European Club Rugby
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@machpants I see Brad Shields is his team's captain so once again keeps Vaea FIfita, who has been named to start at lock, out of the number six jersey for Wasps season opening game against Bristol. It is being televised live on one of the ky Sports channels starting at 1.55am for any night owls wanting to watch.
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Saracens to be taken over by consortium in £32m deal that will end Nigel Wray’s ownership
Saracens taken over by consortium in £32m deal that ends Nigel Wray’s ownership
The consortium includes Francois Pienaar while the president of Roc Nation, an agency founded by Jay-Z, will join the club as an adviser
(likely paywalled) "Saracens are to be taken over by an investment consortium that includes former World Cup winning-captain Francois Pienaar in a £32 million deal that will secure the long-term future of the club and bring to an end Nigel Wray’s 26-year ownership.
The consortium is headed up by Dominic Silvester, the chief executive of a global insurance company who has had a long-standing connection with the club, and also includes Marco Masotti, the New York-based owner of the Sharks, the South African franchise.
The deal will also see Maggie Alphonsi, the former England Women’s World Cup winner and former Saracens player join the board. It is understood that Michael Yormark, the president of Roc Nation, an entertainment and talent agency founded by Jay-Z, the rapper, will also join the club as a special adviser.
The deal will come as a watershed moment for the club who have won the Premiership five times as well as three European titles but saw their achievements and reputation tarnished by the salary cap breaches over three seasons that saw them relegated to the Championship last season and fined £5.36 million.
Wray’s daughter, Lucy, is to remain as the club’s chief executive but her father will effectively cede all control as the issuing of equity to the consortium will leave him as a minority shareholder and it is understood he intends to be a passive investor with no input to decisions.
The cash injection will enable the club to cover the costs of completing the new west stand development at the StoneX stadium in north London while the investors are keen to develop the women’s team while there is also a longer term goal to build a high performance centre at the complex. Saracens currently train at Old Albanian, a club just north of St Albans.
Wray, who first invested in the club in 1995, had been looking for new investment in the club since it was rocked by the salary cap scandal in 2019, which saw the three times European champions relegated to the champions last season. He held discussions with executives from private investment firm MSD Capital during the summer but the deal fell through.
The new consortium also includes Paul O'Shea, who works with Silvester, Nick Leslau, a property entrepreneur and current chairman Neil Golding, a partner at law firm Freshfields, who was brought in to replace Wray as chairman 20 months ago overhaul the club following their salary cap sanctions. The details of the takeover are expected to be announced on Saturday morning before the club’s match against Leicester Tigers. The consortium will then seek approval for the takeover from the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby."
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@l_n_p said in NH club rugby:
Saracens to be taken over by consortium in £32m deal that will end Nigel Wray’s ownership
Saracens taken over by consortium in £32m deal that ends Nigel Wray’s ownership
The consortium includes Francois Pienaar while the president of Roc Nation, an agency founded by Jay-Z, will join the club as an adviser
(likely paywalled) "Saracens are to be taken over by an investment consortium that includes former World Cup winning-captain Francois Pienaar in a £32 million deal that will secure the long-term future of the club and bring to an end Nigel Wray’s 26-year ownership.
The consortium is headed up by Dominic Silvester, the chief executive of a global insurance company who has had a long-standing connection with the club, and also includes Marco Masotti, the New York-based owner of the Sharks, the South African franchise.
The deal will also see Maggie Alphonsi, the former England Women’s World Cup winner and former Saracens player join the board. It is understood that Michael Yormark, the president of Roc Nation, an entertainment and talent agency founded by Jay-Z, the rapper, will also join the club as a special adviser.
The deal will come as a watershed moment for the club who have won the Premiership five times as well as three European titles but saw their achievements and reputation tarnished by the salary cap breaches over three seasons that saw them relegated to the Championship last season and fined £5.36 million.
Wray’s daughter, Lucy, is to remain as the club’s chief executive but her father will effectively cede all control as the issuing of equity to the consortium will leave him as a minority shareholder and it is understood he intends to be a passive investor with no input to decisions.
The cash injection will enable the club to cover the costs of completing the new west stand development at the StoneX stadium in north London while the investors are keen to develop the women’s team while there is also a longer term goal to build a high performance centre at the complex. Saracens currently train at Old Albanian, a club just north of St Albans.
Wray, who first invested in the club in 1995, had been looking for new investment in the club since it was rocked by the salary cap scandal in 2019, which saw the three times European champions relegated to the champions last season. He held discussions with executives from private investment firm MSD Capital during the summer but the deal fell through.
The new consortium also includes Paul O'Shea, who works with Silvester, Nick Leslau, a property entrepreneur and current chairman Neil Golding, a partner at law firm Freshfields, who was brought in to replace Wray as chairman 20 months ago overhaul the club following their salary cap sanctions. The details of the takeover are expected to be announced on Saturday morning before the club’s match against Leicester Tigers. The consortium will then seek approval for the takeover from the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby."
It we'll be the only South African club in the NH capable of winning a game
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@machpants said in NH club rugby:
It we'll be the only South African club in the NH capable of winning a game
Probably!! I had to check but Saraceren's had 50% SA ownership anyway from 2009-2018 via Remegro who sold out prior to the salary cap scandal, Wray had to buy them out.Saracens lost depth when they went down, have re-assembled some of it via one-season loan arrangements.
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Harlequins look top 3 at Super Rugby Aoteroa level, that's a big compliment from me.
Just watched Harlequins vs Bristol and ... I highly (highly) recommend it, especially the second half. PM me if you want a "sauce" to download the full-game.
Brief thoughts and observations -
Harlequins
- Harlequins are playing rugby the way it's meant to be played. Really good stuff to watch.
- Marcus Smith is the real deal at 22. F**k me I don't want to hype him, but I mean the real real deal. Composed, has all the skills, brave but will need to bulk up for the top level because he's gonna be targetted like hell. I've only seen one or two better young tens and you can guess who at least one is, right?
- Even more impressive is Smith has Danny Care at nine who (on this game) looked like a second-rate TJP. And I don't mean that in a good way
- Surprised and really impressed by Louis Lynagh. Plays like a SH winger, well-rounded and lots of skill ... seems to kick well, pass well, make the right decisions at the right time. Think Cory Jane or Andrew Kellaway with time. No fricken idea how he'd go for England given the gameplay style but reckon he'd be a real asset for the Wallabies, totally wasted with Italy.
- Alex Dombrant showed really lovely skills at eight. Again I can see him easily in a SRA side(+?) but NH has an emphasis on bulk so ... Eddie so... god knows if he'll even bench for England.
Bristol
- As a team seemed pretty out of shape and knackered after 50. Conditioning?
- Piatua seems to have lost all acceleration. Looked okayish, in an average NH kind of way.
- Luatua and Afoa not playing.
- Props seem totally surprised and at sea when they get the ball and pass it like a hot potato to ... "someone, anyone!"
- Harlequins could read their passing from deep all day long, drift their line well and ... just dismantled them the last 50-60.
- I don't know the contract's performance/exit clauses but signing Pat Lam on a new 7-year deal looks dumb. To be fair signing ANY COACH/DoR on a deal that long seems dumb to me.
Other ...
- Saw Wayne Barnes clearly communicate in-game on 50-22s or whatever they are called.
- Cracking ref (these days ) who let the game flow.
- Terrible commentary, I left the sound on only because it had a good "big game" atmosphere
Didn't think it justifies a seperate thread for a TSF audience, but I highly recommend it.
As I say, PM me if you would like a full game link and I'll happily oblige ... -
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
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@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
Blight on the game at the moment. Too many players and members of coaching team wired up and getting involved. The refs have enough to do without monitoring them as well.
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?) they are allowed to run on and slow down the game at every opportunity. Not so bad on TV when there is a chance for a quick replay of something but at the game live it totally wrecks the flow and atmosphere. -
@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
'He does not come back on the pitch' - The latest bizarre waterboy incident
Once again an incident involving a water carrier is making rugby headlines - this time in the Gallagher Premiership.
Blight on the game at the moment. Too many players and members of coaching team wired up and getting involved. The refs have enough to do without monitoring them as well.
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?) they are allowed to run on and slow down the game at every opportunity. Not so bad on TV when there is a chance for a quick replay of something but at the game live it totally wrecks the flow and atmosphere.Agree or we'll end up like NFL.
Neutral waterboys (hardly a skilled task?) and all medical staff must be "offline" ie comms via the refereering team?
Maybe one for Joe Schmidt ...
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It was a poor look for sure. Exeter on the attack close to the goal line, multiple penalties occurring, then at the latest one a Wasps player throws the ball away. Slade goes to get it and the waterboy kicks it away. Cue a big scuffle.
It’s a shame really as Wasps and Exeter have had some great matches over the last few years and the mutual respect has been clear to see. But this on top of the “cultural appropriation” questions posed by the Wasps heirachy look to have soured things somewhat.
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@crucial said in NH club rugby:
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?)
I don't get people being worried about live coaching - what's the issue there? Why does it matter? Not like at proper club level the coaches aren't sitting on the sideline talking to players.
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
“cultural appropriation”
Care to enlighten?
Exeter chiefs using American Indian Chief as their symbol, also supporters wearing faux Indian headdress. Not like Celtic Exeter had its own chiefs it could use!
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@crucial said in NH club rugby:
Aside from the live coaching aspect (which used to be banned didn't it?)
I don't get people being worried about live coaching - what's the issue there? Why does it matter? Not like at proper club level the coaches aren't sitting on the sideline talking to players.
I'm not sure it is easily managed, but my worry is the more we see it, the fewer minutes the ball will actually be in play, or the longer the game will take.
I'd say leave it to the refs to keep the game running, but that's not been the greatest solution thus far.
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@machpants said in NH club rugby:
@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
“cultural appropriation”
Care to enlighten?
Exeter chiefs using American Indian Chief as their symbol, also supporters wearing faux Indian headdress. Not like Celtic Exeter had its own chiefs it could use!
I'm pretty sure Wasps haven't signed up any actual Wasps.
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@machpants said in NH club rugby:
@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
“cultural appropriation”
Care to enlighten?
Exeter chiefs using American Indian Chief as their symbol, also supporters wearing faux Indian headdress. Not like Celtic Exeter had its own chiefs it could use!
I'm pretty sure Wasps haven't signed up any actual Wasps.
White Anglo Saxon protestants? There will be a few 😜
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@bones said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
“cultural appropriation”
Care to enlighten?
As @Machpants said. For probably around 100 years Exeter's first team were referred to as the Chiefs with the Braves being the second team. A few years back they re-branded themselves as the Exeter Chiefs, about the same time as the Leicester Tigers (always been known as Tigers due to their striped jerseys), Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons etc. The supporters have taken on this branding and many wear native american headdresses a la the 1950s US western film style. Then there is the moronic chant referred to as the Tomahawk Chop.
Wasps had decided, at board level, to question the suitability of all this in the run up to the game. The issue had been raised "by one of our supporter groups" and therefore "shouldn't be ignored". If the issue is that important why wait until the week before the game to bring it up? Why not air this at the AGM of Premiership Rugby?
Disregarding for a moment the aspect of possible cultural appropriation, it smacks of having a go at disruption before the game. Political shit-stirring.
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And the two waterboys in question (actually coaches) have been charged. By the RFU rather than the judiciary I think.
