The biggest rugby news story in English rugby is Wasps moving from Adams Park in High Wycombe to Coventry City’s Ricoh Area. Two years ago the two – time European champions came close to going bankrupt, but now they have signed a deal with Coventry City Council worth £19 million and will play their first game at their new ground in December.
This deal will bring many positives the major one being
stability plus they can now compete with the likes of Saracens and Bath to
bring in big – money signings so they can compete in the play – offs and
championships again. Wasps one big hope is getting England Lock Joe Laurchbury
to sign a new deal and reject interest from Aviva Premiership rivals Saracens.
Director of rugby Dai Young believes the move will convince
Laurchbury they’re an ambitious club saying “We’ve had have to demonstrate
certain things to Joe to make his decision easier, he wanted to know that we’re
an ambitious club, that we will attract players and improve the squad and that
we won’t overplay him.
“He’s not demanding that we win things, but certainly that
we compete and on top of that he wants clear evidence that we’re sustainable. I
think we’ve pretty much ticked all those boxes now.
“Discussions are ongoing, but we expect to put this to bed
in the next month to six weeks. If it goes any longer you have to expect the
worst” admitted Young.
However, I do expect the worst I think Laurchbury will move
to Saracens because he can become a leader and future captain and be referred
as a Sarries legend like Steve Borthwick also I think it’s the being overplayed
which is going to be a huge factor in the contract talks because joining a club
like Saracens, they have a massive squad and he’ll be able to play but also be
rested for big European games and more importantly be fully fit for England.
Also, while the whole management team is celebrating,
there’s one huge group of people they’ve forgotten which is the fans. The Adams
Park faithful will be protesting during this Sunday’s clash against Bath
however, it’s a bit late for a protest, but I don’t blame them moving from
their home of 12 years to move to Coventry of all places.
I’m just hoping the management will offer fans cheaper
tickets and some sort of transport have to be some sort of discount rail card
or a coach service from Adams Park.
European Champions Cup launch
Meanwhile English clubs were at the launch of the Champions
Cup and the tournament organisers have promised more money to England’s Aviva
Preimership clubs and more attractive competition for fans.
The popular tournament – formerly the Heinekin Cup – was close
to folding last season due to a bitter dispute over the distribution of revenue
after English clubs thought the terms were grossly unfair and refused to
continue.
This tournament looks set to be the European tournament ever
as under the format, there’s no easy games and is set to excite fans also the
tournament organisers are also pushing for an end of season clash between the
ERCC winners and the Southern hemisphere’s Super Rugby competition.
You can watch the first round of the Champions Cup next week
live on BT Sport and Sky.
One last Shark song for a legend winger
Sale Shark winger Mark Cueto is set to retire after a
stellar 15 year career.
Cueto has lifted the Premiership trophy and two European
Shields while joining England’s exclusive 50 cap club, played two World Cups
with his most rememberable being the non try against South Africa in the 2007
World Cup final and he has also been a British Lion.
The 34 year old thinks this is his last season, but admits “I’m
not really looking at rugby beyond this season. Obviously, if you reward 12 months
ago I thought then it was my last season but after getting off to a good start
it was hard not to look at another year.
“But, realistically, I think this will be my last season,
particularly at the moment with the way I’m feeling. I’m 35 at Christmas and
maybe it’s time I hung my boots up.”
The England legend thinks the youth players will be able to
take his place “We’ve got plenty of young kids here that are showing a lot of
potential and hopefully they could slot in.”
However, before prepares for life out of rugby Cueto wants to
write one last memorable chapter for himself and a Sale team whom he has served
since 2001 being a 20 year old rookie.
Round Six
fixtures
Leicester
Tigers v Harlequins (BT Sport)
London Welsh
v Newcastle Falcons
Exeter Chiefs
v London Irish
Saracens v
Gloucester Rugby
Northampton
Saints v Sale Sharks (BT Sport)
Wasps v Bath
Rugby (BT Sport)
If you want
to catch up on last weekend's fixtures – http://donttouchtheball.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/aviva-premiership-round-5-round-up.html
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