Rugby's Money Influence Edging Toward a Worrying State
"Money makes the world go round" is a mantra by which rugby looked to have avoided abiding, but developments over the last few years would suggest even the most noble professions succumb eventually.
For a long time and even for the first phase of rugby's professional era, clubs and regions largely got by on homegrown talent; it was a simpler time not complicated by television sponsorships and broadcasting rights.
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Fast forward to 2015 and the announcement of Adam Jones' impending departure for Harlequins at the end of this season has interim Cardiff Blues boss Dale McIntosh in a stir.
Reviving the old debate regarding ownership, money distribution and the unfair fight between Aviva Premiership clubs and the Welsh regions, McIntosh is quoted by BBC Sport (h/t ESPN Scrum) as saying:
"As hard as we are trying to retain players, we are getting bullied by the bigger clubs. It's disappointing, but unfortunately budget is accountable for a lot. Adam has got a family, he's on the downward slope in accordance to the time he's played rugby, so therefore he needs to cash in. If that's the right thing to do for Adam, good on him.
He leaves here with the utmost dignity and respect he had that he came through the door with. We need to invest but we need to invest in the future. Perhaps Adam is not the future.
"
It's no secret that Wales' regions are currently engaged in arguably the largest plight of any European power, which makes their ongoing quality at the international level somewhat amazing in truth.
Dwindling attendances and the struggle to divert their stars' attentions from the more lucrative deals in England and France, the Welsh regions are even competing alongside Championship-standard wages, says the Western Mail's Simon Thomas:
Among Pro12 clubs, Scotland and Italy are perhaps the only comparable nations in terms of similar struggles to retain their biggest talents. It was recently announced that Azzurri star Michele Campagnaro will join Exeter Chiefs next season, while Glasgow Warriors are currently the powerhouse of the north.
For their part, the Irish provinces have done a brilliant job of ensuring their major figures stick with the IRFU, save for the example of Johnny Sexton, who's set for a return to Leinster in any case.
That leaves England and France as the prevailing powers of European rugby at present, the financial "fat cats" able to offer such lucrative ventures who, by no small coincidence, account for seven of the eight quarter-final places in this term's European Rugby Champions Cup.
As if the grip on the continent didn't seem domineering enough, ESPN Scrum reports the new BT broadcasting deal, confirmed earlier in March, could lead to the Premiership's salary cap rising in 2016:
According to the report, there would be a rise on the Premiership's current cap of £5.1 million and clubs would be permitted two "marquee players," players whose salaries wouldn't be accounted for in the restrictions.
The Top 14 is portrayed as the other villain in Europe's rugby pantomime, but Rugby World's Gavin Mortimer recently wrote of the league's firm punishments for those outfits who dare step outside their limits.
However, Mortimer goes on to tell of the incentive system France's giants use to lure their talismanic talents. Therein, Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal explains Jonny Wilkinson's old deal included extras for any merchandise sold with his number 10, while Dan Carter—arriving at Racing Metro next season—will receive €300,000 in image rights to go along with his €500,000 salary.
It's a game the clubs of Wales, Italy and Scotland simply can't play. Of course, it's not the concern of the Premiership and Top 14 to play fair, but Andy Howell of Wales Online describes just how far off the regions sit from their cross-border rivals:
England and France may well have little sympathy for their European foes, these clubs lacking in their southern-hemisphere icons and "wasting their time" in nurturing homegrown heroes. How foolish.
But what choice is there? It wasn't long ago that Ospreys were up there as European contenders, able to contest with whatever prospects were offered elsewhere on the continent, but the landscape has and very much still is morphing.
If we're to look to the southern hemisphere as a blueprint, Super Rugby may have the general idea down to a tee. Feeder competitions like the ITM Cup and Currie Cup pave the way for emerging talents to earn Super Rugby deals, more often than not within their native regions.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work quite so easily north of the equator, and although the television rights agreement provided a momentary lull in frustrations, revolution is still needed for the sake of competition.
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