By the time you read this the Steffon Armitage saga may well have moved on, although somehow I very much doubt it. At some point on Monday evening this week (or possibly early Tuesday morning) although the timing doesn’t really matter, it transpired that Steffon Armitage might be heading back home to play and have the opportunity to be picked in the England Elite squad for the autumn internationals and ultimately the Rugby World Cup. The media (real and social) was buzzing (although mainly twittering) with rumours, initially that there were three or four Premiership sides in the running to sign him. It rapidly emerged, however, that it was Bath who were the club who were really in the frame. At one point it was even suggested that a deal to release the player from Toulon might even be completed by lunchtime. Suggesting that Steffon would be on the plane (or train) up to Glasgow with the rest of the Bath team to play in the Champions’ Cup this weekend.
Of course this all collapsed before tea time, and the prospect of England being able to select the ‘best player in Europe’ disappeared faster than Nick Clegg’s pledges.
It transpires that although Bath had agreed on wages with the player and Toulon were prepared to release him from his contract, the RFU were adamant about not helping out financially with the fee demanded by Toulon. They were equally inflexible in refusing to help the same club when they negotiated the recruitment of big Sam Burgess from the Sydney Rabbitohs. I understand that the reason for this is that the blokes in charge at the RFU don’t want to be seen to favour one particular club. Would that be the one particular club who are trying to get top England players into the Premiership? Strikes me, (as no doubt the posh chaps at Twickenham would probably like to do), that this is the sort of move that you should definitely support. Rather than worry about favouring one club, you could actually prompt other Premiership teams to chase guys who might just help England’s bid for glory next winter. Sam Tomkins is rumoured to be returning to England from New Zealand – I can’t believe that Bruce Craig at Bath is the only owner who would love to have him available.
Sir Clive Woodward has chucked in his two pennyworth – the mandarins based in TW7 2BA might just remember him – he’s the bloke who actually brought the thing home from 12,000 miles away, so he didn’t have the luxury of home advantage. If Sir Clive reckons we should do everything we can to get Steffon Armitage into an England shirt (even the one with the latest stupid design) then it’s just possible that the man might be worth listening to don’t you think? If the RFU refuse to do everything they can to give England the best chance to win the Webb Ellis Cup on 31st October 2015 they will be letting a golden opportunity go begging. Still, as Basil Fawlty said “You know best dear”. This rant has been brought to you by rugbyoldbloke – the funny bits (at least they are meant to be) can be found at www.rugbyoldbloke.wordpress.com But, unlike this, it tends not to be U certificate stuff! Thanks for reading (or Reading if you’re a London Irish fan)
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