapusi Qera,

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Looking Back…. Rob Vickerman

This interview with Rob Vickerman was carried out briefly before he announced leaving Newcastle Falcons to join the England Sevens team full-time. Now we are approaching the halfway point of the IRB Sevens season The Rugby Diary thought it was a great time to revisit it.

A winner in every way......

Joining the core squad of Ben Ryan’s tenacious pack means that Vickerman will no longer be eligible to play at club level for this season at least.

However, it does mean that Rob’s Olympic ambitions may become a reality.

Seeing this opportunity as a perfect time for an interview, and a chance for Rob to get some last ditch revenge before taking off for his new sevens career, we caught up with Rob to get the real story of the switch.

Quick fire questions

Tori Chipp [TC]: Books or films?

 Rob Vickerman [RV]: Films about books, so I can pretend I’ve read it!

[TC]: Surf or ski?

 [RV]: Surf, bro. (Thanks Rob more people will think im a man now!)

 [TC]: Night in or night out?

[RV]: Known as the Olympic Flame – never go out.

[TC]: North or South?

[RV]: T’North.

[TC]: Blonde or brunette?

[RV]: Blonde.

[TC]: Cook or be cooked for?

[RV]: Cooked for every night by a working mother of three – oh no wait, that’s Tom Catterick!

[TC]: Boxers or briefs?

[RV]: Calvin Klein all the way.

 

The interview

[TC]: Now, the time to spill the beans on your previous teammates….Who has the best and worst banter at the Falcons? And you can’t give yourself the best award before you even try it!

 [RV]: I always enjoy a Matt Thompson ‘topper’ story. If you’ve got a black cat, he’s got a panther. Failing that, Daz Fearn has got good chat, and a shit tat. Tim Swinson is improving with some good lines – just about 20 minutes late.

[TC]: Putting on your Trinny and Susannah style cap, who were the best and worst dressed?

[RV]: It’s fair to say Tom Catterick encapsulates the best of both. I bet Marty McFly, in 1985, didn’t think he’d be so on trend in 2011. Unfortunately, Tom Catterick styles himself on Cher Lloyd!

[TC]: Some may say style comes with ease, others really, really have to try. Who was the biggest tart in the Falcons team? We have all seen Geordie Shore, but someone has to stand out?

[RV]: Chris Pilgrim without a doubt. Some boys had to be restrained when he dressed up as a bird at the end of season do.

[TC]: Not sure this is an award that many would admit to wanting, but who was the biggest LAD at Falcons?

 [RV]: Daz ‘Ultimate Lad’ Fearn.

[TC]: Who is the best roommate we know, forwards are usually the worst?

[RV]: It’s going to have to be Tim Swinson – he even brings his Butler.

[TC]: Who goes craziest on the town, usually ending up in trouble? We all know at least one friend who can do the impossible on a night out?

[RV]: Luke Eves is pretty loose. Especially if his dad isn’t out.

[TC]: Can you tell us the funniest story from a team social that you know about happening at Falcons?

[RV]: On our end of season do last year we were all in teams of 5. One of the rules was there must be a ‘team steal.’ This usually means that someone in the team ‘borrows’ an ashtray or perhaps a glass from a bar. (Obviously it will be replaced).

Over the years some teams have done well, capturing a pub sign, brought along a local perhaps, but this year the records were re-written. As we sat in our last pub we had forgotten to acquire any item, so when we all looked around the room we all saw the same thing as our heads then turned back. The Piano! We sat for 15 minutes coming up with a plan, how to distract the staff, the exit route and then how to get it to the next pub. Needless to say, the plan was executed perfectly, until the landlord at the next pub had a phone in his hand saying it was the owner of the last pub, who had called the police. The piano found its way back pretty quickly.

 

[TC]: Love it, shame you couldn’t get a local in the piano; that would have been genius! Now this is a really important question and all the lads probably think they are going to win it, but who is the biggest ladies man at Falcons?

[RV]: Well, judging by our Gypsy Wedding outfits at the fancy dress, I’d have to say Chris Pilgrim was the biggest lady man.

[TC]: There have been a few interviews recently with your old Falcon’s boys. Would you like to hand out any extra awards to your teammates?

[RV]: Of course:

Media whore: Chris Pilgrim

Biggest rater: Luke Fielden

 [TC]: Now for some questions about yourself… I hear you are known in some circles as the “nause of the North.” Can you explain this and do you have any other nicknames?

[RV]: Owing to my nausiing nature, and name, I tend to be affectionately known as Vickernause. It’s a fair shout.

[TC]: You’ve had some great times with the England Sevens team. If the opportunity arose would you ever swap Premiership rugby for sevens full time?

 [RV]: If only that could happen…

 [TC]: Just call me mystic Meg. So Mr Vickerman, all the ladies need to know, well want to know, are you single or taken? My cousin actually was the one who prompted this question! (Sarah)

 [RV]: First time I have been asked since, but happily married!

 [TC]: It’ll never last…only kidding, sorry Sarah. So coming from Leeds originally, how did you find life further north, we hear you have a lot of travelling support?

[RV]: Newcastle was fun, I loved the city and the people and the clichés accepted there. My family do love to watch a bit of rugby – so on Christmas Eve there were around 20 of them at the game, and out that night.

 [TC]: That must have been nice! Falcons came very close to relegation last season, too close. Do you think they will be able to combat that this season?

 [RV]: I hope so. I’ll avoid further clichés and watch with interest in the coming months.

[TC]: Who are the players you look up to in rugby today?

[RV]: Most of them, I’m only 5’11″!!

 [TC]: ONLY?! Try being 5’2”!!

 [TC]: Where is your favourite ground to play in the world?

[RV]: I did enjoy most of the sevens stadiums we played in last time I featured in 2009, but the top one has to be the Cake Tin, Westpac Stadium in Wellington. The atmosphere was immense!

[TC]: Well thanks Rob for taking the time out to do the interview and giving your old teammates a good hammering. Good luck with the Sevens!

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Calcutta Cup England 22

Looking to bring this team ethic back

The Calcutta Cup this year is billed to be closer than ever before. It is never easy for England to go away to Scotland and im pretty sure the team don’t particularly relish the prospect!

The Scots really have some fire in their bellies and the English look set to send out a new look squad so the competition is very much a case of who is more up for it.

England have also been through the mill via the press post World Cup and need a win to give some credibility to the nature they wish to portray and not the painting the media paints so perfectly.

The squad for Scotland is as follows:

15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Owen Farrell, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Mouritz Botha, 5 Tom Palmer, 6 Tom Croft, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Phil Dowson Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Geoff Parling, 19 Ben Morgan, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Jordan Turner-Hall, 22 Mike Brown

England Captain Announcement

Today is the day the new England captain is announced. Following in the steps of Lewis Moody the pressure is on to get it right. Following such a woeful World Cup England and new interim head coach Lancaster are looking to right a few wrongs.

The captain will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders, even though realistically the choice could have been made through injuries. Not only that but because Lancaster is interim at present any new manager come May could decide a new captain at their own will.

So here is the big announcement the new captain will be Chris Robshaw.

The New England Captain

 

 

FACTFILE: CHRIS ROBSHAW

Name: Christopher Dennis Robshaw

Date of birth: June 4th, 1986

Place of birth: Redhill, Surrey

Height: 6 ft 2 in

Weight: 17st 9lb (112 kg)

Position: Flanker

Club: Harlequins

England senior caps: 1

The Harlequins man is the new man to lead the England pack to what is hoped to be a successful campaign. Robshaw has been forthcoming in stating a fortnight ago that he wanted the job and the honour of representing his country.

Robshaw, 25, will only officially be given the job for England’s next game, Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Only four times in history has England appointed a captain with less Test experience than the man chosen by new boss Stuart Lancaster.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We have a strong leadership group and I have been very impressed with the way they have all stepped up so far. Chris is a key member of that group and has shown with Harlequins and when I have worked with him in the Saxons that he can lead a team tactically and passionately. I am delighted that he has got this chance at the highest level and I know it will be a very proud moment for him, his club, family and friends when he leads England out at Murrayfield on Saturday.”

Delon Armitage incident

Armitage in Action

Delon Armitage has been suspended from the England Saxons Elite Player Squad following his detention by Devon & Cornwall Police early on January 29 under suspicion of assault.

it is believe there was an incident within a nightclub where an altercation broke out  and subsequently Armitage was arrested, interviewed and later released on bail while investigations continue.

Stuart Lancaster England’s Head coach commented on the matter  “We take issues surrounding the behaviour of England players very seriously and as such have decided to suspend Delon from the Saxons EPS pending the result of the police inquiry.

“High standards of behaviour are required from England players on and off the field, and they also need to understand that they should not put themselves in a potentially vulnerable position or environment.”

London Irish said in a statement: “London Irish is extremely disappointed to hear about the incident involving Delon whilst on England Saxons release period and take these matters extremely seriously.

“We fully understand the RFU stance on this matter and will convene our own internal investigation to procure a full understanding of the matter in question, the outcome of which will determine any further action. Player conduct is a direct representation of the club and, therefore, inappropriate conduct will be strongly acted upon.”

 

Further news will await pending the police enquiry

England Saxons Squad to face the Irish Wolfhounds

Gaskell to lead the side

James Gaskell is set to captain the England Saxons for the first time against the Irish Wolfhounds at 5pm on Saturday.

At the age of 21 Gaskell is not without captaincy experience after a successful campaign with his team the Sale Sharks last season. He runs out with a team that’s average age is only 24.

The squad starts with newbie Freddie Burns in the starting 15 together with the experienced heads of Matt Banahan, Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye and Paul Doran-Jones.

Burns will be teaming up with Saracens Ben Spencer after news that  Leicester Tigers Micky Young has been called in front of a disciplinary committee for a suspected contact with the eye incident in Tigers last home game against Aironi in the Heineken Cup.

The bench also looks strong and feature Ryan Lamb and Paul Hodgson. Many are disappointed however not to see Ed Slater somewhere among the 23.

England Saxons:

15 Delon Armitage (London Irish)
14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
13 Matt Hopper (Harlequins)
12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
11 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
10 Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
9 Ben Spencer (Saracens)
1 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
2 Joe Gray (Harlequins)
3 Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints)
4 Matt Garvey (London Irish)
5 George Robson (Harlequins)
6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks, captain)
7 Andy Saull (Saracens)
8 Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)

Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker (Harlequins), 17 Rupert Harden (Gloucester), 18 Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks), 19 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints), 22 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby).

Looking back… David Flatman

 

When I got one half of the sandwich i wanted!!!

So sometime ago now i took to interview the one and only David Flatman he spoke to us about the World Cup squad and an event for that he was helping to co-ordinate for Help for Heroes.

I actually just re read this interview for the first time in a while, he was such a funny bloke and impossible not to get on with.

(He did also threaten i made him look funny or faced being hunted down!)

Tori Chipp (TC): Who were you pleased to see in England’s 45 man squad?

David Flatman (DF): Lots of them are the usual faces, but I’m really pleased to see my mate Matt Stevens back in the mix. He’s had a pretty tough time of it recently and he’s come back and played fantastic rugby, so deserves his chance. I read a few articles where people said they were surprised to see him in there, but I have no idea why. Another is Alex Corbisiero, who has just done brilliantly since he got his chance.

TC: Were there any players you were disappointed not to see make the cut?

DF: Well my mum, for one, cannot believe I’m not Captain!

A lot of people were surprised not to see Alex Goode or Owen Farrell in there, but there will always be more great players than seats on the plane. We all feel the same about Nick Abendanon. I’m not saying they’re wrong; it’s just different people’s opinion. He is just the most fabulous rugby player and he performs every week for us. We have had some seriously great players come through Bath and he has won the Player’s Player of the Year award three years running, which speaks volumes. Like any full back, the mistakes he makes are so visible, which may have affected his chances. I know that a lot of England’s opponents will be pleased not to see him there though.

TC: I’m a big fan of Matt Banahan myself.

DF:Well of course you are! You’re a girl!

TC: Well, he is a lot taller than me, standing at 5ft 2”!

DF: See that’s the thing, these tall men get the small girls most of the time. It’s not your fault, it’s just nature. I’m just waiting for that lovely lady who falls for bald six foot bouncer lookalikes. I’m just trying to find my niche market!

TC: Tell us about your sevens career?

DF: That’s happening. Ben Ryan, the England sevens coach, is hounding me. I think the corporate sevens and stuff out in the Far East is best for me, I just perform better in that heat!

TC: If you were Johnno, would you take a risk on Manu Tuilagi?

DF: People say Manu Tuilagi is a risk mainly because he punched Chris Ashton. He won’t be doing that again. In today’s game of rugby, it’s not cool to go around punching people as a ban means you can’t do what you are paid for. You’re an asset that the club has lost, you’re getting paid to do nothing; it’s not a nice feeling.

What Manu has got is a natural level of freakish size and power, combined with genuine acceleration and an unnatural level of balance which nobody has in that squad. The only reason why Johnno wouldn’t take Manu would be because at 13 your defence has to be as good, if not better, than your attack. Manu has to prove himself over the coming weeks.

TC: What do you think about the All Blacks banning social media during the Rugby World Cup?

DF: I think they’ve made a big mistake actually. They should have just asked players to use their common sense, following some obvious guidelines. All you’re doing by banning it is removing small forms of relaxation. If you want to be on twitter and mess around with your mates in downtime, do it. It’s really down to the individual and your agent/manager or coach should know you well enough to tell you if you’re really suitable for it. It’s more about self-control and self-awareness to think things over before you post. I seem to manage it perfectly well. I’m just not sure anyone cares what I have to say!

TC: Comes down to common sense then?

DF: Yes. I mean look at Graeme Swann, Jake Humphreys and Martin Bayfield, all great tweeters. But some just don’t seem to have that filter. I mean really we should all play to our strengths. I don’t do topless modelling, so maybe they shouldn’t tweet! It really doesn’t need banning though.

TC: Who do you believe will be the stand out player for England this year?

DF: I think Chris Ashton is the big name star everyone is looking forward to seeing. He’s a brilliant player. I think the two guys who will play the best for England, and get the least attention, will be Mark Cueto and Nick Easter. There was a lot written last year about Cueto not scoring, but he is one of those guys who you can look to if there’s a problem, and you know he can deal with it. He’s just bloody good. Nick Easter is probably the most valuable player in the team. He is just a magnificent 8. He is always working and makes very few mistakes. He catches the ball like a cricket ball and he’s always composed. He is so underrated, but those who play around him know it.

TC: What is the highlight of your international career?

DF: Well, it wasn’t very long! It was probably winning in Buenos Aires. And of course the South Africa tour, but that was more post-match.

TC: We all know what goes on tour stays on tour, but what is the funniest story you’ve got from international rugby, that you can tell us anyway?

DF: All I’ll say is that on the 2000 Tour to South Arica, three of us were named the Joburg three. We were accused of crimes we didn’t commit (involving a golf buggy or two), but with nobility, we owned up to the crimes we did commit (at the order of local police, men in dandruff covered blazers were ordered to pay off in cash the parents of some locals whose clothes we had commandeered for the evening). But we had a good time and Clive Woodward was very understanding as we had just won the Test that day.

TC: Nicknames are often picked up along the road. Do you have one? Who has the best nickname?

DF: I met John Eales once and he said everyone used to call him nobody, because nobody’s perfect. Then he said no one had ever called him nobody, but he knew! I’m pretty much Flats, even my parents call me that. Not sure I’m charismatic enough for a nickname.

TC: So Flats, give us a bit of background to the Road to the World Cup Dinner?

DF: It has come from my agent’s head. With Alex Payne and I hosting the event, we will be cornering both ends of the market, polished public school boy and a bit of rough.

TC: What makes this event different from other rugby charity dinners?

DF: We are going to be presenting it nude! We are receiving via video link such celebrities as John Smit, Johnny Wilkinson, Richie McCaw and Victor Matfield. One of those I’ve just made up, John Smit, the rest will actually be doing the link. They will also be nude via the video link.

TC: You’re hosting with Alex Payne. Can you tell us a little bit about your style and how you expect the evening to run?

DF: I am giving out information and pure hardcore, unadulterated facts. He is providing you with high level, relatively high brow, cultured, side splitting humour from start to finish.

TC: What are you most looking forward to about the event?

DF: Mainly that. I have also been promised steak and chips, which is what is pulling in the numbers. But really, hopefully at the end we can write out a big cheque for Help for Heroes and send it off to them. It is truly a privilege to raise even a tenner for those guys. It’s a hell of a cause that’s doing very well and you hope one day that they won’t need any more money, but it’s hard to see that ever being likely. We are very lucky to have people that fight for our freedom.

TC: And of course, The Soldiers are performing?

DF: I can’t wait. I’ll level with you, I was hoping for JLS. I also wanted Stacy Solomon. I met her a while ago. I say met her, I saw her about 50 yards away, but I felt the connection! I am very happy with The Soldiers though, it will send a very good message and it’s very fitting.

TC: Will this event match up to Miami?

DF: Actually, I just got an email which was a link to an article about an ice hockey team in Canada who had just won the cup. Their bar bill was $156,000 in four hours, we have been officially trounced! We all feel pretty humbled and we are saving up for Vegas next year. But the reports lie, I wasn’t actually there though, we were just in a pub on a corner in Brentford

TC: But really Flats, Tindall has got to give you hope? He is bald and similar to your build and he bagged a Princess!

DF: Like I always say to him, you’re just lucky you met her before I did! It could have been a different story. I could have been stroking horses all day like him.

TC: Well Flats, it’s been a pleasure and thanks so much for your time.

So that was my interview from a fair few months ago and a lot has changed. But one thing that will never change Is Flat’s banter and quick wit!

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Follow David Flatman on Twitter

Saxons Squad

Saxons Squad:

FORWARDS (18)
David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Chris Brooker (Harlequins)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Matt Garvey (London Irish)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby)
David Paice (London Irish)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Andrew Saull (Saracens)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)

BACKS (14)
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Delon Armitage (London Irish)
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Karl Dickson (Harlequins)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
Micky Young (Leicester Tigers)

EPS announcement

FORWARDS: Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Calum Clark (Northampton), Dan Cole (Leicester), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Tom Croft (Leicester), Louis Deacon (Leicester), Phil Howson (Northampton), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Lee Mears (Bath), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Rob Webber (Wasps), David Wilson (Bath), Tom Wood (Northampton)

BACKS: Chris Ashton (Northampton), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester), Ben Foden (Northampton), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester), Joe Simpson (Wasps), David Strettle (Saracens), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester)

Six Nations Service Disruption

Domestic V International

 

The effect of the Six Nations on club rugby. I’m sure I am not the only person who is absolutely buzzing about the start of the Six Nations, the world’s best annual rugby union tournament, in a few short weeks. Three English away games, a world cup quarter-final and semi-final rematch, and the possibility of any team finishing last. But with Saracens F.C. voicing their concern about the timing of the tournament, is there any way of pleasing everyone?

There is an argument for a winter break or perhaps the postponement of the league whilst the tournament is in progress. This would allow for the cream of the European crop to come together to play each other at the start of the year, and allow a break for some players. This would also mean that any injured players would not miss as much of the tail end of the season and that call ups to squads would not come with the same old grumbles from disgruntled fans, unhappy at how their team’s top players have been pillaged from their starting line ups which very little notice.

It was proposed earlier this week that in 2015, the start of the Aviva Premiership would be delayed until after the Rugby World Cup pool stages, or potentially a group of matches would be played before. The French teams did not start playing each other until after their national team had returned. However the French don’t play an equivalent of our LV= cup and therefore have caught up with our teams on the number of games played already. Perhaps dropping the LV= cup would solve some of the problems faced by the English and Welsh clubs. The only problem with the removal of this tournament is that some clubs see it as one of the best ways of getting silverware to the club. Clubs that may not always be contenders for the Premiership or the Pro 12 often attempt to win this trophy. It also brings in the financial benefits that having more than one sponsor and more television rights does. Therefore that is not a viable option.

 There are of course many benefits to the Six Nations. It allows for some of the younger players, or reserve team players to get a chance to prove themselves, it’s through tournaments like the Six Nations that players like Manu Tuilagi came to the forefront among people less familiar with rugby, through his sparkling club form. It also allows for some of the weaker teams to take points off the stronger teams and allow for a more exciting end to season at the bottom of the table. Yet the table has arguably already been turned this season by the World Cup.

The Six Nations is also plainly and simply, a wonderful competition. It is the perfect stage for all six teams to showcase some of their young talent and to play for the annual bragging rights that come with victory. Last year Warren Gatland left some previously key Welsh players at home so that he could pick a more youthful team, and look where that got him. Wales may not have had the best six nations, (they came fourth, equal on points with the Irish and the French) but they were many people’s team of the World Cup, cruelly knocked out by a contentious decision from half Gallic – half Celtic, referee Alain Rolland. This removal of the young players clearly affected the Welsh teams, as none of them could break into the top 3 and proves the power of the young player at both club and international level.

The Six Nations 2011 Champions

At this year’s Six Nations Stuart Lancaster can prepare a team for the future, whether it is for himself, or the bookies favourite Nick Mallett. They allow players who would not have previously shone next to their capped brothers to become the stars of the show. Prior to the World Cup, many observers would not have known who Owen Farrell was but now he is a shoe in into the England squad for anyone with any understanding of rugby.. Many forwards are also set to take their chance in this year’s Six Nations. With Wales having already blooded Toby Falateau, Sam Warburton, and Luke Charteris perhaps now would be a good time for the other home nations to do the same.

It is the youth of rugby that will define the future of it. But with increasing pressure applied by the clubs on the IRB, perhaps it is time for a change. Some reformers have suggested the addition of other teams to the six nations, perhaps adding Romania, who despite failing to make it past the group stages, had an excellent campaign against England and Scotland, as well as maybe Georgia, Holland, or Russia. The only problem with is that the creation of a knockout would lead to some teams losing their players for longer, causing more tension, as well as the loss of television revenues, as more people are likely to tune in to the bigger games.

 If this does not work, then perhaps the removal of the Six Nations during world cup years, so that if after 2015, the Premiership and Pro 12 decide to start during the competition, then clubs like Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, and the new boys, Saracens, won’t lose more than ten senior players for almost a third of the season. Again, this is unlikely because of the loss of television rights from it. Whatever happens in the future, by recruiting youth into the international squads, whilst it may do some harm at club level to the standings, there is sufficient time at the end of the season to recuperate some points and most teams have very good reserves, and should be able to cope with the non-European players from which they have to pick from *cough* Sarries *cough*.

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