All hope is not lost
By Citizen-Slacker
April 3 2012
It's getting to that funny point in the season, where injuries are begining to take their toll & strange things can happen, up & down the leagues. Promotions, relegations, friendly discussions with refs, silly injuries & a sending off for no foul play.
Down at Candy league level, things can get mighty strange. I half jokingly tell any new player at Gateshead that even though I am firmly ensconced in the Fourth team I tend to get one run out a season in the Twos, generally on the wing. Such was the case last weekend when I pitched up at Eastwood Gardens for a quick session in the gym, only to find myself being invited to warm the bench for the second team, then to run touch until needed. I assumed it was a friendly, until I saw the Morpeth Second team take to the pitch for their warm up. One of their second rows had the kind of tattooed arms that would have won him a role in any Bond film, playing the role of Eastern European Mafia Henchman, the kind that kills kittens for fun.
It was a gloriuously warm day, so when the match got started I was already sweating. The game ran end to end, both teams scoring & not converting a try. Gateshead did have the majority of both teritory & possesion, but a sucession of handling errors was costing them.
The second half was different story, with Gateshead soaking up all the pressure & dishing it back aplenty. The Twos' coach offered me a quick 10 minutes to finish the game, but as I pulled on a shirt & shambled on to the pitch, the ref ordered me back off, until I had removed my earings. I attempted to point out that they don't come out, but he would not relent, so I had to let the line out go whilst I (pretended to) remove the offending articles, donned my scrum cap & charged on, following the ball, & in to my first ruck, removing the opposition player who was attempting to steal. I'm not great at rugby, but I've got the hand of rucking. I enjoy it. What I didn't enjoy was dumping the Morpethian, he pulled me with him & there I was face to face with Igor, the Commie Kitten Killer. He smiled, I smiled, Morpeth scored & the game was done, Gateshead victorious.
In the bar afterwards the ref agreed that with my earings in & covered by a scrum cap I was putting no other player at risk, therefore, perhaps, should have been allowed straight on. Lesson learned, keep the cap on!
This weekend saw me pitch up at the club house having been relegated off the team sheets completely. Not even benching. The Fours were away to Gosforth, a quick chat with el Capitano & I was reinstaed to my natural position. Touch Judge at Druids Park it was.
Before we left for Gosforth there was a palpable fear of getting a stuffing. Gosforth IIs had no game you see, & not wanting to use the word ringer, it is not unusual for teams to let their better players drop a team or two when able, especially if there is still a chance of getting something out of the season. Gosforth, like many clubs though, has a large student contingent, so Gosforth Falcons only had 13 players, thus I got my starting berth on the wing. For the opposition.
Since my return to rugby, although a member of Gateshead, I have played for Winlaton, Ryton, Chester le Street & even a Belgian team, all in the name of getting a game & sportsmanship. Not to mention, for league games, the additional point we get for each of our team that plays for the opposition. Now, what with dropping a few points over the last couple of league games, two games left to play at the end of the season, it was the least I could do, take one for the team & (literally) squeeze myself in to the green & white No.14 shirt.
I had to feel sorry for the passengers on the 12.30 from Maliga, who on their return from the Med were greeted by the sight of one of our props having a pee at the side of the pitch, bodering the airport.
The game started well, with me making a couple of tackles (pretty much doubling my tally for the season) before Gateshead scored on my side. The other winger asked me to swap sides, I'm not sure if it was because he was bored or if he thought I wasn't trying hard enough, but swap I did & from the next kick off, found myself driving the ball upfield, over & through a couple of my regular team mates.
Even so, Gateshead were the better team with their set of well drilled forwards & wily backs. Come half time, the other Gateshead player who was filling in at second row for Gosforth was called back to replace an injured forward, so Gosforth were down to 14 & I was back in the front row. Despite the tightness of shirt, the props could bind on me, & we were still making a game of it.
I played the last half hour back in Gateshead coulours, even made tackles & runs (turned over twice & lost both lineouts I threw) & realised how much the weather had changed whilst stood under the posts & could see my breath in the spring sunshine. I was also struck, quite firmly, by how hard the ground was. I would have opted for the carpet burns on the artificial pitch rather than the cuts, grazing & bruising I got & did ask the ref afterwards if the ground had been that hard due to freezing would he have allowed the game to be played. No, he said, but as neither captain complained before the game he had no reason not to play, espescially as he was in trainers.
Gateshead took the day, took a bonus point for more than four tries, the additional two "fairplay" points for lending Goss players & the hunt for the top of the table is back on.
We found out in the changing room that Whitley Bay Rocliffe want to play a delayed fixture next weekend, Easter Saturday. On the one hand, two games left, at home we all want it. The chances of them turning up are 50/50, with a full compliment of players, less so. So, we hope, win points, fairplay points & worse case scenario, a win through them being unable to complete the fixture.
After a rehydration & a nice chilli in the bar I went to get back in the car that had brought me, missed the hole & smacked my head on the door frame, causing a small cut on my ear. Stupid flipping injury. The first proper blood of the day,
So, if they turn up, WBR at Eastwood Gardens, 3pm, next Saturday. That or go on an egg hunt. Can you be injured egg hunting?
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It is possible, but looks unlikely; but funny things can happen in sport....
Nunquam Dormio
I am reliably informed that the budget if in championship is higher than that, and if in prem is the full welly up to the cap.
rrect Mankey1. Reading further on in the Indy on Sunday, there is some interesting (?good) news from the Championship. Neither of the two top teams in PoolB (Pirates & Bedford) have applied to be audited for the Premiership. The two top teams in Pool A (L. Welsh & Bristol) have applied to be audited for the Premiership.
Briz's case looks good with likelihood of having primacy of tenure atthe Mem Ground.
L. Welsh are trying to develop part of Old Deer Park where their home venue is located ( Crown land and also home venue to L. Scots &Richmond). They have nominated two local stadia as home venues& a third as back up. In other words, their position looks decidely dodgy should they win the Championship.
5.3 Insolvency Event at a Club
5.3.1 Where it becomes apparent to a Club or any person concerned in the
management of that Club that an Insolvency Event is likely to occur at that
Club (or to an entity which in the RFU’s opinion is connected or associated
with the club in such a way that it is seen as being part of the Club) such Club
must notify the RFU immediately and confirm such information in writing by
letter e-mail or fax addressed to the Company Secretary and Legal Officer of
the RFU within 14 days.
5.3.2 Immediately upon an Insolvency Event occurring a Club, by its directors or
others having responsibility for the management of the Club, must notify the
RFU in writing by letter e-mail or fax addressed to the RFU’s Company
Secretary and Legal Officer.
5.3.3 Without prejudice to such other action that the RFU might take or require to be
taken and without prejudice to requirements under any other Regulation or
Rule of the RFU, in the event that an Insolvency Event occurs other than during
the Season at any Club, such Club may not commence playing in any RFU
Competition without the specific written approval of the RFU and only upon
such terms as the RFU may in its absolute discretion impose (which may
RFU REGULATION 5 – FINANCIAL 3
5
Effective from 1 August 2011
include a deduction of League points in the following Season such deduction
not to exceed the deductions set out in Regulation 5.3.4 below) in giving such
written approval.
5.3.4 Without prejudice to any other action that the RFU may take or require to be
taken, and without prejudice to requirements under any Regulation or Rule of
the RFU, in the event that a Club playing in the Premiership or the League
(other than in the Championship, in which case Regulation 5.3.7 shall apply)
suffers an Insolvency Event, that club shall suffer a points deduction equal to
one fifth of the total number of available points (including bonus points) to a
Club in the League (or Premiership, as the case may be) in which that Club
plays. By way of example, in a 16-team League, where there are a total of 150
points available, the points deduction shall be 30 points. In the case of a
fraction, the points to be deducted shall be rounded up to the nearest point.
5.3.5 If the Insolvency Event referred to in Regulation 5.3.4 occurs during a Season,
the relevant points deduction will take effect during that Season. If such
Insolvency Event occurs outside a Season, the RFU may at its discretion apply
the points deduction to the previous Season (and the League or Premiership
table of that Season shall be so amended), or may apply the deduction in the
following Season.
5.3.6 If, were the points deducted from a Club under Regulation 5.3.4 and/or 5.3.5 to
be added back to that Club’s points total at the end of the Season in which they
were deducted, that Club would have been in the relegation zone of its League
(or the Premiership, as the case may be) then the RFU shall apply that points
deduction to the following Season in addition to the Season in which it was first
applied.
5.3.7 Without prejudice to such other action as the RFU may take or require to be
taken and without prejudice to requirements under any Regulation or Rule of
the RFU in the event that an Insolvency Event occurs at a Championship Club
during the Season the Club shall suffer a deduction of League points and other
appropriate sanctions determined by the RFU as set out in Appendix 3 of this
Regulation 5.
5.3.8 Where a club suffers an Insolvency Event, provided that all outstanding
creditors of that Club are paid in full within six weeks of the Insolvency Event
occurring, that Club shall not be subject to the points deduction set out in
Regulation 5.3.4 or 5.3.7 (as applicable).
5.3.9 In the event that an Insolvency Event occurs during the Season at any Club not
playing in a League such Club shall be subject to whatever penalty the RFU
shall deem appropriate.
5.3.10 The RFU shall have the right to publish the name or names of any person who
was a director of or who was concerned in the management of any Club at the
time at which any Insolvency Event or similar event occurred or at any time in
the period of 12 months before any such Insolvency Event or similar event
occurred at that Club.
5.3.11 Any person who was a director of, or was concerned in, the management of any
Club at the time at which any Insolvency Event or similar event occurred or at
RFU REGULATION 5 – FINANCIAL 4
5
Effective from 1 August 2010
any time in the period of 12 months before any such Insolvency Event or
similar event occurred shall not be entitled to become or to remain a director of
or be concerned in the management of that or any other Club for a period of
three years from the date of the Insolvency Event unless that person shall have
shown good cause to the satisfaction of the RFU as to his/her fitness to be such
a director or involved in the management of a Club during that three year
period and the RFU has indicated its approval in writing and further no Club
shall engage elect appoint or retain any such person as a director or to fulfil any
management role within the Club without the written approval of the RFU.
5.3.12 For Clubs at Levels 1 to 6 (inclusive), if it is proposed to establish a new club
to take over the assets (including the League or Premiership position) of a Club
to which an Insolvency Event has occurred, the provisions of RFU Regulations
3.3 and 3.4 so far as applicable and the protocol set out in Appendix 2 to this
Regulation 5 must be complied with before that new club may be granted
membership of the RFU.
5.3.1
If they think insolvency is likely, they must tell the RFU.
5.3.2
If they actually go insolvent they must tell the RFU.
5.3.3
If they go bust in the summer, they can't play any rugby unless the RFU lets them.
5.3.4
If they go bust they will suffer a points penalty of 20% of the max they could get in a season. In the prem that is 22 games x 5 points max by my reckoning = 110 so that means they have 22 points deducted.
5.3.5
If they go bust during this season they lose points now. I assume that means if they go bust before the finals they lose 22 points. If during the summer the RFU can decide if they have the 22 points deducted this season, or start the next with -22 points.
5.3.6
N/A
5.3.7
N/A
5.3.8
This is interesting. If the club pays all creditors in full within 6 weeks of going bust they get the 22 points back, so a buyer could get around this penalty.
5.3.9 to 5.3.12 not important.
Hope that helps.
The quote below is from The Telegraph, sorry don't know how to do the linkey thing, but sounds like they've got funds until the end of next month, but from what you've explained it doesn't necessarily mean they'd be in the premiership next season as implied in The Telegraph.
"It is understood Wasps have enough funding to see them through the next month, which would allow them to complete the Premiership season, but the club need urgent investment to remain in business beyond May."
The Times also speculates on the possibility of the RFU providing Wasps with a temporary bailout as some of their players are in Lancaster's elite squad.Twickenham say it would not be unconstitutional for them to do this, but was unaware of any approach for them to do so.
It has not been repeated, to my knowlege, however.
.....but what do I know? I'm not an Australian TMO.