Sir Clive Woodward demands major rule change, most fans agree with him
Rugby NewsThursday, 18 April 2024 at 19:34
Former England boss Sir Clive Woodward emphatically reinforced his call for a rule change that could elevate the International rugby to new heights.
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The former England coach, who recently quit ITV’s Six Nations coverage, advocates for ditching the rule the RFU Have regarding overseas players, arguing that it hampers Borthwick's ability to assemble the strongest squad without constraints.
Expressing concern over the potential dampening of excitement in this year's Six Nations, Woodward contends that the absence of key players could detract from the tournament's previous thrill.
“England can’t select the likes of Henry Arundell and Jack Willis because they are employed by French clubs,” Woodward wrote in the Daily Mail.
“The same will be true of Farrell next season. I maintain that England should ditch the foreign ruling.
“The Six Nations is arguably the No 1 rugby tournament. You could make a case for it being as big, or bigger, than the World Cup because of its unrivalled history.
"While I hope I’m proved wrong and that we see brilliant matches and great entertainment, I’m not sure we can say ahead of this year’s competition that it will be the pinnacle of the game.”
However, there are no plans to change England's eligibility rules, says Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney.
Sweeney said departing players have had conversations with head coach Steve Borthwick and "partly a lifestyle choice" was their reason for leaving.
"If you look at the number of players going abroad, it doesn't really impact our core group," Sweeney said.
"Where we currently stand on the policy of only selecting players based in England stays as it is."
Stuart Hogg included on list of rugby’s ‘biggest ladies men’
Their round-up includes the bizarre reason Joe Westerman split from his wife
Other players mentioned in The Sun's article included the likes of Mike Tindall and Aaron Smith.
#1. Danny Cipriani
Danny had previously shared details with The Sun about his sexual experiences and his two-year relationship with Kelly Brook, who famously referred to him as a "car crash."
During their relationship, the model and TV star punched Danny in the face and ended their connection when he gave his phone number to a Las Vegas stripper.
They wrote: "He has been involved with a string of stars, from Katie Price and Lindsay Lohan to Cheeky Girl Monica Irimia.
"It seemed he had finally settled down when he married Victoria Rose in April 2021.
"However, earlier this week, they announced they had split after two and a half years of marriage after Victoria reportedly “saw messages on his phone”."
#2. Stuart Hogg
They wrote: 'Stuart Hogg, 31, enjoyed a spa weekend with the “world’s sexiest jockey” Leonna Mayor – just days after his ex-wife Gillian Hogg gave birth to their fourth child."
He was given an MBE by the King in the New Year’s Honours list.
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#3. James Haskell
Haskell and Chloe ended their five-year marriage in September, just 13 months after welcoming their daughter Bodhi.
While they officially announced their separation last month, the couple initially intended to wait until the conclusion of their ITV reality show, "Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair."
They wrote: "James was spotted chatting with a mystery blonde, who turned out to be PR director Martine Bridge. Viewers also spotted cracks in their relationship on the programme."
"In one episode, Chloe fumed at James for posting pictures with “girls in thongs”."
She said: “I was like, ‘I will kill you’. He posted videos of him with loads of girls in thongs having the best time ever because he thinks that it makes him look cool on social media.”
#4. Ben Foden
The former England fullback split split with wife Una Healy in 2018 after six years of marriage – with him later confessing that he cheated on The Saturdays singer.
They wrote: "A year later, Foden married new partner Jackie Belanoff Smith after just two weeks of dating – and on the day his divorce from Una was finalised."
#5. Joe Westerman
The rugby league ace split from wife Lauren earlier this year after an X-rated video of him performing a sex act on a married woman in an alley outside a branch of Greggs went viral.
They wrote: "The 34-year-old Castleford Tigers player had been on a 15-hour booze bender when he was captured with his trousers and pants around his ankles.
"The loose forward was hit with a substantial fine as a result of an internal club investigation."
Can you all of the Guinness Six Nations winning captains?
In the storied history of Rugby's Greatest Championship, exceptional leaders have emerged—warriors of various forms, be they agile half-backs, towering second rows, or fearless flankers.
Our latest quiz invites you to identify those who have captained their nations to Guinness Six Nations glory. It's worth noting that in certain instances, there may be multiple captains from the same year due to factors such as injuries and rotation.
Surnames only will be accepted.
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