Blood & Mud

Comrade Gatland will not tolerate defectors

Since the days of the genteel Joe Stalin, the Soviet borders were closed to prevent their finest leaving. Warren Gatland likes that idea and is imposing it upon Wales - or their rugby players at least.  During the Cold War years, it was seen as a great coup for the either side if they nicked somebody from the other lot; that mincing ballet-fiend  cum actor Mikhail Baryshnikov came over from the USSR amid much publicity.  We have seen something similar this week with Dwayne Peel going to Sale, only I hope Peel will not subsequently turn up in dreadful films, or as a love interest in a long-running female comedy-drama.

But, to return to the point, surely Comrade Warren has not thought this through.  There are only four teams in Wales, and unless this ruling goes hand-in-hand with a tough quota on foreign imports then it could do Wales more harm than good.  To use an apposite example, there are only four scrum-half positions now available at elite level in Wales, currently two of the regular starters are not of the Taff variety and this could be three if the Scarlets look abroad for their new half-back after Peel's departure. 

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Comrade Gatland will not tolerate defectors

Since the days of the genteel Joe Stalin, the Soviet borders were closed to prevent their finest leaving. Warren Gatland likes that idea and is imposing it upon Wales - or their rugby players at least.  During the Cold War years, it was seen as a great coup for the either side if they nicked somebody from the other lot; that mincing ballet-fiend  cum actor Mikhail Baryshnikov came over from the USSR amid much publicity.  We have seen something similar this week with Dwayne Peel going to Sale, only I hope Peel will not subsequently turn up in dreadful films, or as a love interest in a long-running female comedy-drama.

But, to return to the point, surely Comrade Warren has not thought this through.  There are only four teams in Wales, and unless this ruling goes hand-in-hand with a tough quota on foreign imports then it could do Wales more harm than good.  To use an apposite example, there are only four scrum-half positions now available at elite level in Wales, currently two of the regular starters are not of the Taff variety and this could be three if the Scarlets look abroad for their new half-back after Peel's departure.