English Rugby Union, what needs to come next?

[GrumpyGregry]

What should the outcome of the review be? What structures need to change? Who needs to go? Who must be brought in? What should be done, given the huge numbers of players in England, and the financial strength of the RFU, to put English Rugby and the England side into a position where it can dominate in the NH and compete at RWC?

 

[Paulus]

The hype of the premier league rugby is filtering down to the players who believe they are better than they are. The same has happened to the football players. The cricket players aren't far behind either. Too much money, not enough skill.

 

[raleighnut]

What should the outcome of the review be? What structures need to change? Who needs to go? Who must be brought in? What should be done, given the huge numbers of players in England, and the financial strength of the RFU, to put English Rugby and the England side into a position where it can dominate in the NH and compete at RWC?

A few Welsh players?

 

[rualexander]

A New Zealander as coach and players who aren't as fat as the current bunch.

 

[srw]

A proper national side - representing the UK. Which is one reason why the cricketers are pretty successful.

 

[raleighnut]

A proper national side - representing the UK. Which is one reason why the cricketers are pretty successful.

The Lions

 

[Aperitif]

A proper national side - representing the UK. Which is one reason why the cricketers are pretty successful.

The Lions

Then 'we' can play against the France, Georgia, Romania (perhaps Japan if they are in the EU by then...) teams, and give them all a good duffing and win the Number of Nations Cup. Alternatively, get Team England designated as a Tier 2 nation and get some decent opposition. Players might want to play against their potential rivals in weekly contests too, not just the smashbangs and Southern Hemisphere drifters that inhabit the Leagues. Salary cap? Hmm. In France. they face the same dilemma - the latest batch of pensioners will be arriving from NZ and Aus soon...salary 'cap'? More like 'chapeau' from pulling down the bucks.

 

[DRM]

Being a Rugby League supporter, I just don't understand this ruck malarky, why not try and play a more flowing game by passing the ball as you're being tackled as the league players will try to do, will draw in defenders giving the recipient the chance to get through a gap rather than playing all pile on.

 

[Aperitif]

Being a Rugby League supporter, I just don't understand this ruck malarky, why not try and play a more flowing game by passing the ball as you're being tackled as the league players will try to do, will draw in defenders giving the recipient the chance to get through a gap rather than playing all pile on.

Fits the 'Bill'

 

[Drago]

I'm not capable of playing or coaching top flight rugby, so I can't give a meaningful answer.

 

[welsh dragon]

Being a Rugby League supporter, I just don't understand this ruck malarky, why not try and play a more flowing game by passing the ball as you're being tackled as the league players will try to do, will draw in defenders giving the recipient the chance to get through a gap rather than playing all pile on.

Because then it would be rugby league, not rugby union methinks

 

[derrick]

This is going the way as football.

 

[Paulus]

The game of rugby has changed over the last 20 years or so. When I learnt the game at school back some 45 years ago when rugby union was a supposed amateur game, the game was a flowing passing and running game. Not the brute strength bulldozer game we now see.

 

[DRM]

[QUOTE 3985188, member: 259"]I've always liked watching RL more than union. There was a lot of snobbishness at school about rugby and most of it rubbed off onto us doing the opposite of what the PE teachers wanted us to do.[/QUOTE]
Us too, first pe lesson at high school the teacher stopped the game because we were getting up from a tackle and then playing the ball, his exact words were this was a grammar school we don't play that game, threw the ball in the general direction of the class and went inside to sulk, no supervision, luckily no injuries, he would have been sacked now.

 

[Aperitif]

The game of rugby has changed over the last 20 years or so. When I learnt the game at school back some 45 years ago when rugby union was a supposed amateur game, the game was a flowing passing and running game. Not the brute strength bulldozer game we now see.

...and Dubbin was the name of an Aussie horse... I hated rugby lessons...getting muddy, pants chafing, ears getting mutilated etc...bit longer ago than you Paulus...
GPS trackers has changed the complexion of the modern jersey wearer for analysts and coaches. Maybe the 'real time' stats of players could be broadcast during the games, to show just who is eating all the pies etc? Ban bandages around the legs of "jumpers" for a start, along with 'pseudo truck and trailer' stuff from lineouts etc, Turn the gym bunnies into full-blown rampant rabbits and bring this mysterious running, flowing and passing back to the future. Tattooing is in the ascendancy too, ta.