Today’s rugby news as former Wales coach demands change and England star left scared by Owen Farrell plight
Hansen calls for change
Rugby needs to change right now, according to former Wales and New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, who is growing more and more dissatisfied with the direction the game is taking.
Hansen has taken aim at the frequent TMO interventions during games, stating that the position should be reduced and that spectators must acknowledge that referees are fallible people.Register for our newsletter here to receive the most recent rugby news.
“Is there a try or not?’ should be the only inquiry the on-field referee asks the TMO. “The TMO ought not to meddle in other matters,” he informed Midi Olympique.
“For that to occur, players, coaches, and fans must embrace the shift and acknowledge that mistakes will inevitably be made by referees.
Hansen continued, “Coaches and players nowadays need to keep in mind that referees are fallible human beings.
Right now, 15,000 clubs worldwide discuss the refereeing over the weekend on Monday mornings. This cannot go on.
Smith scared by Farrell plight
England fly-half Marcus Smith admits he has found Owen Farrell’s troubles and subsequent decision to step back from international rugby “scary”.
Smith says it is a wake-up call for everyone as he wished Farrell and his family well. It is unclear if Farrell will ever return to the England team after pulling himself out of the spotlight following a difficult period that has seen him criticised and abused.
“I know England try their best trying to ensure your family time is well accounted for,” Smith told Sky Sports.
Nonetheless, when one is performing at that caliber and has been doing so for years, one becomes an unquestionable legend in both the game and English rugby. I want to wish him the best and hope that everything is fine with him and his family because I’m watching him struggle with this.
“To be honest, it’s a little frightening since, as strong characters in the game, their forced resignation almost serves as a reminder that, at our core, we’re all just human beings with the same emotions.
“Hopefully it’s a good pointer for all of us that we need to stay in check with our mental health and look after our minds first and foremost.”
Sinckler warns more players could follow Farrell example
According to England’s Kyle Sinckler, he can see additional players in the team taking Owen Farrell’s lead and quitting their Test careers to safeguard their mental health.
When asked if Farrell’s choice would soon become the norm, the seasoned Bristol prop said on BBC Radio Five Live, “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“If you look at the workload that players, particularly the international players, endure, it’s just the beginning. Playing for your nation is an honor, but it also carries a great deal of responsibility, and I believe that there is room for improvement in the support system for athletes.”
According to Sinckler, considering the circumstances, it was not a huge surprise that Farrell decided to voluntarily miss the Six Nations last week.
“Professional sport is a pressure cooker, but when you’re playing for England it’s more heightened,” he added. “Then when you are the captain, and the fly-half, even more so. So I am surprised but not surprised.
“Knowing Faz, for him to actually say, “Look, I’m not right”, then something must be up because that guy will go to battle no matter what. Hopefully he gets the help he needs and the rest he deserves.”
TOP14 chief pinpoints reason for English rugby’s plight
The primary cause of the nation’s clubs’ ongoing challenges to hold onto their best players, according to TOP14 president Rene Bouscatel, is the English game’s emphasis on prioritizing money.
Joe Marchant, Henry Arundell, Jack Nowell, Sam Simmonds, David Ribbans, and Kyle Sinckler have all joined the TOP14, leaving behind an English league that is now struggling financially. Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlam are expected to follow them.
Furthermore, Bouscatel thinks that a major portion of the difficulties stem from an incapacity to concentrate on the caliber of the output.
“The economical product was prioritized over the sport, which has been corrosive within the English game,” he told the Daily Mail.
“In France, we built our product and competition on the sport first. We produced a financial gain from that success. Not the other way around.
The marketing world is ruled by the English! But a quality product is necessary if you want to sell. Our rival is the product we have created. There have been two champions from Europe in a row. Our league has a lot going for it.
“We will never take pleasure in other people’s struggles. Sports health is a delicate matter. We are currently in the highs after going through lows.
It’s really unfortunate about the English clubs. Since the English were the only ones with comparable competition, it could have been beneficial to establish a superior second tier.
“There is a club prepared to take over right away if we lose a TOP 14 team for financial reasons. A wide variety of clubs are starting to emerge. I adore it. Rugby is played worldwide.”