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#Post#: 143863--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: poorfour
Date: October 21, 2025, 12:07 am
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The women’s international game was planned to break even by 2030
but it had already achieved that milestone before RWC 2025,
which itself beat its original attendance target by nearly
200,000 tickets and will probably have turned a decent profit
when the accounting settles.
PWR was set up with a 10 year plan to achieve profitability
without factoring in any boost from RWC 2025. We will get a
sense on Friday of whether that date has come in, too. The PWR
salary cap, unlike the Prem one, is based on a revenue sharing
agreement so that only as revenue grows can players’ wages grow
from their current, tiny base (the entire cap is less than many
non-marquee internationals will be paid individually in the
men’s game).
As for Willis, if the combined financial might of the RFU and
Saracens wasn’t enough to keep him in England then his decision
probably wasn’t entirely about money. But equally, there are
plenty of other players who could take a French contract and
earn far more than they do in England, but choose to stay and
play their part. I’d rather that England had players who were
committed to the cause.
#Post#: 143870--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:02 am
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I think when it comes to the Willis boys it's a combination of
huge amounts of money being their driving factor - my levels of
sympathy regarding Wasps going bust are reasonably high but at
some point you have to accept these two have become pretty
mercenary - and being somewhere where they are feted as gods
rather than players with something to prove.
A good friend of mine thinks both Willis boys should be starting
for England and won't hear otherwise. To me it's pretty clear
that Tom is a superb carrier with a high work rate on attack and
defence who needs a bit more work on the detail of his attacking
game to become world class, and Jack is a superb ball thief and
heavy carrier with a weird habit of missing tackles at
international level and being a bit ponderous. The two of them
together would be incredible in a dog fight but we'd struggle in
higher paced matches as they are probably the slowest options we
could pick.
I get the impression in France they are considered perfect, much
like Stef Armitage (although they're better than him imo)
#Post#: 143873--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: A222Quin
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:06 am
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> I think when it comes to the Willis boys it's a combination of
huge amounts of money being their driving factor - my levels of
sympathy regarding Wasps going bust are reasonably high but at
some point you have to accept these two have become pretty
mercenary - and being somewhere where they are feted as gods
rather than players with something to prove.
>
> A good friend of mine thinks both Willis boys should be
starting for England and won't hear otherwise. To me it's pretty
clear that Tom is a superb carrier with a high work rate on
attack and defence who needs a bit more work on the detail of
his attacking game to become world class, and Jack is a superb
ball thief and heavy carrier with a weird habit of missing
tackles at international level and being a bit ponderous. The
two of them together would be incredible in a dog fight but we'd
struggle in higher paced matches as they are probably the
slowest options we could pick.
>
> I get the impression in France they are considered perfect,
much like Stef Armitage (although they're better than him imo)
>
--- End Quote ---
Fair analysis JG. Both cracking players but not an immediate
slam dunk as many would like to believe. But.... as I understand
it, everyone playing in France is top top class and everything
the French do is "the answer" as doing what the Irish did was
"the answer" a couple of years ago?
#Post#: 143874--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:07 am
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Willis will be only 29 when RWC 2031 comes around so who knows
if this is part of his plan. Also, contracts with French Clubs
do seem to be a rather movable feast, n'est ce pas?
As for the vulgar misogyny being displayed here about the Womens
game, as a Husband to a Woman and the father of 3 girls it,
frankly, leaves me speechless.
#Post#: 143876--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: A222Quin link ---
>
> Fair analysis JG. Both cracking players but not an immediate
slam dunk as many would like to believe. But.... as I understand
it, everyone playing in France is top top class and everything
the French do is "the answer" as doing what the Irish did was
"the answer" a couple of years ago?
>
--- End Quote ---
Aye. There are still people who don't understand why Guy Mercer
wasn't nailed on for England, for example. Looked amazing in
french rugby. Looked a liability over here.
#Post#: 143877--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:16 am
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Plus he was obnoxious about the whole thing.
#Post#: 143878--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: A222Quin
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:17 am
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--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> Plus he was obnoxious about the whole thing.
>
--- End Quote ---
Mercer? Yes... seemed to believe he should just walk into the
England set up regardless of how well he was playing.
#Post#: 143881--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: Yareet
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:35 am
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Poor Guy. Forever mistaken for Zach
#Post#: 143882--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: never sleep
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:45 am
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--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> Willis will be only 29 when RWC 2031 comes around so who knows
if this is part of his plan. Also, contracts with French Clubs
do seem to be a rather movable feast, n'est ce pas?
>
> As for the vulgar misogyny being displayed here about the
Womens game, as a Husband to a Woman and the father of 3 girls
it, frankly, leaves me speechless.
>
--- End Quote ---
I am a big supporter on the women's game and I think that it
should be encouraged.
Just as long as they have finished doing the washing up first
before they run off to play.
#Post#: 143883--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tom Willis off to France again
DIR By: dr_miles
Date: October 21, 2025, 3:48 am
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--- Quote from: never sleep link ---
>
> I am a big supporter on the women's game and I think that it
should be encouraged.
> Just as long as they have finished doing the washing up first
before they run off to play.
>
--- End Quote ---
Even as a joke, this is one of the stupidest posts that I have
ever seen on here and you should be embarrassed.
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