England side for the Barbarians game

[twitchy]

Very embarrassing. A real shame we didn't get to see some of those players also.

[Scrumhead]

Thoroughly embarrassing and very disappointing. What fools.

[Timbo]

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

Those players need a good look in the mirror.

I wonder if the RFU will look to get some damages off the Baabaa’s.

[fivepointer]

"England's match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday has been called off after 12 Barbarians players were stood down for breaking Covid rules.

The players left their hotel bubble - contrary to team protocols - to have dinner at a London restaurant.

During its investigation, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it discovered another breach where players left the hotel without permission.

It says those actions meant the "bubble environment" had been compromised"

Frankly the players involved were taking the piss, acting unprofessionally and selfishly. Name and shame them.

[TheNomad]

"England's match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday has been called off after 12 Barbarians players were stood down for breaking Covid rules.

The players left their hotel bubble - contrary to team protocols - to have dinner at a London restaurant.

During its investigation, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it discovered another breach where players left the hotel without permission.

It says those actions meant the "bubble environment" had been compromised"

Frankly the players involved were taking the piss, acting unprofessionally and selfishly. Name and shame them.

At a time when the game needs money, this is terrible behaviour. It's absolutely idiotic

[Puja]

"England's match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday has been called off after 12 Barbarians players were stood down for breaking Covid rules.

The players left their hotel bubble - contrary to team protocols - to have dinner at a London restaurant.

During its investigation, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said it discovered another breach where players left the hotel without permission.

It says those actions meant the "bubble environment" had been compromised"

Frankly the players involved were taking the piss, acting unprofessionally and selfishly. Name and shame them.

Wow. That is frankly spectacular. My opinion of a lot of those players involved has gone way down and I'd imagine I'm not alone in that. TdG gets a pass as someone said here for being young and surrounded by senior players (as would the likes of Kpoku if it turns out they were involved too), but for the others, it's an embarrassment.

There's going to be a few of that Barbarians squad who were completely innocent and may never get a chance to play for the BaaBaas or at Twickenham again. Poor sods.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

It's (the idea of) Robshaw's involvement that confuses me the most. Players have been denied pulling on and England shirt and getting to play at Twickenham, regardless of crowd or quality on show that's quite a thing for someone like him to have taken away from them. They must have realised this was an option if they knowingly broke the rules?

[Shiny]

Saracens have tweeted out that they have spoken to their players and they have failed to reach the standards of *cough* integrity *cough* set by Saracens. They are all jolly naughty boys. Reading between the lines it sounds like it was their contingent + Robshaw etc who were at fault rather than a lot of the Fijians.

[Oakboy]

Are these some of the 'totally innocent' Saracens players who may still be considered for international selection following the financial issues or can't we ask that question?

[Banquo]

Game was due to be dedicated to Sgt Matt Ratana too.

Some of the players will not get a sniff at twickers or the baa baas again because of the stupidity of a lot of senior players ( I don’t give the younger ones much of a pass either tbh, they aren’t children). Fckin disgrace.

[Banquo]

Are these some of the 'totally innocent' Saracens players who may still be considered for international selection following the financial issues or can't we ask that question?

You do love a bit of confirmation bias

[Oakboy]

Are these some of the 'totally innocent' Saracens players who may still be considered for international selection following the financial issues or can't we ask that question?

You do love a bit of confirmation bias

I certainly don't love Saracens . . . . Ah, see what you mean!!!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Game was due to be dedicated to Sgt Matt Ratana too.

Some of the players will not get a sniff at twickers or the baa baas again because of the stupidity of a lot of senior players ( I don’t give the younger ones much of a pass either tbh, they aren’t children). Fckin disgrace.

Yep. None of the younger players are children. Nor do they live under a rock. Bunch of idiots the lot of them.

[jngf]

Are these some of the 'totally innocent' Saracens players who may still be considered for international selection following the financial issues or can't we ask that question?

You do love a bit of confirmation bias

I certainly don't love Saracens . . . . Ah, see what you mean!!!

If Saracens were a Facilities management company they’ld be charging £7k a day per consultant to run Track n’ Trace

[Puja]

It's (the idea of) Robshaw's involvement that confuses me the most. Players have been denied pulling on and England shirt and getting to play at Twickenham, regardless of crowd or quality on show that's quite a thing for someone like him to have taken away from them. They must have realised this was an option if they knowingly broke the rules?

Agreed - it seems strikingly out of character. The only thing that makes sense is that they just signed the participation agreement without reading it and assumed what they were doing was within the rules.

Bunch of pillocks, either way.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Are these some of the 'totally innocent' Saracens players who may still be considered for international selection following the financial issues or can't we ask that question?

The only ones with a semi-realistic chance of being on the England radar are Kpoku and Vunipola.

Wigglesworth is retiring, the likes of Wray, Lewington and Clark definitely wouldn’t be involved with England and the rest of the Saracens aren’t English anyway (Maitland, Swinson and Socino).

I’m shocked Robshaw’s let himself down like this. Whatever you think of him as a player, he’s always been a consummate professional and this is an ugly footnote to an otherwise excellent career.

[fivepointer]

yeah, i expected more from Robshaw. Inexplicably poor judgment from him and everyone else.

Will any of them face a charge of bringing the game into disrepute?

[Mr Mwenda]

I do wonder if there's more to it. But that's only cos like others here it doesn't fit my image of Robshaw.

[Oakboy]

I do wonder if there's more to it. But that's only cos like others here it doesn't fit my image of Robshaw.

Maybe his partner was not available to sing the National Anthem?????

[Mr Mwenda]

I was thinking something along the lines of a royal scandal. With Robshaw and co taking the hit for the princess

[Oakboy]

Are these some of the 'totally innocent' Saracens players who may still be considered for international selection following the financial issues or can't we ask that question?

The only ones with a semi-realistic chance of being on the England radar are Kpoku and Vunipola.

Wigglesworth is retiring, the likes of Wray, Lewington and Clark definitely wouldn’t be involved with England and the rest of the Saracens aren’t English anyway (Maitland, Swinson and Socino).

I’m shocked Robshaw’s let himself down like this. Whatever you think of him as a player, he’s always been a consummate professional and this is an ugly footnote to an otherwise excellent career.

Ah, well summed-up.

I think sport generally is not coping well with the covid business and the top end of rugby is no exception. I read a letter the other day suggesting that covid cannot transfer from A to B on its own. Someone has to carry it. Stop travel, stop the virus was the theme. All that flagged up for me was that it was one suggestion (probably virally/medically flawed) that offered certainty. Experts cannot even agree on what should have been done in March with hindsight, never mind what should be done in future.

Robshaw and Co were stupid but if some journalist had not seen and reported them, would it have mattered? I can't answer that but I have some sympathy even though I shouldn't and can't justify it.

[Puja]

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

Those players need a good look in the mirror.

If they've been far-sighted, the RFU will've had the game insured against COVID-related cancellation and might actually be in a better financial situation with it off than on.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Let’s hope so. I wouldn’t want anyone relying on being paid for this fixture losing out because of the Barbarians players’ stupidity.

[Mellsblue]

[Puja]

That's a very good point. Thankfully the Barbarians had only called up uncapped Fijians, so hopefully it won't have that big of an impact on their 1st XV, but it's still massively disruptive to their preparation and overall squad building.

Puja