By Worried of Whitton
April 8 2003

As you may have recently read, Premier Rugby recently released a draft list of the Zurich Premiership fixtures for the 2003/04 season. The English domestic season will start on September 12, 2004 at Sale. The Zurich Premiership will continue during October and November despite the fact that the Rugby World Cup will be taking place in that period in Australia. The first eleven matches have been aggressively scheduled to be completed by the end of the World Cup. This includes at least one round being played mid week. For Quins this involves a trip to Welford Road on the evening October 14th.

The second half of the season will be played after the Rugby World Cup.

Premier Rugby and the England Rugby Boards expect there to be massive interest in rugby during this period, as Zurich Premiership rugby will be the only outlet for people to experience “live, thrilling professional rugby union in this country”. They are confident that they will see continued growth of the club game during these autumn months.

There will be no change to the points scoring system during the Rugby World Cup. The scoring will remain the same as this season of four points for a win, two points for a draw and bonus points for scoring four tries or more and losing by seven points or less.

The Directors of Rugby said this structure would provide an exciting challenge. The first half of the season will offer the younger, future generation of players a chance to shine whilst the second half, when the Internationals return to action, will provide a gripping climax to the season, as all 12 clubs strive for a place in the Zurich Premiership Final.

I too, believe this will make for an exciting first half of the season, giving a chance for other, less experienced members of the squad to show what they can do whilst their International colleagues are away at the World Cup. Along with all the other premiership clubs, we have an exciting squad of young players in the Second XV and at U21 and U19. This structure would also provide an easier baptism for the newly promoted club from Division One.

What are your thoughts? This announcement has had its critics. Surprisingly Leicester, have been reported as saying that this will impact them far more than anyone else because of all their players on call for England duty. I’d like to remind them, contrary to their belief, England are not the only country playing in the World Cup, and ALL the Premiership teams will be affected as players are called up by their home countries. They are also unhappy about there being no change in the points awarded, as at the last World Cup, and the fact that there has been no allowances to compensate clubs who have players on international duty. Dean Richards was quoted as saying “They seem to be trying to bring everyone down to the same level. We will be losing between nine and twelve players while some sides will lose one or two. It is not fair if that is the case.” I understand the correct business parlance for this is a “level playing field”.

I’m interested to hear your reaction, to the Premier Leagues proposals. It is likely that those supporters travelling to Australia will not be happy about this move, as those staying for the whole of the competition will miss half of the English domestic season. Perhaps one should ask Mr. Richards if there would there be any reduction in the price of a season ticket, to offset the investment in the World Cup of those supporters travelling to Oz!

And how are the clubs reacting? Well it looks as if some clubs have been more astute in forecasting this development, and planning accordingly.

There are numerous rumours of new signings being made with a view to provide cover during and beyond the World Cup. This is in addition to the annual round of positioning and postulating on summer transfers. Whilst not consciously wishing to add to this speculation, I add a caveat that despite what may have been reported elsewhere and discussed below, it is only speculation until such time that the clubs concerned have officially announced changes in their squads. Of that, I m sure, there will be more later!

This year the rumour mill is positively buzzing a full two months before the end of the season. This has been fuelled with many more players looking for clubs that followed the changes that were announced in the setting up of the Welsh provinces. Swansea has already released Tu Tamarua and Rory Jenkins, previous wearers of our quartered shirt, along with five other players. In Ireland, the demise of rugby in Connacht, has made players available and there are likely to be further changes brought about by the salary cap, and those clubs which are in financial difficulty. The club, who eventually gets relegated, is also likely to have players looking to move. It has already been reported in the National press about “lemming like“ departures from a one West Country Premiership Club, due to their uncertain future.

Harlequins can, at least, be expected to be without Jason Leonard, Dan Luger, Will Greenwood, Bill Satala, Keith Wood and probably Paul Burke, during the World Cup. One could successfully argue that our forward planning has already come into fruition, with the signing of Mel Deane from Sale to ensure we have a strong centre, and indeed with Andre Vos, who will not be on World Cup duty. It is already known that we will not keep Billy Fulton as he expected to return to New Zealand, at the end of this season.

The rapid and shrewd signing on loan from Newport of Ceri Jones, to provide cover at Prop for the injured Jason Leonard, and Laurent Gomez, has proved his worth, but he is also expected to return home at the end of the season. With the changes in Wales one might have expected him to stay, but the rumour posted on the supporters’ boards that Mike Worsley is expected to be signing Quins in the summer, suggests maybe not.

The Irish Sunday Independent newspaper has speculated that the “versatile back” Gavin Duffy, will be signing for Harlequins. If true “they will have acquired one of the most talented Irish prospects currently around, he has been nothing short of sensational in the Connacht colours”. It has also been suggested that Leinster fly-half Andy Dunne has also committed to a move to Harlequins. With the addition of new players, coupled with the salary capping one can expect that Quins may also be releasing some players, in order to balance the books. This however, is pure speculation on my part, as I have no knowledge of this.

This situation is mirrored elsewhere in the world of rugby. Stade Francais expect to be releasing up to ten players for the World Cup and they and other French clubs are looking to take advantage of both the quality players in the Premiership and the belt tightening following the salary cap. English clubs are reported to pay between 20% to 30% more than those in France do. However, if the English wages are capped, they could drop between 15% and 20%, which will increase the competitiveness, and a move across “la Manche” could prove irresistible for some players.
As a postscript the draft fixture list for the 11 Quins matches during the world cup is provided below;
Notes: This draft fixture list is subject to change upon publication of the Football League fixture list and all games are subject to change depending on television coverage.

Premier Rugby has also confirmed that promotion and relegation will take place at the end of the 2002/03 season, with the winner of National Division One promoted to the Zurich Premiership in place of the team which finishes bottom of the table

13th Sept NEC Harlequins v London Wasps

21th Sept Bristol Shoguns v NEC Harlequins

27th Sept NEC Harlequins v London Irish

5th Oct Saracens v NEC Harlequins

11th Oct NEC Harlequins v Newcastle Falcons

14th Oct Leicester Tigers v NEC Harlequins

18th Oct NEC Harlequins v Gloucester

25th Oct NEC Harlequins v Sale Sharks

31st Oct Leeds Tykes v NEC Harlequins

8th Nov NEC Harlequins v Northampton Saints

22nd Nov Bath v NEC Harlequins