a) Read the quote below "back on thread" the thread tile is Lee Smith ????

b) "petty attempts" "having a dig" ....pot kettle black.... [iAgain[/i

c) Your earlier post also refers to "players" [ipsst in the plural[/i and is a clear knee jerk over reaction to Smiths unsubstantiated article.

We have established NO PLAYERS have left to the RU yet this season and in recent times its limited to only one or two up and coming players at most.

Just been offered a new 2 year contract by the Falcons so obviously doing well there & well thought of.
Good luck to him & to us since it has allowed Hall to develop.
That is what will happen if Smith goes, someone else will step up to the mark.

Once again for the hard of reading

WHERE DID I SAY RECENT TIMES?

So in your opinion it is perfectly acceptable for the RFU to plunder our player pool?

P.S. download Firefox, it has a spell-checker.

VERY WELL THEN GIVE DETAILS OF ALL THE RL PLAYERS POACHED ???
TO RU.

In comparison I am confident the RL game is the true poacher.


Your question is irrelevant RU is an open pro game and perfectly entitled to seek players from whatever source.

Personally I think its a generally a huge mistake for "younger" players.

I suppose the answer has to be YES but my arguement is its a purely hypothetical situation ATM anyway.

Smith nor anyone else have gone yet this season nor has there been a huge exodus in previous years so my question is why the over reaction???

The RU has a huge pool of young players and would be welladvised to us this resource. Attempting to buy instant success with RL players is usually a receipe for failure IMHO.

a al..... Harris and Farrell

It’s immaterial over what time period we are talking about – the suggestion that another RL prodigy can be blatantly poached just because the RFU has a virtually bottomless purse provoked my ‘over reaction’.

In the market sector I work in head-hunting happens frequently but in most cases the current employer can make a contra-offer to retain the services of the potential poachee. This happens because the poachers can’t offer preposterously over the market rate wages to tempt away staff.

The RFL can’t afford to make equal contra-offers and the RFU know it.

This is what es me off.

In am not convinced that statement is true but I assume they have more sense than to venture down that particualr raod anyway.

So are you arguing we (RL) should enter into a wages spiral competition that the game cant afford anyway ???

Not at all – I know there is nothing we can do to prevent RL players getting nicked and it’s annoying to say the least.

But thats my point ...they arent currently being nicked poached bribed......as we have clearly established.....

OK but I cant bring to mind any huge RU successes in that respect nor any huge outcry from RL clubs

surely you dont include Harris or Farrell.

From what I remember the Harris situation was that for the 800K Leeds received it was just good business.

Farrell IIRC was perceived has just cashing in for his pension.

Walker was generally acknowledged as a huge mistake.

Yes it may be seen as unfair but in general the RL game as been well compensated for any loss as I presume will also be the case with Smith IF it turns out to be true.

It would be a wee bit hypocritical of RL to complain too loudly given the imbalance in the overall situation ie RU stars to RL in the past.

If the boots on the other foot now we can hardly maon can we ????

Yes it is.

What do you want, the kind of under-hand, immoral and possibly illegal acts the RU used to employ before professionalism to prevent young players the freedom to choose their sport?

I don't see that we currently have a problem than needs any action whatsoever.