Rob Andrew is finally spotted!

[Hiron]

He made a very brief appearance on the BBC Lunchtime news programme in an article about Jonah Lomu.

[TheproudTiger]

Don't forget he was lording it at Welford Road on Friday night in the posh bar upstairs where they keep all the best beer for the directors !!!

[Hiron]

I'll take your word for that. I'm not allowed in the posh bar.

[TheproudTiger]

Me also - a guy who sits near us won a twitter competition to go into the honours lounge before the game and had his photo taken with him.

[jgriffin]

For one ecstatic moment I thought the strapline was 'Rob Andrew is finally sacked'

[Bill W (2)]

For one ecstatic moment I thought the strapline was 'Rob Andrew is finally sacked'

Alas squeaky is a born survicor!

[fentiger]

For one ecstatic moment I thought the strapline was 'Rob Andrew is finally sacked'

We can only fantasize

[DCat]

Best beer? I am surprised that Tigers would go for anything more than the staple Everards , Guinness , piddly lager.

[PaleoTiger]

He has been closer than you think! Rob Andrew sat next to Simon Cohen last Friday night for the Tigers vs Stade match, he was looking old and rough but I've not seen him for twenty years or so. They were chatting quite closely every time that I turned to check.

I did really want to chant "Andrew out" though!!!!

[G.K]

All this talk about RAndrew and beer and no-one managed to bring the two together in a way that would have pleased many of us?

[Smudge]

This anti Rob Andrew band wagon I find difficult to understand.
I wonder how many of those who are so keen to "scapegoat" him really know him
or how he works?
I have met him on numerous occasions over the years and he was a client of mine
at one time.Frankly a more pleasant and likable chap you couldn't meet.
He was a decent out half for England and from what I have heard, is well respected
within the RFU for his administrative abilities.
The only thing I have objected to, was him nicking Tony Underwood from us
when the game went pro. But in his place I would probably have done the same.
As he says, he had to be swift off the mark getting a good bunch of players
together at the birth of the pro game. I can't blame him for that.
The old Gosforth club was chewed up and spat out but I am assured that was not down to him
As for the "blazers"? They are the lifeblood in Clubs, Counties, regions and the game
would not run without their unswerving support.All the ones I know, have played the game,
many at a higher level and have a deep affection for it.
Like referees,it's easy to criticise them (and I do) but without them, we have no game.
I hear the cry and acknowledge the call, for good business heads to rule at the top
of the game and with reservations, I go with that.
But England and the prem clubs are not the total game. The multitudes of middle,
lower and grass roots clubs are as important if not more.
We should never forget this.

[Bill W (2)]

Smudge

IMHO EAndrew did a good job when he negotiated the "peace" between RFU and PRL with Wheelbrace.

But on the emergence of profsssional Rugby and with the "Andrew Plan" his primary motivation seemed to me to be his own engrandisement.

I do not understand why he could not have reached an accomodation with SCW for the better of Engliah Rugby.

[Cagey Tiger]

Smudge,

1) He played for Wasps, which is enough to put him in most Tigers supporters bad books.
2) Personally, while he was playing, I found most interviews with him to be rather full of weasel words.
3) As an England player, I felt he was average at best to begin with, but did get better after a lot of time. Never going to get the pulse racing, a poor man's Ronan O'Gara.
4) What few interviews I have seen of him since he retired have come across as "slippery" (see point 2).

[tigerburnie]

But England and the prem clubs are not the total game. The multitudes of middle,
lower and grass roots clubs are as important if not more.
We should never forget this.

If you talk to anyone involved from the Championship down, they would tell that the RFU are the ones that seem to have forgotten this.

[jgriffin]

Smudge

IMHO EAndrew did a good job when he negotiated the "peace" between RFU and PRL with Wheelbrace.

But on the emergence of profsssional Rugby and with the "Andrew Plan" his primary motivation seemed to me to be his own engrandisement.

I do not understand why he could not have reached an accomodation with SCW for the better of Engliah Rugby.

He has a reputation with several players from his playing days and even more from the move from Wasps to Gosforth. He was known as Squeaky from early on because no blame ever stuck to him, he was 'squeaky clean'. He presided over a bad tour (the Duracell Bunny one) and failed to support MJ when support was needed - this has been alluded to several times by his arch-enemy, SCW. He has done some good work at the RFU but as the eminence gris behind the scenes has culpability for much, especially engineering the appointment of SL.