England side for the Barbarians game

[francoisfou]

Game could be off!

Baabaa’s players broke covid bubble. RFU trying to source more players.

Vern, if you're reading this, I'm available as a replacement, but only for the last minute as I'm not quite as fit as I was when I last played for the 4th XV in 1986.
Any of you other feckers up for it? C'mon, don't be shy!

[Puja]

Game could be off!

Baabaa’s players broke covid bubble. RFU trying to source more players.

Vern, if you're reading this, I'm available as a replacement, but only for the last minute as I'm not quite as fit as I was when I last played for the 4th XV in 1986.
Any of you other feckers up for it? C'mon, don't be shy!

I do actually have a game on Saturday, but player welfare be damned - I'll turn out Sunday as well.

Puja

[fivepointer]

To recap: England v Barbarians will be called off unless the Barbarians can find 12 new players in the next 24 hours who can guarantee they have been in a Covid-free bubble.

This is all because 12 Barbarians went out on the town last night..

[francoisfou]

Game could be off!

Baabaa’s players broke covid bubble. RFU trying to source more players.

Vern, if you're reading this, I'm available as a replacement, but only for the last minute as I'm not quite as fit as I was when I last played for the 4th XV in 1986.
Any of you other feckers up for it? C'mon, don't be shy!

I do actually have a game on Saturday, but player welfare be damned - I'll turn out Sunday as well.

Puja

Good man, Puja! However, I’ve just realised I no longer have my club socks!

[Stom]

Vern, if you're reading this, I'm available as a replacement, but only for the last minute as I'm not quite as fit as I was when I last played for the 4th XV in 1986.
Any of you other feckers up for it? C'mon, don't be shy!

I do actually have a game on Saturday, but player welfare be damned - I'll turn out Sunday as well.

Puja

Good man, Puja! However, I’ve just realised I no longer have my club socks!

I also do not have my club socks and have the disadvantage of being in another country.

[francoisfou]

I do actually have a game on Saturday, but player welfare be damned - I'll turn out Sunday as well.

Puja

Good man, Puja! However, I’ve just realised I no longer have my club socks!

I also do not have my club socks and have the disadvantage of being in another country.

Me too, perhaps not so far as you, Stom!

[jimKRFC]

It's RIL so take with a big dose of salt:

According to Rugby Inside Line on Twitter, Chris Jones has said on BBC Sport that four of the players are Wigglesworth, Wray, Maitland and Robshaw. We'll find out soon enough I guess. Apparently PRL are blocking Bristol players being released as other teams had players blocked due to the short turnaround time between seasons

[Puja]

It's RIL so take with a big dose of salt:

According to Rugby Inside Line on Twitter, Chris Jones has said on BBC Sport that four of the players are Wigglesworth, Wray, Maitland and Robshaw. We'll find out soon enough I guess. Apparently PRL are blocking Bristol players being released as other teams had players blocked due to the short turnaround time between seasons

I would be astounded if that were true, as those are literally the four least likely if you were to ask me to guess. Mind, everyone can have a bad decision occasionally.

ETA. The Guardian has come up with the same list of names, suggesting that it's likely the truth. Unbelievable.

Puja

[Stom]

It's RIL so take with a big dose of salt:

According to Rugby Inside Line on Twitter, Chris Jones has said on BBC Sport that four of the players are Wigglesworth, Wray, Maitland and Robshaw. We'll find out soon enough I guess. Apparently PRL are blocking Bristol players being released as other teams had players blocked due to the short turnaround time between seasons

I would be astounded if that were true, as those are literally the four least likely if you were to ask me to guess. Mind, everyone can have a bad decision occasionally.

ETA. The Guardian has come up with the same list of names, suggesting that it's likely the truth. Unbelievable.

Puja

They could all have got it from the same source... doesn’t mean it’s true.

[Scrumhead]

Also rumours that Tom de Glanville said he hadn’t gone and then was found to be lying after being caught on CCTV.

[padprop]

What a farce.

Wonder if they got to keep the stash at least

[Oakboy]

In the DT there is a report that Barbarian players went for a walk in Hyde Park and then had a coffee in space-controlled premises, all within management plans and rules. The offending sin is reportedly a meal at an Italian restaurant. If that was similarly space-controlled (as it should be by law) is the offence doing the same as earlier but without permission? It seems a bit petty somehow if so.

We'll probably never hear the full story accurately, of course.

[Scrumhead]

It's RIL so take with a big dose of salt:

According to Rugby Inside Line on Twitter, Chris Jones has said on BBC Sport that four of the players are Wigglesworth, Wray, Maitland and Robshaw. We'll find out soon enough I guess. Apparently PRL are blocking Bristol players being released as other teams had players blocked due to the short turnaround time between seasons

I would be astounded if that were true, as those are literally the four least likely if you were to ask me to guess. Mind, everyone can have a bad decision occasionally.

ETA. The Guardian has come up with the same list of names, suggesting that it's likely the truth. Unbelievable.

Puja

You and me both, but it looks like it’s true! What an embarrassing episode.

If it is as Oakboy has described, then it may have been a misunderstanding rather than a wilful breach, but still ... There’s no excuse to be that stupid.

[Mellsblue]

I dread to think how many points Sarries will be docked next season.

[Banquo]

I dread to think how many points Sarries will be docked next season.

[fivepointer]

I'm pretty sure the Barbarians players would have been told what was and wasnt permissable given they would be in a covid secure environment.
12 players out together would not only contravene that but would also clearly break the "rule of six" guideline.
Unless the players are all spectacularly dense, or they have been cut off from the realities of life in the UK over the last 6 months, they have wilfully decided to break the rules.
I'm astounded that anyone would be stupid enough to act in this way. That it seems senior players, who you would have expected to display some responsibility have been involved frankly beggars belief.
They all should have known better.

[TheNomad]

What a bunch of planks. And for De Glanville, he has f*cked up what could have been a really good audition for him - it worked well for Daly some time back

What an idiot - I'm not getting all high and mighty about spreading Covid, but from a professional standpoint that was a very poor judgement

[jngf]

In the DT there is a report that Barbarian players went for a walk in Hyde Park and then had a coffee in space-controlled premises, all within management plans and rules. The offending sin is reportedly a meal at an Italian restaurant. If that was similarly space-controlled (as it should be by law) is the offence doing the same as earlier but without permission? It seems a bit petty somehow if so.

We'll probably never hear the full story accurately, of course.

In non COVID times - an Italian meal sounds well in line with Barbarians Training Sessions - alongside going to musicals on day before kick off or getting pissed up on half time champagne whilst sporting a pink bow tie (a la French Baa Baas!)

[jimKRFC]

The BBC saying that Bristol offered players, and Nadolo offered himself, but PRL saying Premiership players can't play (Because of the short turn-around) for the BaaBaas but could play for England or in the Final (if Wasps couldn't).

PRL doing a great job making themselves even more like idiots with no respect for the game....

Cardiff RFC said on Friday that centre Max Llewellyn, son of former Wales lock Gareth, and full-back Ioan Davies had been called up to the squad.

[Oakboy]

I'm pretty sure the Barbarians players would have been told what was and wasnt permissable given they would be in a covid secure environment.
12 players out together would not only contravene that but would also clearly break the "rule of six" guideline.
Unless the players are all spectacularly dense, or they have been cut off from the realities of life in the UK over the last 6 months, they have wilfully decided to break the rules.
I'm astounded that anyone would be stupid enough to act in this way. That it seems senior players, who you would have expected to display some responsibility have been involved frankly beggars belief.
They all should have known better.

12? That makes a huge difference! I'd only read about a group of four.

[FKAS]

The BBC saying that Bristol offered players, and Nadolo offered himself, but PRL saying Premiership players can't play (Because of the short turn-around) for the BaaBaas but could play for England or in the Final (if Wasps couldn't).

PRL doing a great job making themselves even more like idiots with no respect for the game....

Cardiff RFC said on Friday that centre Max Llewellyn, son of former Wales lock Gareth, and full-back Ioan Davies had been called up to the squad.

The English clubs don't want to set a precedent with the Lions trying to get hold of PRL players for the Japan game that clashes with the Prem final next year. Prem clubs are understandably not amused by the Lions/Unions shameless money grab.

[Puja]

The BBC saying that Bristol offered players, and Nadolo offered himself, but PRL saying Premiership players can't play (Because of the short turn-around) for the BaaBaas but could play for England or in the Final (if Wasps couldn't).

PRL doing a great job making themselves even more like idiots with no respect for the game....

Cardiff RFC said on Friday that centre Max Llewellyn, son of former Wales lock Gareth, and full-back Ioan Davies had been called up to the squad.

The BBC are now saying:

It is understood Premiership Rugby officials emailed clubs on Thursday to ask if they would release players to play for the Barbarians.

Given the requirements for players to be in a bubble and with a negative coronavirus test result, it is expected extra players will mostly come from those within the England camp not selected by Eddie Jones.

Most club chairmen BBC Sport has spoken to have been very supportive of what is being described as an 'SOS', and believe it is a good opportunity for their players who might otherwise have been released by England.

Sounds like we could end up with a Possibles vs Probables game, which frankly I would be much more interested in than the Barbarians team that we originally had.

If we're assuming that England are picking their 1st XV, then we could end up with Obano, Heyes, Moon/Ribbans, Hill, Earl, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Dingwall, Marchant/Lawrence, Crossdale, Furbank going across. Youngs vs Mitchell, Undercurry vs Hearl, BillyV vs Dombrandt - that'd be worth watching.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Got to feel for De Glanville. If you’re a young player just breaking in to int rugby, players such as Robshaw and Wigglesworth inviting you for a few beverages* must be hard to say no to.

*assuming that’s how it went down.

[TheNomad]

If we're assuming that England are picking their 1st XV, then we could end up with Obano, Heyes, Moon/Ribbans, Hill, Earl, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Dingwall, Marchant/Lawrence, Crossdale, Furbank going across. Youngs vs Mitchell, Undercurry vs Hearl, BillyV vs Dombrandt - that'd be worth watching.

Good point

[Banquo]

Cancelled. Nice one. RFU will likely have to cough money back to Sky.

Those players need a good look in the mirror.