Club Loyalty: A Thing Of The Past?
For as long as I can remember Rugby has been considered to be a game played by gentleman. However as the modern world continues to be driven by greed and corruption can we really expect the young players of today to behave in a gentlemanly manner when it comes to contract negotiations and transfer talks? The pitfalls of offering players big money in order to secure their signatures are countless. I believe such money being thrown at players could lead to them being likened to the prima donnas of Football and could also have a direct effect on many players attitudes.
In an ideal world clubs across the world would have the same money at their disposal and would adhere to the same wage caps. Sadly this is not the case, at the moment more money seems to be getting injected into the French leagues than any other. Combine this with a non existent wage cap and a complete disregard for throwing money at players and its easy to see why players are opting to move across the channel.
My biggest question is can love for a club or a desire to win trophies outweigh a big pay day?
The idealist in me wants to believe it can. One of these three factors must play a bigger part than the others in the decision making process.
The old romantic in me wants to believe that as children all rugby players support a club and want to play for that club for the entirety of their career and go on to coach with that team. Regardless of money or silverware. However the realist in me knows that although this may be the intention of the young prospects the modern player has an in built desire to win and be successful. Players want to go on to represent their countries and they long for silverware and medals.
This is the kind of greed and hunger I can accept. We have all experienced success in some form or another, maybe not on the same scale as a Heineken Cup or and Aviva Premiership Final but still there is no greater feeling than winning on any scale.
On the flip side of this coin we are all aware how short a Rugby players career can be. In the blink of an eye you can go from rampaging superstar to armchair pundit.
I don't believe club loyalty has completely gone from the minds of the players but I certainly think it plays a smaller part. The major factors now are simply money and trophies and the two can often go hand in hand. I will never begrudge a player chasing his dreams but a player chasing the payday and the limelight whilst trying to give the impression he has always loved his new club, well these players irk me.
It seems for the foreseeable future silverware and golden handshakes will be the primary motives for signing for any club.
