Shock ! RFU and PRL Agree !

dailywaffle · Post by **dailywaffle** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:54 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 302678.stm

I think the smell of freshly printed £50 notes may have had something to do with it.

Tiger Nine · Post by **Tiger Nine** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 8:50 pm

But how does the £1 million get shared out? It should be divided based on the number of players provided so to reward those teams who develop players to play for England. Why should those who are made up of imports get the benefit of keeping there players AND get a share of the loot? Also, why not also allow that money to be used for players on top of the salary cap? That would help pay for some young players strenghten the squads that llose out when England play.

This would probably mean us geting more than anybody else but why not?

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:10 am

This was always going to happen. The cash element is important. PRL will distribute the money to clubs on the basis of players involved. If it was only partly cash and partl commercial rights Wasps and Larry for instance would claim they were "entitled" to more etc etc

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:43 am

The full statement is here:

http://tinyurl.com/ju4uo

Note that in the samll print RFU has agreed to pay its own costs in the earlier litigation. That's another £350K+ they have wasted then!!

Tiggger · Post by **Tiggger** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:10 am

Yes Bill, the ?350K would have made a sizeable donation to Matt Hampson's fund!
It was good to see a link to Matt on the lefthand side of the RFU page with this story on!

Back to the thread.... I think it's interesting that the RFU now want to move forward "work together to ensure that we avoid unnecessary litigation" and "The RFU and PRL have agreed to work together to find a ‘new way forward’ to remove the causes of conflict and discord between the parties. Both parties understand and accept that this will require major moves from previously held positions."

Does this mean that the RFU are at last beginning to shift from their entrenched position of imposing their will on the clubs? or is it just 'PR speak' ('bull') to save face?

Answers on a post card..........

Dave Angel · Post by **Dave Angel** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:36 am

I think that BOTH sides will now shift from their entrenched positions!

The RFU was no worse & no better than PRL in that respect. Both were so firmly stuck in the mud over the issues that neither side was willing to concede even an inch of ground until now.

Anyone who believes that PRL care about the players any more than the RFU is only kidding themselves. The PRL only care about their own access to players, not player welfare.

If the clubs really cared about player welfare, they would have scrapped the playoffs & the AW Cup a long time ago. They only care about earning more money from the players they have. Same as the RFU basically, but from the opposite side of the same fence.

...meanwhile, the players are stuck on that fence, being pulled this way and that without anyone caring how they actually feel.

It's like a messy divorce basically. Both parents try to claim they are doing what's best when in reality, they are just trying to do what's best for them & making the kids suffer.

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:02 pm

It is progress if only that this was a joint statement from PRL and RFU.

The "lovey dovey" bits are PR speak.

It remains to be seem how much real progress will be made.

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:47 am

Of course the conspiracy theorists will no doubt hold that this is PRL and Randrew working together to get OBNSG and Baron fired!!!

OK! So we have tried it your way Francis - we have given Andy everything he asked for at your behest. And still we didn't win the 6N or reach the WC final!!