80-nil and the other big one about a fortnight after was pressure enough.

I meant he'd have had seasons of pressure before. Also didn't Johnson go straight after the 80-0? I think Clive Griffiths was in charge for the one that came just after.

Also can you imagine how long the thread would be on here, about Bateman's departure, given that we wanted to halve his salary or whatever?

I wonder what rumours you would have brought us if the forum had been round then, duckie? Will Carling signed, sealed and delivered but the deal fell through at the last minute.

What makes you think that was a rumour...
I for one saw a vehicle with his name on it around town (ok it was only his surname and it looked like a beer delivery van but what could have been more fitting a carriage for an RU player in those days, or indeed for quite a few RL players).

Parked along lovers lane with a pair a crystal shoes akimbo at the rear window!

There WAS a rumour that one of the RL clubs were siffing round Carling (Leeds??), but old William was made "comfortable" by the RFU, if you know what I mean

Complete codswallop I know for a fact that RU has always been above board and totally amateur.

I'm sorry for that.
A cheque for £300 has been left in your trainers

Post dated gift before this conversation had even taken place.

No problem although my usual fee is only £275 in a brown envelope of course plus all the dandelion and burdock I can carry in a green wellington

I read something Carling said about this, he did get approached by league clubs but he thought 'going north' would just mean having everyone in league smashing him to prove a point. Which is probably a fair point - he would have been seen as the ultimate representation of the RU establishment (even though he ended up annoying the RU establishment).

Also regardless of whether or not RU was paying its players, remember that back then, other than Wigan most of the RL teams were semi-pro anyway, it's not like they were paying life changing sums of money. Turning pro was more attractive for Welsh working class lads than university-educated middle Englanders, who had side careers away from rugby anyway, and for whom England RU call ups were a good way of raising their profile and giving them networking advantages for their future careers in consultancy / media etc. Imagine the events they would get invited to and the hobknobbing they could do with rich clients. Why would you give that up to play league and have Des Drummond tackle you with his head and get abuse by a load of northerners.

Roach wasn't great, he was e.