On the contrary, what Kyle probably wants is to be released with the entirety of his contract paid up. Saints will want to terminate his contract so they can offload him for free.

Somewhere in the middle.

I don't remember any direct quotes from him prior to the signing being announced, so I don't see how [ihe[/i has conducted the transfer through the media.

It looks to me like he's been given bad advice and made himself look an afterwards, I'm even doubtful over the interview. How has it been cut? What is the editor's agenda? Views on the website afterwards? They got that. What if he said 'RU is a bigger game, but I'll always be grateful to RL' and the second bit is cut? The media's job is to sensationalise and I'll bet the editor knew that there was plenty of anger directed towards Eastmond by Saints fans. Of course he could have been told 'RL fans hate you anyway, butter up your future employers.' Or he could genuinely believe that RU is a bigger game.

He walked off after the Wire game after getting abuse, he took himself away from the situation, I'll bet that plenty of those shouting loudest about him not clapping them where venting their spleen during the game and would have done more had he stayed on the pitch. He made a gesture after the Quins game, when he'd received more abuse (I heard some of it due to it being quiet, I bet I didn't hear all of it), which has been reported on here that a player said it was to say he'd gone for the money. He'd have been better to do nothing, but he's a 22 year old bloke receiving screaming vitriol from 30+ year old men and women, how many others wouldn't react? They are sportsmen, not angels.

There may be numerous reasons for the way he is playing, form, fitness, inexperience, coaching, the way the coach has set up the team, and yes, even a fear of injury. But of course the fear of injury and not trying come to the fore, because that's the easiest way of fans to justify themselves to shout more abuse at him.

He's not helped himself, but he's also probably not deserved all of the criticsm thrown his way.

I actually feel quite sorry for Kyle Eastmond. At the end of the day, he's only human and to be getting vile abuse from his own fans every time he takes to the pitch is bound to frustrate him. When he's on the pitch in your team's shirt you should support him - he's hardly gonna have a stormer of a game when he's getting called every name under the sun, is he?

At the end of the day - if you're going to sign for a union club mid way through a league season, you're going to have to come out fighting in your next few appearances to prove your heart is still in it.

It would be very easy to prove too. Take the ball up more than you usually would. Make consecutive tackles in a set. Clap the crowd (regardless of what you're hearing). Just generally put in as much effort as you can - RL fans recognise effort.

What you can't do is the bare minimum, run off the pitch without acknowledging the fans (or worse make gestures) and expect everybody to clap you off the pitch and wish you well. He's brought a very large proportion of the stick on himself and I can't say I feel too sorry for him.

Being young is no excuse, we have other young players who do and always have handled themselves better than Kyle, even before his signing for Bath.

A bit of humility and effort and he could have made it through the season, made a contribution, and left with mostly well wishes. Unfortunately, he appears too self involved to appreciate how he should behave in the circumstances.

Sums it up perfectly

That pretty much sums up my opinion of the matter.

Spot on.

I agree with all of that, bar the leaving with mostly well wishes, have you seen the comments on the clubs official facebook page? A lot of our fans appear to be knuckle dragging idiots.

I also think that the fact he has wanted to go, rather than us binning him, has had an impact on the reaction of fans to him.

FearTheVee has got it spot on

I also think having him around the club is having an affect on the other players. Clearly if he's not playing well in a pivotal role then the knock on effect is on the other players who rely on him once the forwards have done their work

I think thats just a case of a vocal minority

You obviously don't sit near me.

I think that Kyle has not done a great deal wrong*. If Leon had been playing this year then Kyle would have looked a lot better than he has. People are expecting him to suddenly become the pivot player for the team, which he never has been.

OK he has avoided getting tackled this year, but he did the same at the end of last year. He is simply trying to avoid injury while he getting back into playing first team rugby. If he gets squashed again the moronic "Eastmond Drogba" comments would be on here again.

On the other hand I think there is little point in him staying as we will just have to find a new half back combination next year. This will just make our transitional period a year longer. Better to get shut now and see what Gary, Jonny and Lee can do.

* Edit...on the field