DALLAGLIO: PLAY-OFFS MUST BE CONTINUED
The Guinness Premiership must persevere with the play-off system if England are to continue producing stars – that is the view of World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio. If change happens then it would leave clubs no choice but to flood the league with foreigners, much like the football Premier League, Dallaglio warns.
The 35-year-old backrower, whose Wasps team contest the play-off final with Leicester, thinks that the current clamour for a change in system is unfair and would be detrimental.
Wasps were in tenth in the league a few months ago, while a number of internationals were not available for selection for the club after representing their countries in both the World Cup and the Six Nations. But they have sneaked into the final after an impressive run – with all internationals back playing domestic rugby – saw them motor up the table.
And if things were to change, whereby the team finishing first would be crowned champions, Dallaglio warned that Wasps would have to adapt their recruitment policy and it would tempt clubs to sign more foreigners rather than nurture young British talent.
He said: “Suddenly everyone is asking: ‘Is there a need for the Premiership to play-offs’ and moaning that we should have a first past the post system?
“The reality is that if you're going to have 12 weeks next season when you have international rugby and such a huge fixture clash, then the play-off system is the only way forward. You can't continue to develop home grown players with a first past the post system under the current structure of the season.
“At Wasps, like many clubs, we endorse and promote as many English players as possible. But there's no doubt that if it was a first past the post system under the current number of internationals we'd have to change our recruitment policy completely.”
Dallaglio, who retires after next Saturday’s final, continued: “People who argue against the play-off system have to temper club rugby with the future health of the England team. There is no argument in my opinion. The play-offs must stay or else clubs will start looking overseas for their players. We don't want to go down the route of football where the balance is 70 per cent overseas players when in rugby it's 30 per cent. That must continue.”
The Guinness Premiership must persevere with the play-off system if England are to continue producing stars – that is the view of World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio. If change happens then it would leave clubs no choice but to flood the league with foreigners, much like the football Premier League, Dallaglio warns.
The 35-year-old backrower, whose Wasps team contest the play-off final with Leicester, thinks that the current clamour for a change in system is unfair and would be detrimental.
Wasps were in tenth in the league a few months ago, while a number of internationals were not available for selection for the club after representing their countries in both the World Cup and the Six Nations. But they have sneaked into the final after an impressive run – with all internationals back playing domestic rugby – saw them motor up the table.
And if things were to change, whereby the team finishing first would be crowned champions, Dallaglio warned that Wasps would have to adapt their recruitment policy and it would tempt clubs to sign more foreigners rather than nurture young British talent.
He said: “Suddenly everyone is asking: ‘Is there a need for the Premiership to play-offs’ and moaning that we should have a first past the post system?
“The reality is that if you're going to have 12 weeks next season when you have international rugby and such a huge fixture clash, then the play-off system is the only way forward. You can't continue to develop home grown players with a first past the post system under the current structure of the season.
“At Wasps, like many clubs, we endorse and promote as many English players as possible. But there's no doubt that if it was a first past the post system under the current number of internationals we'd have to change our recruitment policy completely.”
Dallaglio, who retires after next Saturday’s final, continued: “People who argue against the play-off system have to temper club rugby with the future health of the England team. There is no argument in my opinion. The play-offs must stay or else clubs will start looking overseas for their players. We don't want to go down the route of football where the balance is 70 per cent overseas players when in rugby it's 30 per cent. That must continue.”
Labels: Guinness Premiership, Wasps
