this

The sheer instead of Ths heer.

C'mon, you should have got that, he almost turned it Yorkshire for you T'sheer

On what grounds are you classing most of the England team and staff as being incompetent?

How would you judge Atkins' competency on those grounds?

They can mean the best part of a million quid. Leeds got £800k for Harris, Wigan got £900k for Robinson and £750k for Tuigamala, they wouldn't have got that if the players weren't on long contracts.

On the grounds of recent results, sir.

The team aren't very well organised or disciplined. I also, personally, have no faith in McBanana or his selection choices. I know I wouldn't want to be a team with Ryan Bailey.I was speculating that Atkins may feel similiarly.

There is nothing to be gained from international rugby except a abuse, a good hiding and a holiday and, as he won't get a holiday, I can see why Atkins may have packed in the idea.

They (RU) may well come calling.
ATEOTD, our club (and other clubs) own the contracts to these (promising) players, and as Sally says, the club will get recompence, should RU 'dangle the carrot'
They get the player they want
The player doubles his dosh overnight
The club gets lavishly compensated for the loss of the player
A youngster (hopefully) moves one place up the pecking order.
We wake up the following day, and RL is still here.
As Del Trotter would say "Every One's a Winner...pot pourri"

As a sport, we've got to (through gritted teeth) realise that kick and clap is a much bigger sport than ours, now. They can 'rape and pillage' our best players, as we did to them for decades. It's called life. Deal with it. Until league starts getting huge crowds for 75% of SL teams. Until we get decent attendances for our internationals. Until the Southern based media ('cos that's all it is now. There aren't many newspapers with sportsdesks/offices in Manchester anymore) wakes up and aknowledges our sport, I'm afraid we're 'p1551ng in the wind'
RU has huge financial clout.
RUs Sky deal is better.