What the Ruck - Volume II

By DC

The whole point of me writing a weekly article is to keep my anger under control; seriously this article has been forced on me by a combination of medical professionals and local magistrates. So don’t read this and think moaning little hobbit, think instead that once more the street and roads of this country are safe from DC outbursts – think of it like care in the community.

So what is it that had the red mist descending and the anger keys tapping away in my office – simple just one question, that’s all it took for me to kick off like a teenager told not to go out dressed like that. The question is a simple one; the answer may not be so simple – “will you at least be honest?”

This week Richard “Flyer” Fussell announced that he would be leaving the Dragons and signing with Welsh regional rivals the Ospreys – not the biggest shock in the World, the media must have been the only people in Wales that did not know about the move. Rumours and speculation had been flying around for months about Fussell’s future; it is hardly shocking to say that half of Wales knew the decision had been made even before Richard picked up the pen to sign his new contract.

I am not saying a man cannot make a living, hell no – we all have to pay the piper and keep the wolf from the door, but I am a believer in quality of work and enjoyment in your work. Fussell after signing announced

Motivated by money? Richard Fussell

that -   “I’m excited about the prospect of moving to the Ospreys. I’ve made the decision purely on the basis of where I feel I can develop my game ...” Be honest Richard, for God sake, nut up and admit the reason you have signed is the monthly cheque, we would not respect you any less – Damn we might even respect you more.

Fussell signed for the Dragons in 2005, following a forty game and twenty plus try shift at Pontypridd. Since joining the Welsh region he has become a crowd favourite and has continued to show his natural try scoring talent. His dancing, weaving style at times has been the only bright light in a struggling Welsh region – always keen to offer himself as an option and deadly as Maverick in that final fight scene in Top Gun when his radar locks on the try line. Over the last two seasons many have questioned why Fussell has not been included in any of Gatland & Cos international squads – why he has not been given game time. I can understand the frustration, you play well and you wait for the call and you get nothing – then to add insult to injury just when you seem to be knocking on the door the International coaches pop down the local crèche and call up two players barely in long trousers. Already this season Aled Brew among others have come out stamping their feet in frustration asking why the Dragons players are being over looked, and I for one agree – both Brew and Fussell have been in the kind of form that could have seen them called up for the 6 nations. Then again other players in the Dragons squad have also stood up to be counted, Gavin Thomas, Wayne Evans & Hugh Gustafson, at times clubs are out of favour – unfashionable. We have grown to accept this kind of behaviour in cricket & football. We can all name players that have been ignored on the international stage, only to head to different clubs for “opportunities”, only for them to disappear into the mists of myth, legend and tales of what could have been – it is technically called Scott Parker syndrome.

Ok so Richie Fuss is not the first and he will not be the last to head for pastures new, to seek out new challenges, to boldly go where no player has gone before, granted with a massive cheque in their back pocket. However Fussell is a clear example of a player that has just taken the payment and rolled out the spin – how is going from regular try scoring appearances for the club that gave you a chance, to sitting on the bench, or more likely in the grandstand, a way of developing your career and increasing your international prospects?

I will admit that Robinson Crusoe had better training facilities that the Dragons, I have been to see the training set up at the Ospreys and I have to admit they have the kind of facilities that would make NASA astronauts jealous. But what is the point of having better facilities if they just mean you are fitter when it comes to running on the water or when it comes to clapping with gusto from the terraces? Currently the Ospreys have in their squad – ex World Player of the Year Shane Williams, the try machine Tommy “scores again” Bowe, Scottish international Nikki “ bigger and quicker than a buffalo in a faulty Toyota” Walker, and new International recruits Kristian “the Promise” Phillips and Tom “ bed by 7.30 it’s a school night” Prydie. Fussell, since 2005, has been the creative consistent big fish in a second tier pond however how will he cope in the shark infested sea that surrounds Opsrelia? At only 25 Fussell still has his best years ahead of him, the question is will he spending them running rings around players on the paddock or warming the palms of his hands and counting his wages in the cheap seats.

I am not aiming for slander here, but come on be honest Richie – you feel that you have been over looked one time too many and you have decided to take the payday while you’re still young enough. You know what I wish you luck but I would have had more respect if you had said ...”why am I leaving.....simple have you seen my shiny new car and my big fat wallet?” Come on now, no one is going to respect you any less; it would be refreshing to be told for once ... “why am I leaving .... simple... CASH!”

Ok I might have been very harsh on one individual but we all know of someone who has taken the money and run, only to claim it’s for career development. Last year it was the brothers Robinson, Jamie to Toulon and Nicky to Gloucester – both claimed they were going for a fresh challenge – both it could be argued felt as if they were in the international wilderness. Fussell is just another one in a long line of players that have gone for cash and hidden behind spin – after all players should get paid to play, not get paid to sit down in the stands. If they wanted to sit for a living then I could have given them the number for Hagar’s House of Sofas they are always looking for testers over at old Hagars.

I would like to see a cap introduced to ensure that regional squads have a maximum number of players and a rotation policy that meant that those players all regularly had a shot at turning out for their club.  But until the Rugby governing bodies clamp down on squads like the Ospreys, Leicester and Leinster, big clubs with big bank rolls will attract more and more players – meaning more and more players will be lost in and amongst the crowds. Massive squads mean that the paying fans are being robbed of seeing the likes of Fussell dance and weave their magic – international teams will not benefit either. But robbing us of the chance to see these players is punishment enough, flat rate fibbing just adds to the pain and suffering. So I propose a toast to the truth and let’s raise our glasses and hope that sooner or later the next player that goes for the cash will nut up and simply say – I have bills to pay and a girl friend with a shoe addiction, of course I went for the cash.

Player are role models, fans will always respect them, so tell the truth we might not respect you anymore but we sure as Hell will not respect you any less.

DC