Armitage Shanks himself to England (Possibly)

[johng]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... d-Cup.html

[Hornet]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... d-Cup.html

Didn't think he would 'sink' to that level.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Can someone pull the plug on these jokes?

[mtleinster]

Has any player ever moved on a transfer fee before

It is understood that Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal is comfortable with the deal – which is likely to involved a significant transfer fee – going ahead but has left the final decision with the club’s director of rugby Bernard Laporte.

[Peg Leg]

Don't know why he'd want in with that shower!

[ichabodscrane]

I was watching the BT rugby show last night and Matt Dawson, Austin Healy, Ben Kay & Simon Shaw were talking about this rumour and all four said he wasn't good enough to get into the England team.

Simon Shaw POV was interesting, having played with him at Toulon he said that French back rows are so tall and big that they can't do the things that Armitage does. So in essence he said that Armitage's frame and lack of height in comparison to the typical French back rower is one of the main reasons that he gets so much publicity in France.

[ichabodscrane]

They also said that Leinster weren't the European team of our generation, instead choosing Toulouse, so I choose to take everything they say with more than a pinch of salt.

[jimbobjoe]

A few questions;
Is there any football style windows in which transfers can be made in rugby?
If Armitage plays for Toulon this weekend, will he be cup tied if the move happens?
Surely he can't play for Bath this weekend if it happens as he's not a registered ERCC player for them?

[paddyor]

Does anyone else think this is a bit stagey, like they're creating a transfer market. I.e no money will actually change hands but it'll be recorded as the biggest transfer bar maybe some compensation. From here on we'll be seeing SKY and BT hyping the start of the RCC as transfer deadline day.

[JB1973]

Has any player ever moved on a transfer fee before

It is understood that Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal is comfortable with the deal – which is likely to involved a significant transfer fee – going ahead but has left the final decision with the club’s director of rugby Bernard Laporte.

mike rayer was the first rugby "transfer fee" from Bedford to bath. I think the biggest transfers were cross code Inga the winger from Wigan RLFC to Newcastle and Iesty harris from leeds to the wru,

[paddyor]

It's off!

Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage's move to Bath looks unlikely after the clubs failed to agree a deal.

Armitage had entered discussions over a move to the Premiership club, with a view to regaining his England place in time for the 2015 World Cup.

The 29-year-old, who has won five caps, will not be picked by Stuart Lancaster while he is playing in France.

But Bath coach Mike Ford told BBC Radio Bristol the parties had been unable to reach a financial agreement.

Ford went on to say that the deal would definitely be off if Armitage played for Toulon in the European Champions Cup this weekend against Scarlets.

The back-rower signed a three-year contract extension with the European champions in November 2013.
..................

I was thinking it looked a bad move for RCT. Who would they have got in to replace him? No real details here, seems a bit of a non story tbh. But fear not that scarf wearing tw@t Bruce Craig will divulge the details when next he gets a bl*wjob interviewed by the Grauniad/Torygraph/BT. And if not him then Comic book guy will let us in after his next sh*t fit!

[simonokeeffe]

BBC reporting the deal has collapsed as the two clubs couldnt agree over money despite his new English team being flush with cash

[rooster]

Sounds a bit like the time Leicester thought the were signing Hernandez from Stade Francais, Mad Max asked them for a years wages and when they agreed he then asked for almost 1 million release fee !

[rooster]

BBC reporting the deal has collapsed as the two clubs couldnt agree over money despite his new English team being flush with cash

Some English press saying wages sorted by Bath but RFU refused to pay a 300k transfer fee

[olaf the fat]

Toulon are not worried about the wage bill, so why let him break his contract for free? plus it would be costly to replace him.

Its only some tripe to fool English fans into believing their clubs could compete with the likes of Toulon, and justify the new competition.

[simonokeeffe]

I'd be a little bit worried about the England dressing room if too many players railroaded into the team/squad/panel just before world cup if results dont go their way

[IanD]

Just a thought.

Could Armitage force the RFUs hand over the selection policy with a threat of court action under freedom/restriction of trade within EU law.

RFU would have to prove in court he would not get his place in the squad. Bearing in mind that the England back row for the 6 Nations was hardly awe inspiring it would be hard to prove.

Tom Johnson Flanker 16 July 1982 (aged 31) 5 England Exeter Chiefs
Matt Kvesic Flanker 14 April 1992 (aged 21) 2 England Gloucester
Chris Robshaw (c) Flanker 4 June 1986 (aged 27) 20 England Harlequins
Tom Wood Flanker 3 November 1986 (aged 27) 23 England Northampton Saints
Ben Morgan Number 8 18 February 1989 (aged 24) 15 England Gloucester
Billy Vunipola Number 8 3 November 1992 (aged 21) 5 England Saracens

[Dave Cahill]

Just a thought.

Could Armitage force the RFUs hand over the selection policy with a threat of court action under freedom/restriction of trade within EU law.

RFU would have to prove in court he would not get his place in the squad. Bearing in mind that the England back row for the 6 Nations was hardly awe inspiring it would be hard to prove.

Tom Johnson Flanker 16 July 1982 (aged 31) 5 England Exeter Chiefs
Matt Kvesic Flanker 14 April 1992 (aged 21) 2 England Gloucester
Chris Robshaw (c) Flanker 4 June 1986 (aged 27) 20 England Harlequins
Tom Wood Flanker 3 November 1986 (aged 27) 23 England Northampton Saints
Ben Morgan Number 8 18 February 1989 (aged 24) 15 England Gloucester
Billy Vunipola Number 8 3 November 1992 (aged 21) 5 England Saracens

No he couldn't. Even the most venal ambulance chasing dishonest shyster of a lawyer would laugh him out of his office. He could be selected by England in time for the autumn internationals if he wanted to be. All he would have to do is move back to England. International sport is, by its nature and by design, discriminatory and that has been held up and protected by court after court.

[The Doc]

Just a thought.

Could Armitage force the RFUs hand over the selection policy with a threat of court action under freedom/restriction of trade within EU law.

RFU would have to prove in court he would not get his place in the squad. Bearing in mind that the England back row for the 6 Nations was hardly awe inspiring it would be hard to prove.

Tom Johnson Flanker 16 July 1982 (aged 31) 5 England Exeter Chiefs
Matt Kvesic Flanker 14 April 1992 (aged 21) 2 England Gloucester
Chris Robshaw (c) Flanker 4 June 1986 (aged 27) 20 England Harlequins
Tom Wood Flanker 3 November 1986 (aged 27) 23 England Northampton Saints
Ben Morgan Number 8 18 February 1989 (aged 24) 15 England Gloucester
Billy Vunipola Number 8 3 November 1992 (aged 21) 5 England Saracens

There is no restraint of trade - his trade is playing rugby, not being selected for the International representative team - which is a judgement call in any case. There is no restraint on him plying his trade.

[IanD]

There is no restraint of trade - his trade is playing rugby, not being selected for the International representative team - which is a judgement call in any case. There is no restraint on him plying his trade.

But what if he said I was an International Rugby Player before my move to France and the RFU are stopping me continuing as an International Rugby Player. I know it is semantics but surely that is what the Law is all about.