English Premiership Update: Week 8

Nearly halfway through the shortened, 10-team Premiership season, a couple of things are clear:

1 - English rugby from a performance point of view is in good shape, following on from a better-then-expected World Cup result (bronze medal). Recent matches have been of very high quality with lots of tries - great for spectators.

2 - But, organizationally, English rugby is facing major challenges; financially challenged clubs; and now two well-known faces in the game, England and Saracens Captain Owen Farrell and International Referee Wayne Barnes making decisions about their careers due to intolerable pressures off the pitch (more later).

LATEST RESULTS:

Results so far see some familiar names at the top of the League table but with 8 of 18 games played, there is plenty of time for some of the slower starters to put in a surge. The top 8 (out of 10) teams have only 10 points between them and the top 6 only 4 pts - remember, a bonus points win (4+ tries) earns 5 points and clubs receive a losing bonus points for being within 7 points of the winner and/or scoring 4 or more tries themselves. This explains why the top 5 clubs each have 5 wins and 3 losses but different points totals. Only 1 has 6 wins.

Going into the break, Sale Sharks are on top with 27 points, tied with Bath who despite a better points differential, are in second having lost to Sale in November. Harlequins are #3 with 26 pts, Saracens #4 with 25, Northampton Saints #5 with 25 and Exeter Chiefs #6 with 23. Leicester Tigers with a 4-4 record and 20 pts and Bristol Bears (3-5) 17 points are not far behind.

The first round of the Investec Champions Cup starts on Friday, December 8. This European & South African club tournament pits the top 8 teams from the Premiership, URC and Top 14 (France) arranged in four pools of 6 teams. Rounds 1 and 2 are played in December with 2 more in January and the knockout matches will be played in April and May (final in London on May 25, 2024). The English premiership resumes on Friday, December 22.

INTOLERABLE PRESSURES

Wayne Barnes, the 44-year-old referee, announced his retirement from the game after the recent World Cup. While it appears to be a pre-mediated decision - he has spent 3 decades as a referee and what better time to retire than after refereeing the biggest game in the sport, the World Cup Final - his clear comments about the need to identify and prevent abuse of referees in the game are a sad punctuation mark on a terrific career. Not only is he regarded as one of the best to have graced the sport with his emphasis on communication and deep knowledge of the game AND the players, but he has illustrated just how positive refereeing can enhance the game. The idea that his departure can be hastened by mindless thugs who threatened him, his wife and his kids because they didn’t like the RWC Final result should send a chill down the spines of rugby’s global leaders. Other sports have problems with outrageous and dangerous fan behavior, something rugby has managed to avoid until now.

Owen Farrell is another casualty of the intensity of rugby right now. Announcing he is taking time out from his international career - while continuing to play for and captain Saracens - he mentioned the need to “protect his and his family’s mental health”. Having attended the RWC23 Quarter Final between England and Argentina in Marseille in October, and listened to boos that rained down on him when his name was announced - mainly from England fans - I can understand why he might say “who needs this ….”? His record speaks for itself and his long performance for both club and country has been one of absolute commitment, through thick and thin.

Both of these top-class professionals have been performing at the peak of their skills for many years and it is disappointing to see the reaction from the mindless minority when things don’t go their way. It makes me laugh when players whine about decisions on the pitch - like they never make mistakes? And to hear spectators abuse players and referees from their seats is equally absurd. Sure we’re disappointed if our team loses and frustrated if participants haven’t performed at their best. But we’re in the stands and not on the pitch because we never got to the level these people perform at. Applaud their achievements and accept the outcome.