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England 2024/25

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
 
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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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England U19 play Japan U19 this weekend in Cambridge
Also the U18 squad for 6N's announced

FORWARDS
Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints, Hadleigh RUFC, Sedbergh School)
Sam Bland (Yorkshire Academy, Wharfdale, Bishop Burton College)
Matthew Branch-Holland (Saracens, Sidcup RFC, Ravens Wood) *
Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester Rugby, Drybrook RFC, Hartpury College)
Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins, Twickenham RFC, Bishop Wand School)
Henry Laidlow (Harlequins, Twickenham RFC, Trinity School)
Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Ashby RFC, Northampton School for Boys)
George Marsh (Leicester Tigers, Holt RFC, Denstone College)
Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Gloucester Rugby, Lydney RFC, Dean Close School)
Alan Poku (Saracens, Ealing Trailfinders, Bishop Wand School)
Oliver Spencer (Yorkshire Academy, Harrogate RUFC, Grammar School at Leeds)
Elliot Williams (Harlequins, London Irish Amateurs, Gordon's School) *
Tate Williams (Harlequins, East Grinstead RFC, Worth School)
Harry Wright (Gloucester Rugby, Alcester, Stourport High School & Sixth Form College)

BACKS
Junior Denny (Gloucester Rugby, Banbury Rugby Club, Bloxham School)
Zac Finch (Saracens, Sidcup RFC, Ravens Wood)
Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby, Longlevens RFC, Hartpury College)
Henry Lumley (Northampton Saints, Bury St. Edmunds, Finborough School)
Isaac Mears (Bath Rugby, Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff School)
James Pater (Northampton Saints, Shelford RFC, The Leys School)
Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Old Northamptonians, Northampton School for Boys)
Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Barkers Butts RFC, Rugby School)
Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Bury St. Edmunds, Finborough School)
James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Harbury Rugby Football Club, Warwick School)
Declan Treacey (Bath Rugby, New Milton RFC, Beechen Cliff School)
Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears, Bank of England RFC, Clifton College) *


It's nice to see England creating a great pathway for youngsters now from a national POV
England Senior
England A
U20
U19
U18
U17
Also having Age grade training camps for Front rows and Half Backs specifically.

That's a lot of planning tbf
Now if we can have a U23 A league to fill in the Premiership minutes between U18 and seniors
Why not use the Championship as a development vehicle for this???
 
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.
Yeah it's 2 years to the WC so that's plenty of time if we're prepping for that.

If Stuart goes on the Lions as expected..then let Heyes go as starting 3..purely to test him and see how he copes. Then you have Fordjour and Fasogabon (really hope he's fit) to share the bench duties.

It will definitely be a very inexperienced front row especially if Genge goes on the lions aswell which is not in stone. Baxter and Rodd probably for the loosehead props. Hooker well...Maybe George goes for experience, then between Langdon, Dan and hell maybe Tuipolotu....
 
Why not use the Championship as a development vehicle for this???
It's all about the funding and if the RFU would support it ..then it suddenly becomes a very good system. But can they afford to fund it.
 

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