Barbarians

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by Frizzed, Nov 21, 2011.

  1. Farny AP Farnsworth

    Tomkins has signed a clause stopping him from even talking to union clubs for the next 3 years.
    His club aren't just allowing it, they're positively welcoming it as good publicity.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2011
  2. Speirz DG Speirs

    That sounds like a really stupid view for his club to take. Union has far more to gain and a lot less to lose by him playing in the match.
     
  3. Fiery GR Smith

    :confused: Just nah
     
  4. Fiery GR Smith

    Rogers, Tuqiri and Sailor were union players at the time, Tomkins inclusion is unique as he is a current English league international.
     
  5. Farny AP Farnsworth

    I don't think those two sentences are related at all. Union does have a lot to gain from his inclusion, but why does that concern Wigan? It's a question of whether Wigan have more to gain than they have to lose by him playing, which they obviously do.
     
  6. Speirz DG Speirs

    I really don't think they do. Maybe the code rivalry isn't as big there as it is here, but there's no way that Billy Slater doing the same thing would be looked as a good thing for Melbourne or rugby league. If he gets injured, it fucks Wigan over. If he plays poorly, it reflects badly on Wigan and the code. If he plays well, it simply highlights the potential some league players could have in union and gives Tomkins a taste of something different. The positive that it might show off the skill of a league player and attract fans to the sport is minor in comparison IMO.
     
  7. Frizzed WC Welker

    Why can't Barbarians just select a Union fullback ?

    None as good as a League player ?
     
  8. Mike ML Martyn

    Toeava is in the team.
     
  9. Farny AP Farnsworth

    Here, union is much bigger than league. Tomkins has his clause that stops him from talking to union clubs, so Wigan aren't in danger of losing him to union, but if they did, they'd stand to gain more than enough money for it to be beneficial to them. If he plays badly, the union fans watching simply continue to not be interested in league. If he plays well, he's advertised himself (and his sport) to a far larger crowd/market than you'd ever get access to through rugby league in England, which is essentially a small minority sport.
     

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