Were Wasps right to release Andy Powell?
Once tarred with a bad-boy image, it can be difficult to lose that tag. Wasps, known for their history of setting waifs and strays along the straight and narrow, failed to do so on this occasion.
Let me be clear about one thing. As a player, viewed on his on-pitch exploits only, Andy was a breath of fresh air this year. Finally, a ball carrier who wouldn't lose the ball often in contact, while making a good few hard yards. He was one of the stand-out performers in what was a poor season for Wasps, although it is also fair to say that it didn't take as much to stand out as it would have done had he been playing for one of the current top four clubs.
"Released by mutual consent was the headline. One can only speculate how mutual that consent was, as both Wasps and the player have agreed to not comment further. As much as I rated Andy as a player, I have to feel the right decision was made.
Sadly of course, it is front pages, not back, that sell newspapers. Messrs Powell, Henson, Cipriani et al. are always going to be viewed in the wrong for going public with their version of events, or even for being seen in public, let alone when their employers have already instructed them to dummy up. I will save my thoughts on Cipriani for another day.
As much as anything else, a business decision had to be made. After all, Premiership Rugby clubs are big business, regardless of profit or loss, and have their own budgets, not least the salary cap, just like any other business. I can therefore understand the need to weigh up the cost, in terms of a significant part of that salary cap, against both the potential unavailability for half a season through international commitments, and the risk of ¦golf buggy ¦pub brawling ¦what could possibly be next?
I'm not saying in any way that this would have been the major factor, but it may well have been the one that swung the balance. Contrast that to Gavin Henson at Toulon, where the decision to retain him is hardly likely to bankrupt his French employers and such a luxury means they can easily afford to not select him in future if necessary. English rugby does not have those luxuries.
I feel sorry for Andy and wish him well wherever he ends up. I also feel sorry for our management having been forced into making such a decision. It is not something that you plan for.
