English man in France

Professional rugby has only been around for fifteen years. It is still feeling its way. The current crisis is in the conflict between club and country. The situation at the moment is that English rugby has a number of internationals both past, present and fringe on their way to France to play rugby. The England management team has issued a strong statement of the order that any player going to France to play will be seriously compromising their international future. Really saying that you go to France to play and you will not play for England.

I think the England management team have got this wrong. The consequences of this are that the England management may be losing some of there best players or even players that could be vital as squad members. England management are also being unfair.

The life of a professional rugby player is short and not profitable. Compared to a professional football player in the English premier league a rugby player is remunerated poorly. They are subject to a salary cap, which I agree with as the game would go bust without it. A rugby player should have the right to earn and earn well they are a long time retired. France will always have the earning power ten times that of England because clubs do not pay for the grounds they play in they in. Many are Stade Municipal and free for rugby clubs. Money only goes on wages. In England the game does not work that way and thank god for the salary cap otherwise the game would be dominated by the richest clubs.

England rugby management will pick the French based players it is a matter of need. If Jonny Wilkinson goes to Toulon and has a great season he will be selected as any country not even England with the biggest player base in the game have enough quality to play international rugby or more importantly win the would cup. French rugby maybe beneficial for some players it is tough and uncompromising based in the regionalism of France. The club is the king of the town and that means any player playing for the club must be totally committed to the club over and above country.

There is a tremendous furore that players are playing too much. A strike was narrowly avoided between the England management and the clubs over allowing players to play what they forgot was that players have the right to earn and if a player want to earn and earn well why not? Players know if they are playing too much and know if a move is wrong the French experience maybe exactly what the England teams need a different style of play and coaching maybe the stimulus that drives the England team to success. Why? French rugby is known for the excitement for its back play English rugby is not in fact it is mainly known for solid play and no flair. If English players are exposed to the French style of play surely it will benefit the game, There will be no mass exodus of players from England as in the history professional sport this has never happened.