Andy Farrell ready for switch to Union

[MrCharisma]

Great Britain and Wigan rugby league captain Andy Farrell will decide within the next few days whether he will switch codes to play rugby union.

And it looks almost certain that he will accept the Rugby Football Union's offer to be part of England's 2007 World Cup plans, BBC Sport has learnt.

Farrell has been one of League's most decorated players and an ever-present in the Great Britain side since 1993.

But the lure of a fresh challenge looks set to be too tempting to turn down.

The RFU are said to be very confident he will accept an offer, believed to be in excess of £200,000 a year, and that an announcement is imminent.

His qualities as a leader in the pack are what have made him a strong target for England coach Andy Robinson, a self-confessed admirer of rugby league.

But his signing would still represent a significant gamble for the RFU, who will place Farrell with a Zurich Premiership club, though not necessarily Sale as has been assumed.

He will be 32 by the time of the next Rugby World Cup in France, and a signing fee, along with his wages, would make it a £1m pound gamble for a player who has never played union.

Current England rugby union captain Jason Robinson made his move from league to union in 2000 and has been followed most notably by Henry Paul and Iestyn Harris.

Farrell is currently facing a several month injury lay-off after undergoing knee surgery.

But he is expected to return for Wigan this season, before switching at the end of the campaign. That means he is unlikely to play for Great Britain again.

Wigan full-back Kris Radlinski has also been linked with a move to rugby union, but that report is understood to carry little substance.

BBC Sport Online




WTF!!!!!!!

 

[t-ba]

The Original Article (From Which all the Progeny spread), Was written by an anonymous individual with no sources provided the UK's Independant.

All stories hence have been based off of that particular Baseless pile of crap (Backpage news of course and talked about on the BBC, as sign of RL's 'Progress') designed to draw attention away from the SL, which is set to record what could be it's biggest weekend ever...

Nothing to do with the Mob down at Twickers or the Spreadsheet rugger Buggers on Fleet Street...Im Sure :roll:

 

[terracesider]

Interesting t-ba. Would that be the same Independent that did a hatchet job on BARLA and the same BBC that paid a fortune for the 6 Nations?

No wonder the rugger chaps say we're paranoaic.

 

[bartman]

Just trying to take the gloss off the opening weekend of the season, eh?

Surely if Union were going to chase some more league players, they'd look a little younger than Farrell and Radlinksi? The story is nonsense...

 

[screeny]

Seems like it's happening. We should see some interesting scenes at the JJB ce soir.

IMO Farrell should be castigated if he chooses to leave. He's the GB captain and that means something, for him just to leave for dough is terrible. He would have a great, long career in Rl executive or coaching ranks should he desire but it seems as though he's either poised to jump or deliver a V sign tonight.

RU scum......f**k me I hate 'em.

 

[YANTO]

Hey lets be posative about this and give the press a decent bit of spin.
After all the guy is out for a few months,carried a lot of injuries over the last few years and wont be around for 2008.
Maybe he has realised (like Wendal Sailor) he can prolong his playing carreer by turning codes.Maybe he realises he is about to finnish with League at the top class.Whatever his decision he was one hell of a player on his day and just like Jonathon Davies we will have a genuine LEAGUE supporter in the top ranks of the union camp.

Spin it like this

"The Union world cup winners,apparently the best team on the planet. look poised to snatch the GB RL captain who is going to be 32 by the time the RL world cup comes around in 2008 and would be doubtful if he would be playing in the tournament.

The RFU are hoping this superb rugby league player can inspire the England team to again win the Union WC in 2007 when hopefully he will have adjiusted to the other code and his on field leadership will inspire the rest of the team.

After last weeks defeat at the hands of a very moderate Welsh team Andy Farrel could well bring much needed direction to the England set up.

Brought up in the rough and tough world of Rugby League the RFU targeted Farrel as born leader,a role he has done for both club and country in the thirten aside code.

Its a sad time for rugby league to be losing one of their most respected players but with the constant stream of talent being produced by Rugby League it wont be to long before ,like Jason Robinson, he will be replaced by an up and coming youngster.

League breeds its players the core skills of rugby at avery early age and until the RFU can do the same they will have to keep paying big money to League if they want to secure the services of some of the best players around."

 

[Dragons Cross]

The Original Article (From Which all the Progeny spread), Was written by an anonymous individual with no sources provided the UK's Independant.

All stories hence have been based off of that particular Baseless pile of crap (Backpage news of course and talked about on the BBC, as sign of RL's 'Progress') designed to draw attention away from the SL, which is set to record what could be it's biggest weekend ever...

Nothing to do with the Mob down at Twickers or the Spreadsheet rugger Buggers on Fleet Street...Im Sure :roll:

This will happen by the way guys have a look at the link, conformed by Wigan and RFU

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/4255897.stm

I don't think it's a good move for him at his age.

The Independant is an excellent paper especially when it comes to responsble journalism. It always has some good articles on League and also is the only paper that you can see the NRL scores and standinds each week. Compared to some of the other paper's like the Sun or the Mail it's on a completely different planet when it comes to integrity.

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

I personally think it would be a great deal for all concerned.

Andy Farrell leaving is not going to have the effect on Super League that the press in England would like to think. Their instructions from the RFU were to spin it their way and make it seem like League's biggest star was falling over himself to join them in the brave quest for the prestigious World Cup in 2007.

Sod that!

Andy Farrell is probably at this moment vomitting his morals into his toilet basin as his wife flicks through the catalogues wondering what she can spend his hard earned on. Thats all it comes down to for him, his sport or money. I'm sure the decision is still a hard one for Farrell despite the extra £100,000 a year on his salary and what would be a longer and far easier career.

At 29 he isn't that much of a loss to League. For one he plays for Wigan, not an important side anymore. They don't win trophies and its not nearly as damaging as someone like Sculthorpe or McGuire going in their prime or youth. Wigan will also receive a reputed £600k for the two years remaining on his contract and will be able to offer SBW a contract three times bigger than any NRL side. Even if he says no there will be international quality players in Aus queueing up to take the cash.

Secondly its about time GB lost Farrell anyway. He has the worst record of any Test player ever and has only had 1 (Count them) 1 good season in the past decade. The new look to the GB side will be so refreshing that it will be like receiving a new toy.

Last and most definitely least is the impact he'll have on Union. Based on the talentless giraffes that play outside centre in Union I'm sure Farrell will clean up, replace Wilkinson as kicker and be the top player for the next few years.

I can't wait to see the reaction of the Wigan fans though. He is sticking the middle finger up at them now, how will they react to that?

 

[bartman]

Wow, well I'll be blown...

Would probably a good decision in Farrell's own mind conisdering his age and stage, his own individual profile and future career/earnings? And as we all know it's much easier to get a book deal as a player after being in a Union world cup that after a career in league :roll:

Can't help thinking it's all designed to further fan the hype in the press toward Union though? That seems to be part and parcel of any negotiations they enter with players in Britain or Australia... straight to the press with positive coverage, whether they come to fruition in the end or not. :evil:

 

[DIEHARD]

Statement from the RFU and Wigan

The Rugby Football Union and Wigan can confirm that discussions are taking place regarding the possible signing of Andrew Farrell.

Although the talks have not been concluded and an agreement has not been reached, discussions are continuing and all parties feel it is now the appropriate time to respond to the speculation surrounding them.

The RFU and Wigan can confirm that Andrew Farrell is the only player under discussion.

Any agreement will be subject to the approval of the two boards, Andrew Farrell, Premier Rugby Ltd and a Zurich Premiership club to contract the player with the RFU.

The Wigan club are currently discussing the matter with Andrew Farrell and no time frame can be given for any talks to be concluded.

 

[griff]

Can't help thinking it's all designed to further fan the hype in the press toward Union though? That seems to be part and parcel of any negotiations they enter with players in Britain or Australia... straight to the press with positive coverage, whether they come to fruition in the end or not. :evil:

That's right, it's clear the ARU's strategy to grow union was to sign RL players in order to gain publicity at the expense of league and build a larger profile amongst league fans leading up to the RUWC.

For example when they signed Wendell Sailor for $600,000 or whatever it was it was on every back page in the country for weeks - that amount of positive press would cost millions and millions if they had to buy it through advertising.

It is annoying that RL doesn't understand this. For a relatively small investment you could buy an RU star and the amount of positive publicity you get would retuirn that investment hundreds of times over.

It is the same thing that Real Madrid do when they buy players like Beckham. It isn't just about their worth on the pitch, it is about the publicity it brings and about growing their brand.

From RL's point of view, an injury prone shirker like Farrell wouldn't be hugely missed on the field, but the bad publicity and lost sponsorship caused by the captain of Great Britain being signed by a rival sport would be massive. A little bit of central funding from the RFL (70-80,000 pounds a year) to keep him would be money very well spent.

 

[Evil Homer]

I'm not fussed TBH.Sean O'Loughlin would be a more than adequate replacement both for Wigan and GB.