1
Sinckler ignites Twitter debate with 'worrying times ahead' tweet
By Liam Heagney
England prop Kyle Sinckler has ignited a debate on social media after tweeting on Tuesday afternoon about his concerns that upwards of 100 Gallagher Premiership players have been left without a club for the 2022/23 season. The reduced salary cap has instigated a huge upheaval across the English top-flight, with some clubs issuing lengthy lists of players they are releasing at the end of the 2021/22 campaign with budgets beginning to bite.
Bristol prop Sinckler has been sidelined since a mid-April Heineken Champions Cup appearance versus Sale and he has now opted out from the upcoming England tour to Australia in order to fully recover from a back problem ahead of a 2022/23 campaign that will lead into his country’s assault on the World Cup in France.
With time on his hands away from playing games, the 29-year-old tighthead has shown his awareness of the shift taking place in the English game due to the decision to cut the salary cap from £6.4million to £5m and to also cut the number of marquee players who can sit outside that cap from two to one at each club for the upcoming season.
The pressure these cutbacks have put on contracts has now resulted in Sinckler taking to Twitter to outline his concern over what is unfolding: “Nearly 100 Premiership rugby players will now be without a club for the 22/23 season. Nothing to do with their rugby ability just finances. Worrying times ahead,” he wrote.
Within an hour, his message was retweeted 106 times, liked by 947 fans and replied to by 41 people including ex-Harlequins prop James Johnston, the 2012 Premiership winner who played this season in the French third tier for Nice. “It is worrying, my uce! Hope something gets sorted for those boys.”
Numerous other replies suggested the Championship needs to be quickly sorted out so that it can become a more professional tournament and take up the slack with the Premiership finances being squeezed like never before. Broadcaster Rupert Cox said: “Another good reason why Championship rugby needs looking after, Sinks.”
Another fan replied: “The RFU needs to do something about the Championship. The Pirates, Ealing and Doncaster are being ruined by an anti-expansion organisation and it is affecting the quality of RU in England. Look at France. Their second division is thriving and they have a great national side.”
Trending on RugbyPass
2
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
3
Let's be real about these All Blacks
4
Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand
5
Latest Comments
No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
Go to comments