French Rugby fearmungering, how about some facts!!!

[butchmcdick]

An article reporting the top 10 salaries in top14 from last year.

Johnny Wilkinson was on top earning $102,000 a month.

http://www.espnscrum.com/france-top-14-2013-14/rugby/story/194183.html

Jt would be on close to that for us after third party and origin and test payments

 

[oikee]

Look, you can either be a legend in Australia, become a immortal, get a bronze statue even, or,,, orrr,,,,, go to france and nobody gives a toss, not even the french, get paid for doing nothing, get a tan, Holiday, then come back with tail between your legs, not become a legend in Rugby league like Mark Gasnier and Sonny Bill, not get a statue, always looked as being a traitor.

Gee whiz, lets all run off to France and make some cash. ???
Even Rugby is becoming a joke because all their players are headed to france.

"State of Origin" is the pinnacle of any code, and with that comes the NRL as the premier comp to ply your trade, playing against the best we will ever see, against the best.

I mean have a look at the way the Kangaroos disposed of the Kiwis in the last world cup. ? Sonny Bill was their, a pedestrian i might add.

 

[TheDalek079]

Don't have to pay Tax in France as sportsmen are classified as 'entertainers'.

heard something similar, but can't remember if its France or Ireland.

 

[bazza]

heard something similar, but can't remember if its France or Ireland.

Ask Bono

 

[Perth Red]

"State of Origin" is the pinnacle of any code, and with that comes the NRL as the premier comp to ply your trade, playing against the best we will ever see, against the best.

I mean have a look at the way the Kangaroos disposed of the Kiwis in the last world cup. ? Sonny Bill was their, a pedestrian i might add.

lol, you sound like an american with their BS world series. There are a number of top thirty players in the world not eligible for origin so how can it be the best v the best? Even RL fans in this part of the world outside of the two states involved have just a passing interest.

In reality you can develop in the NRL, leave at 24 to earn serious money in Union, become an Olympian, play in the RUWC that is a much higher profile global event than SOO and still come back to RL at 29 and be welcomed back with open arms, a big cheque and a job after playing in the media.

Don;t blame the players, it's what I would do if I'm honest and i hate Union with a passion!

 

[t-ba]

As has been stated, it's ultimately unsustainable for the clubs, but I don't think the players give a shit. However, the money in the NRL is actually sustainable and long term only the absolute upper crust of European RU will be able to compete. USAP, which is a genuinely well supported club with a strong community footprint is in major trouble, which sugar daddy clubs like Toulon can looks toward.

As for 7s, that was geniused by the IRB. Target nations like China are simply not going to bother investing in the 15 man game and it will steadily bleed that code. Much like 20/20 is steadily eroding the other formats of cricket.

 

[Canard]

lol, you sound like an american with their BS world series. There are a number of top thirty players in the world not eligible for origin so how can it be the best v the best? Even RL fans in this part of the world outside of the two states involved have just a passing interest.

In reality you can develop in the NRL, leave at 24 to earn serious money in Union, become an Olympian, play in the RUWC that is a much higher profile global event than SOO and still come back to RL at 29 and be welcomed back with open arms, a big cheque and a job after playing in the media.

Don;t blame the players, it's what I would do if I'm honest and i hate Union with a passion!

It pains me to say it, but I have to agree with the above, except for the Olympic thing which I think is overblown.

But how many players are they going to poach in reality? Very few to be concerned about I would speculate.

 

[Perth Red]

correct, if it was a real threat we would seen a heck of a lot more of our top talent leaving. We have had what, 5 maybe 6 in a decade go over? Hardly code in crisis time!

 

[Spot On]

That Remi Castoff form the Roosters would have to be an absolute massive target for French Rugby wouldn't he???? He's the star player in the current NRL Premiers team and is, of course, a favourite of Alberts.

 

[docbrown]

correct, if it was a real threat we would seen a heck of a lot more of our top talent leaving. We have had what, 5 maybe 6 in a decade go over? Hardly code in crisis time!

Because at the end of the day it's still a big decision and a big risk for any player - everyday joe or superstar - to disrupt their life, family and career and move to the other side of the world and play a new sport. However it's probably a different story for English Super League players.

Now maybe if Super Rugby were offering the same kind of dollars it might have an impact on the NRL but at the moment they're too busy passing the collection plate around...

Olympics 7s offers a different impact but again the number of league players who would be willing to convert on the off chance of being part of a team that plays at the Olympics every 4 years is going to be small. I would also feel sorry for any union players who played the game their whole life only to be dropped at the last minute for a ring-in.

 

[Perth Red]

I can see more and more the $BW situation where plays chop and change to coincide with the big events. RU till after the RUWC then RL till after the RLWC then back to union for olympics etc. Best way of addressing this is growing the Int game for all countries not just NZ,Eng and Aus. More meaningful int competitions such as Ashes tours again and building the RLWC to something that is the pinancle of the game. All the time the strongest nation considers games between two states the biggest the lure of Int Union will cost the RL.

re SL, very unlikely any English SL players would move to French RU, again the threat isn;t from there, it is from the English RU clubs and even then the numbers moving are very small. The NRL represents a far bigger threat to ESL and union.

 

[docbrown]

I can see more and more the $BW situation where plays chop and change to coincide with the big events. RU till after the RUWC then RL till after the RLWC then back to union for olympics etc.

re SL, very unlikely any English SL players would move to French RU, again the threat isn;t from there, it is from the English RU clubs and even then the numbers moving are very small. The NRL represents a far bigger threat to ESL and union.

I actually agree with that and I also suggest though it's going to continue being a very minor % of players with a very minor impact on the NRL. Even if it's a mega star SBW type that does go where the money is, all that happens is next year some new player become the NEW SBW.

If a mass exodus of SL players to NRL ever did occur (I doubt it will though) then you'd hope the two leagues would be smart enough to communicate and stop the problem before it damaged the game overall.

The NRL has a world of rugby union players to poach. It doesn't need to mess with SL.

 

[hutch]

I actually agree with that and I also suggest though it's going to continue being a very minor % of players with a very minor impact on the NRL. Even if it's a mega star SBW type that does go where the money is, all that happens is next year some new player become the NEW SBW.

If a mass exodus of SL players to NRL ever did occur (I doubt it will though) then you'd hope the two leagues would be smart enough to communicate and stop the problem before it damaged the game overall.

The NRL has a world of rugby union players to poach. It doesn't need to mess with SL.

Do you think the nrl cares about the game overall or just the nrl (and origin)? If they cared about the sport of rugby league above all else, there is a hell of a lot more they should be doing to develop it.

 

[docbrown]

Do you think the nrl cares about the game overall or just the nrl (and origin)? If they cared about the sport of rugby league above all else, there is a hell of a lot more they should be doing to develop it.

I think the attitude is changing albeit slowly

 

[hutch]

I think the attitude is changing albeit slowly

I thought it was too. It has definately improved, but has a long, long way to go.

There was meant go be an ashes series next year with Great Britain touring for the first time in a long time but it looks like it won't go ahead to give the nrl players time off for an off season. What a joke!

 

[docbrown]

There was meant go be an ashes series next year with Great Britain touring for the first time in a long time but it looks like it won't go ahead to give the nrl players time off for an off season. What a joke!

Yeah well I'm actually in agreement with you on that.

You can't increase the popularity of international rugby league if arguably the biggest team in the world doesn't even play.

 

[supercharger]

As for 7s, that was geniused by the IRB. Target nations like China are simply not going to bother investing in the 15 man game and it will steadily bleed that code. Much like 20/20 is steadily eroding the other formats of cricket.

Absolutely but the irb were desperate to be part of the olympic program, something they would never achieve with 15-a-side

 

[BunniesMan]

There's more money in French Union than Australian League. End of story. And I'm someone who has no interest in Union but anyone who wants to acknowledge facts must admit French and English Union are financially the biggest rugby comps in the world.

Private investment is just as important as external tv income. The owners spend the same money the tv execs do.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Private investment is just as important as external tv income. The owners spend the same money the tv execs do.

Except when you end up with something similar to whats happening with Tinkler, and something similar could end up happening to Souths if Russell was ever to leave and put Souths on the hook for debts accrued. Much better to not rely on private investment for half your capital.