England 2024/25

[McTallshort]

He has a point and nice in theory, but hell will freeze over before games are permanently moved from London. The blazers' wives won't fancy Milton Keynes or Birmingham.

Demolishing it, coining zillions selling the land for development and then sharing Wembley makes total sense if terms could be agreed. You know, a multi sport stadium like virtually every other country has. Twickenham's of its time and little more than a huge vanity project.

No chance. The RFUs almost sole purpose is to manage Twickenham

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

**** ditching Twickenham for Birmingham or Milton Keynes, stupidest **** I've heard. they cannot be serious

 

[Which Tyler]

Bet Allianz would be dead chuffed...

Presumably the rights would simply transfer over if (and it's a huge "if") it ever happens.
They actually would be chuffed then - naming rights on a new stadium with no existing rights? Their name really will become synonymous with it!

 

[Saintjay]

Haven't the licencing conditions been like that for years. It's nothing new and weird the RFU are moaning about it now.

Can't help feel they'll still be losing out now to better modern stadiums. Spurs, Everton, Co-op live for indoors. Wembley etc Potentially a new Old Trafford.

The revenue they are losing must be mad. Wembley has Oasis 7 nights and Coldplay 10 this year alone.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Haven't the licencing conditions been like that for years. It's nothing new and weird the RFU are moaning about it now.

Can't help feel they'll still be losing out now to better modern stadiums. Spurs, Everton, Co-op live for indoors. Wembley etc Potentially a new Old Trafford.

The revenue they are losing must be mad. Wembley has Oasis 7 nights and Coldplay 10 this year alone.

You might have thought they'd have nailed this down before they started talking publicly about spending 2/3 of a billion quid on redeveloping…….just another stage in the evolution of Trigger's Broom Stadium.

Oh the happy days when the game was amateur and there were 4 separate green stands with their points of the compass names painted on in huge yellow lettering (quite helpful for those who'd had a beer or 2).

TBH I suspect the local council and residents would be quite happy to see the back of it.

 

[NickBD]

So was listening to Jim Hamilton on his pod a few weeks back he talking England with the French based players to come back. Mentioned they have so many top quality players to get back to 2027. I keep reading that headline and got me thinking how many do we think actually have a chance to come back though. I'm sure I've missed a few.

For the ones I see won't be coming back because either contracts going past 2027, age and already retired - the Vunipola's, Nowell, Manu, Harry Williams, Collier, Lawes, Robson, Joseph and Joe Simmonds.
Simmonds is still in his 20s but has a contract till 2028 and with the rest are obvious.

The ones who have small chance. Sinkler, Ribbans, Farrell, Marchant, Ludlam and Sam Simmonds.
This one is tougher but with Farrell its Borthwick I can just see it. Even though Sinkler burned a few bridges with Borthwick he has a chance based on England aren't blessed in the prop department. I was gonna put Ludlam in the 100% when he's back because Borthwick did love him but realised he's 29 and be 32 when back. I thought he was younger then that. Now competition is too much. Similar with Simmonds he'll be 32 for next world cup and like with Ludlam big comp. Merchant has the biggest chance to me, injures to Freeman/Lawrence and he's back in England by then he has a chance.

The players have a big chance one back, Arundell, Jack Willis and Kpoku.
Even with these 3 people might argue on. I know Arundell hasn't looked that great in France, he's far down the wing pecking order now but he's still got potential. With Kpoku from the u20s this year he's not looked that great imo but he's highly regarded but someone will need to educate me on how well he's done in France. Leaves for me the best chance to make the squad Jack Willis for obvious reasons but even then isn't 100% based on he was in and out of Borths squads before and as mentioned England have a lot of quality back row players to pick.

 

[BPM]

Yeah, I think the usefulness of those players is overblown.

I'd have Marchant back in a heartbeat. Sinckler and Ribbans would be useful.

Willis is amazing but I don't know that he's actually better than the Curry twins or Underhill.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Sinckler keeps his form up after his injury he'll likely come back into the EPS, just because good tightheads are worth their weight and there's a big experience gap behind Heyes, with the next in lines realistically a bit too young despite their talents

Arundell will need to improve a lot before I'd feel comfortable seeing him there but media hype will likely push him closer than his performances deserve

If Marchant comes back next season he'll be in the EPS/knocking on the door - we're still far from settled on a centre partnership and Lawrence missing the rest of the year won't do anything to help that settle
His ability to play wing as well will boost him in SB's eyes too

Willis isn't coming back (unless Wasps miraculously reappear in the Prem) - while he is definitely one of the best around in his position, his position is also arguably our strongest so we feel his absence the least

Don't think anyone else would really rock the boat by coming back - like I love Ludlam but under SB he was mostly a squad player towards the end and we've had other players step up now
Ribbans would help our lock depth issues but it'd be papering over cracks, I'd rather we look at other options before a journeyman saffer
Sam Simmonds wouldn't make the EPS, I don't think

 

[Scotty]

Bill Sweeney: England may still leave Twickenham over licensing restrictions - we missed out on Beyonce!

Bill Sweeney, speaking ahead of a vote of no confidence in him at a special general meeting next Thursday, has revealed England may still leave Twickenham over licensing restrictions which saw the stadium miss out on Beyonce concerts; RFU plans to invest £663m in stadium regeneration

www.skysports.com

Why the hell do we have such a terrible agreement with the council? Please tell me it's not because of the people who live round there...they leave near a stadium, deal with it or move. I live near an airfield, large aircraft taking off less than a mile from my house and I don't complain because I choose to love here...

Is there other reasons as it would bring so much money in and with 3 tiers it's such a good stadium. And with investment the rfu could make more revenue and actually help the championship/grassroots again.

 

[Geordie]

If Sinckler keeps his form up after his injury he'll likely come back into the EPS, just because good tightheads are worth their weight and there's a big experience gap behind Heyes, with the next in lines realistically a bit too young despite their talents

Arundell will need to improve a lot before I'd feel comfortable seeing him there but media hype will likely push him closer than his performances deserve

I just never warmed to Sinckler and whilst I agree the gap in experience drops off the cliff after Stuart , and Heyes (IMO) a solid short term option. .I'd rather put the effort in to the younger options than bring Sinckler back.

I also agree Arundel is way back.

 

[McTallshort]

Why the hell do we have such a terrible agreement with the council? Please tell me it's not because of the people who live round there...they leave near a stadium, deal with it or move. I live near an airfield, large aircraft taking off less than a mile from my house and I don't complain because I choose to love here...

Is there other reasons as it would bring so much money in and with 3 tiers it's such a good stadium. And with investment the rfu could make more revenue and actually help the championship/grassroots again.

Can only agree with all of that but the folk around twickers don't seem to like the ground being used too much. Like I said before the train station isn't for purpose. It's a ******* nightmare to drive to. The only thing it has going for it is the pubs in Twickenham which if you go to the Army v Navy game your not allowed to go to after the game anyway.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I just never warmed to Sinckler and whilst I agree the gap in experience drops off the cliff after Stuart , and Heyes (IMO) a solid short term option. .I'd rather put the effort in to the younger options than bring Sinckler back.

I also agree Arundel is way back.

Yeah I'm not that big on Sinckler, just being realistic - I expect him to be in the RWC squad if he's in the Prem at that point

 

[BPM]

Maybe … the RWC is a full 2yrs away. That's plenty of game time for our promising young tightheads i.e. AOF, Fasogbon and Sela to build a decent level of experience.

Given AOF is already in and around the squad, I don't think Sinckler can expect to slot back in to the squad like he never left. I don't necessarily think he thinks that he will BTW.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

.

Why the hell do we have such a terrible agreement with the council? Please tell me it's not because of the people who live round there...they leave near a stadium, deal with it or move. I live near an airfield, large aircraft taking off less than a mile from my house and I don't complain because I choose to love here...

Is there other reasons as it would bring so much money in and with 3 tiers it's such a good stadium. And with investment the rfu could make more revenue and actually help the championship/grassroots again.

I think it's the RFU who will have to deal with it or move. The residents live there on the basis that the stadium is used X times per year. I can totally understand why they don't want that to be X+quite a few. Noise pollution is horrible and concerts tend to be quite loud, there's a shedload of disruption and there's always some antisocial behaviour. An ex colleague of mine lives there and his and neighbours' gardens regularly had people taking a p*ss in them etc.

Yeah I'm not that big on Sinckler, just being realistic - I expect him to be in the RWC squad if he's in the Prem at that point

Yep. At one point he was one of the best around and then his form fell off a cliff. If he comes back and is one of our best 3 THs then pick him, if he's not then don't.

 

[Saintjay]

Do laugh when I go, seems like every house is selling burgers and hot dogs from the back garden. They probably make some decent takings.