What Price the Moral High Ground?

Denny Solomona signs for Sharks? “Retired” Goosen to join Gloucester? Burleigh RC for slap on Papé.

And let’s not forget bloodgate…

A key reason for my passion for Rugby is that, in the words of a well known Welsh ref “this is not soccer”. The corruption, the fake injuries,  the throwing of toys out of prams and, let us be honest, the most recent FIFA outrage, Poppygate.

Of course professionalism was going to change things. Money will always change things. it was ever thus…..but I had hope that we would not descend into the cripplingly immoral behaviour that has blighted other sports. When word was that Altrad was negotiating to buy a controlling stake in Gloucester but he had ownership of a French team I thought “So?…this is rugby. There’s no corruption here”.

Am I naive? I start to look at recent incidents and I fear a pattern may be forming. I sincerely hope it’s not. Yes, Bloodgate was 7 years ago and has faded from some people’s memories….I’ve no doubts Richards would like it to fade altogether. But then I remember him casually strolling down to the closed JS Stand at Gloucester for the A league fixture in March and taking a seat half way up the middle of the stand; seemingly suggesting he was better than the rest of us. I’ve no doubts it wasn’t to hide away from his historical shame. I enjoyed watching the Stewards kick him out, if not the final score.

I am hoping that the infamy created by the limitation in number of the incidents will ensure they do not become common place; but what price morality? An infamous tale, almost certainly a myth (but we never know with this man!), about Winston Churchill suggests the following conversation took place.

Churchill: Would you sleep with me for five million pounds?

Socialite: Why Mr Churchill!..Well I suppose I would, but we would have to discuss terms of course.

Churchill: Would you sleep with me for five pounds?

Socialite: Mr Churchill just what do you think I am?

Churchill: We’ve already ascertained WHAT you are, we’re just negotiating the price.

This may seem a little harsh, of course, on those that have a limited time at the top of their profession but I recall checking out Andy Symons when I found we were signing him. His club turnover was impressive. The 24-year-old joined the Warriors in November 2013 and counts Leicester Tigers, Doncaster Knights and Tasman Makos amongst his former clubs. Certainly Warriors were miffed when they found that, after months of hard work getting him ready to return from long term injury, he had decided to up sticks down the M5. But then, that may be more to do with Hoggy’s feelings about Gloucester.

Similarly, Carl Fearns has had a regular turnover of clubs and reports that his main reason for signing for Gloucester is nothing to do with a love for the club but an intent to earn an England call up. Hardly a cry of loyalty for your new found club!!

Laidlaw is leaving to maximise his earning potential in his last few years of top flight rugby and the Pound, or Euro, signs do seem to be becoming a regular feature.

Would it be any different for me? I have to confess it would, but my working life is greatly extended over that of a professional sports person. In fact, being self employed and in an industry where my mind/brain is as an important tool as my body, retirement just doesn’t figure for me, despite the grey hairs and wrinkles.

As an aging Shed Head where do I draw the line? Again, following on from my last piece, is my experience of life in a time gone by clouding my view of the modern game? Are my demands for fair play and morals now considered twee or quaint among the younger generation?

Certainly there is at least one among those employed at Gloucester RFC known to me who seems to be of the opinion that the path well trod is that which leads to greater experience and understanding of the self…..at least once basic needs are met. Maslow was never that far wrong. But then, like me, he’s not actually playing the game anymore.

I believe we are on a slippery slope from those halcyon days. For me Richards is NEVER to be trusted again. As for Symons and Fearns they have work to do to earn my trust that they may yet develop the ephemeral quality that is loyalty that was once taken for granted.

As for the Burleigh RC that leaves, for me, the biggest question hanging over this “zero-tolerance” approach to head contact. Papê should be ashamed of his behaviour and although I entirely agree that HIAs MUST be taken seriously, we must also clamp down on those that seek to abuse the new interpretation of the regulations. For me, Papê should be banned for as long as Burleigh.

All Change at Gloucester?

There comes a time when you realised you’ve aged. Aged beyond all that you thought you would. I still feel mentally young, youthful even. But now I look around me and have become aware that the world has moved on apace and I find myself marvelling at the advances made in my relatively short lifetime…..and then I look at my rugby team, Gloucester, and I ask myself……Who are they, who am I shouting for, who is it I support?

The old main stand at Gloucester has been replaced by The Mira (amid many outraged comments at the time of the supporting posts blocking angles). The JS Stand is also relatively new although talk of redeveloping the famous Shed came to nought.

Back in the day our front row consisted of stalwarts like Vickery, Fortey & Woodman, two thirds of which went on to form the formidable front row that destroyed opponents en-route to the Northern Hemisphere’s first, and so far only, RWC winners. It’s now any 3 from 11. The team, for the most part, were local lads who came to play for Gloucester through pride and passion, as well as a wage packet or “expenses” as they were then called 😉

The fact is rugby, and Gloucester, have moved on. Developed. There is little left from what I started supporting back in the day. Certainly there are no players or coaches. The owners have died or moved on. The ground has been developed. The very game itself is almost a very different beast. So when I say “I support Gloucester” what exactly do I mean by that.

With the talk of Mohed Altrad becoming a majority stakeholder in Gloucester RUFC word on the street is that the billionaire has the funds available to ensure Gloucester “takes it’s rightful place among the top European clubs”. Surely, by “take” we mean “buy”.  Because, let’s face it, the biggest challenge Gloucester have faced in recent years is the lack of investment, So Altrad comes in with his cheque book and all is well with Kingsholm…..or is it?

I have made the Ricoh a regular away fixture for watching Gloucester games. A friend is a Wasps supporter so it’s a chance to catch up away from the work environment. Wasps, of course, used to be London Wasps and money has changed them beyond almost all recognition. From a strictly business point of view this is good. They have gone from a near bankrupt organisation about to be thrown out the Premiership to  serious European and Premiership contenders. But what of the very essence of London Wasps? Has that survived. When I visit the Ricoh it feels a very drab affair. A screeching tannoy appears to be required to stir almost lifeless fans into some sort of muted response. I have no doubt the passion of many of the fans remains undiminished…..but it doesn’t transfer into creating an atmosphere. I would argue that a third of the regular number of fans at The Ricoh gave Adams Park a more atmospheric feel. Of the two, I confess, my preference is for Adams Park. The “London” has also gone and one wonders how much of a connection to the new improved Wasps brand the likes of Dallaglio feel.

Saracens are probably the ultimate “Brand” rugby team. Nigel Wray’s millions have led to accusations of breeches of salary cap regulations and it seems he can buy any player he needs or wants but the Allianz hasn’t ever seen 10,000 fans walk through it’s gates. Ignore the glorified “average” figures they tout claiming 15,000+. Those figures include games held at Wembley & Twickenham with thousands of tickets given away free. So how would they survive if Wray withdrew his money?

The game is now professional, and not just in the Premiership or Championship. Even local club sides are paying players and even importing foreign “stars”

http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/newent-director-of-rugby-slams-clubs-for-paying-foreign-players-a-lot-of-money/story-29986494-detail/story.html

And so how recognisable are the teams we started supporting so many years ago and, indeed, who are they?

With Gloucester, of course, the same with every team, the shirts change constantly. With the new European strip there are now several different kits you can buy. A new main sponsor, X Blades, run by Jason “Billy Whizz” Robinson, obviously needs to recoup it’s investment. So we can expect continuous change there, it has ever been thus.

While not on the playing staff Woodman is probably the longest human connection with the club dating back 20 years to 1996. The pitch is in an almost constant state of renewal and seems to be relaid every season.

The ground, excluding The Shed, has been totally redeveloped although those in the Stowford probably don’t feel any great benefit over the redevelopment of The Tump End. The players themselves, apart from one or three exceptions (Morgan, May & Sharples) are workers trading their skills between employers. They make all the right noises about how much we, the fans, mean to them, but when their agent negotiates a better deal we are soon left behind. Our most recent signing announcement, Carl Fearns, is symptomatic of this. Gloucester will be his fourth club in 9 years. Given that any contract will be for at least two seasons that’s an impressive moving record with little indication of loyalty except to his bank balance

So there is very little recognisable now from who and what I supported back in the halcyon days of our comparative youth. So what is it that keeps us? Holds us? Why don’t we support whoever the best team is? Let’s face it, the beginning of the season was a painful time to be a Gloucester fan. Surely it would have been better to have spent our money on a Sarries season ticket if we wanted to watch our team win more often than not. We are not, after all, watching our mate, Teague, the guy we drink with down the pub, giving it his all for his home town. We are, for better or worse, watching mercenaries.

So what exactly, is our connection to this ephemeral thing that is the latest incarnation of Gloucester RFC…..only one thing remains surely. The fans. Every time I walk into The Shed I see the same faces. Dozens of Season Ticket badges pinned to worn out caps. Shirts not worn by players for 10 or 15 years or more. People that have been attending Castle Grim not for years but for decades. You can change the pitch. You can redevelop the stadium (except The Shed) and you can change the team. But Gloucester is Gloucester because of the fans. Nothing will change that. Gloucester is not just where we make our living, it is where we live. Castle Grim, Kingsholm, The Shed….is just an extension of our home.

When ever Gloucester Rugby is talked about it is the fans that are discussed. Their knowledge. Their passion. It is this which is now and always will be the beating heart of this great club of ours.

Nothing can change the feeling in your chest when you stand in The Shed singing “Glawster, Glawster, Glawster”. As I write, I can hear it now. That is the essence of Gloucester and if Altrad does buy a controlling stake, that which is the very essence of Gloucester RFC will not change.