Ben Mowen to quit Wallabies

[Big Ewis]

Great. Seriously fk the Top 14. This has been ridiculous for the past few months, now it's just a norm we have to accept. It's going to keep happening, and happening, and happening...seriously Top 14, please, just, don't do things half way through, just please PLEASE just buy the whole All-Blacks and Wallabies. Just do it. DO IT.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9107359,00.html

After a great year for these Wallabies I believe we can't help but sympathize with, seeing their historically worst struggles and yet they kept going and their calendar was completely crazy and they managed a brilliant finish in Europe...
Dude's leaving his COUNTRY because of...."personal and family considerations". Yeah, personal banking that is.
Fk money.

 

[nickdnz]

Apparently time away from his family was the majour reason why Ben Mowen left, although being 29 years old you have to think earning some big money in the Top 14 to retire on has to be a factor.

 

[lynam1104]

While he is the captain now if Aus had all of their first choice backrow fit would he start? Obviously Pocock at 7 and then Higgs at 8/6 and if in form Palu at 8, right no I would but its interesting that the test captain is pretty insecure in his position.

 

[gaston le gaff]

And why not if he wants to come to the land of milk, honey, and high earning rugby, then why not, this is a master plan by France to win the next World Cup we take all the players from the rest of the World get them tired injured etc and then stroll into the World Cup and take the honours winning the Final by 36 24 against Georgia

 

[Feicarsinn]

 

[Big Ewis]

And why not if he wants to come to the land of milk, honey, and high earning rugby, then why not, this is a master plan by France to win the next World Cup we take all the players from the rest of the World get them tired injured etc and then stroll into the World Cup and take the honours winning the Final by 36 24 against Georgia

:lol:
how silly of me, I take my OP back...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If he really wanted to play for the Wallabies in the rwc could he not have signed a 1yr extension?
I don't particularly rate the guy, but it's weird for him, as captain, to just walk out a year before the world cup.

Also, yes, the top 14 is mental.

 

[Big Ewis]

I don't particularly rate the guy, but it's weird for him, as captain, to just walk out a year before the world cup.

well it's not weird if you consider France's masterplan of stripping every nation of their good players. You just go on saying it's "weird" or what not like the rest of these sheep !

Also, yes, the top 14 is mental.

mmmyez. Yes, it is.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I'd read there was some malaise in Australia because of Mowen's high earning expectations. After having been named captain he started negotiating a pay rise that seemed somehow disproportionate for a 29 year old with 10 test caps.
That being said, I think he'd fit pretty much anywhere in the Top 14. We love jumping backrowers.

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

I think he will go to Montpellier, been linked with them and Toulon but Toulon look like they're getting HeaslipHeaslip

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

If he really wanted to play for the Wallabies in the rwc could he not have signed a 1yr extension?
I don't particularly rate the guy, but it's weird for him, as captain, to just walk out a year before the world cup.

Also, yes, the top 14 is mental.

There have been a couple of issues with his pay, I think. He wasn't getting as much as lots of the other Brumbies players because he hadn't been in the Wallabies for long, even though he was captain, or something to that effect.

With regards to his sudden departure, he's only been captain for a short period of time, and only really as a fill in (as already mentioned, he likely wouldn't even be a first choice loose forward), so it isn't as strange as it sounds.

The reason he doesn't want a one year extension is probably that he doesn't want to be away from his young family for any longer than he currently has been. He spent 7 months away from home this year, which is huge, and with a one year old child it's understandable that he wants more time at home.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I think he will go to Montpellier, been linked with them and Toulon but Toulon look like they're getting HeaslipHeaslip

There's no such thing as "too many international backrowers" for Mourad.

 

[Aspry]

Well it's pretty easy to criticize him for making such a decision, but I am pretty sure that many of us here (if not all) would have made the same call if we were in that situation. Family comes first, and he's near the end of his career, so it's not a bad thing to think about the future. Sadly you only get like 12 years of salarie by playing professional Rugby (Maybe 15 or a bit more if you're lucky), I know it sucks but that's how it works. He needs to earn as much money as possible before retirement.

It's kinda odd since he's the capitan, but I totally understand his reasons.

 

[Gavin]

I thought the problem was he wasn't offered an ARU contract

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham had been locked in negotiations with the ARU for the past month, pushing for Mowen to get a top-up Wallabies contract for 2015

Despite captaining the Wallabies for six of 15 Tests last year, Mowen was still rated outside the ARU's contract list.

The ARU system only contracts players who have represented the Wallabies for two years, with exemptions made for players such as Israel Folau. Mowen made his international debut only seven months ago, and he said his decision was based on not being able to ''emotionally invest'' in another two years on the road with the Brumbies and Wallabies

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...set-to-come-at-heavy-cost-20140109-30kha.html

 

[Big Ewis]

There's no such thing as "too many international backrowers" for Mourad.

oh that's right. He's made acquisitions for positions where they already had 2 or 3 high caliber players on the roster, still made them. Seriously, just, fk Toulon. Fk em deep.
What Boudjelal is doing is obviously abusive at very, very least. And I'll bet all the money in the world myself he doesn't find the slightest thing wrong with it. All legit.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

oh that's right. He's made acquisitions for positions where they already had 2 or 3 high caliber players on the roster, still made them. Seriously, just, fk Toulon. Fk em deep.
What Boudjelal is doing is obviously abusive at very, very least. And I'll bet all the money in the world myself he doesn't find the slightest thing wrong with it. All legit.

Your assertation that Boudjellal continuously throws all this money around out of his own pocket is wrong. The Toulon Rugby Club is a Profitable one and he has built up the brand over a number of years to the point that Toulon makes money every year.

read below:

"Boudjellal claimed earlier this season that the financial performance of the club meant he no longer needed to put his own cash in. Whatever you think about his penchant for throwing verbal grenades in the media from time to time, his management from a commercial point of view has been impressive. Toulon have increased their turnover by 500% during his tenure, allowing the club to spend right up to the limit of the salary cap."
Read more at http://www.espnscrum.com/france-top-14-2012-13/rugby/story/183943.html#3dAlIchMqD0ixAyD.99

Toulon is a profitable business for Boudjellal and maybe other rugby clubs should look at what he is doing in Toulon and try and emulate it, rather then ***** because RC Toulon has more money (money they rightfully make) and is able to sign better players as a result.

Edit:

Also the IRB and the Unions need to seriously re-visit the international calendar because player welfare seriously sucks. It's no coincidence that Jonny Wilkinson was an injured mess when he was playing in the Premiership and for England because he was playing too many games and being pushed too hard! With proper rest and a club that treats him properly he has been epic for Toulon.

 

[Aedaphon]

This doesn't surprise me, if I lived anywhere nearby I would be dying to see Toulon play.

Boudjellal gets a lot of stick, but there are fairly few Toulon players that aren't out of favour (or at leas under increasing competition from younger players) in their home unions.

Anyway, back to the topic. All my sympathies with Mowen, it can't have been an easy choice to make. Honestly, family first is rarely something to criticise, it's just a shame that he was first capped so late in his career.

 

[Peat]

I'm not sure I'd be looking to move halfway around the world from my close family if I had a one year kid. Family reasons? He'll be making his family a lot of money.

Fair play to him. This is the top of his recognition and he's cashing in. Debatebly there will never be another chance like this for him and it is probably going to make all sorts of positive contributions to his life. But the likelihood he'd have done this if it was the same money in both countries strikes me as negligible.

 

[Big Ewis]

As if these players *needed* money. What, the Wallabies and Brumbies combined only get him enough to buy macaroni and cheese and processed sausages and barely afford an internet connection and utilities in a humble 1 bedroom flat in a crappy neighborhood ??...

I mean it doesn't make him a cash-whore or anything but it's like the guy was some poor amateur athlete looking for the big time - he's the fkn Wallaby captain. What, he doesn't like his current 4-car rotation, he prefers a 7-car rotation, one car for each day ? He wants to buy his wife massive diamonds in stead of plain gold ?

Call those moves what you want, legit, legion, and rational, whatever you like, I'm not stopping anyone. But if I were the Wallaby coach right now or possibly a teammate I'd have to feel just a little bit disgruntled and possibly betrayed. Yes it's business, yes I sounds naive and all that - but we're human beings, not robots. Business is there, but there are also values godamnit. And when the conditions are pretty good there's no need to leave. Play for your fkn country at least the remaining time for 2015 when the Wallabies will need all they can get for the first time threatened not to leave the pool stages.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Normal people work until they are 65, the average rugby player is able to play rugby until he is what, 33 or 34? I am not sure of the pension situation for rugby players either but I can't imagine it is that great. The guy needs to maximize his earning potential while he is still young as he is getting to that age where a rugby career can end in a heart beat.

He is looking after his family by moving to France due to the following:

1. He will be playing less games
2. He will be travelling less
3. He will be earning more money

Sounds like a good deal to me.