Bleater's Blog
  1. The Season Run In
  2. It’s Six Nations Time!
  3. 2024 Has Arrived
  4. It’s Nearly Here…… January
  5. Countdown to Chri….. January!
  6. RWC 2023 - The Final Approaches
  7. Rugby World Cup 2023 Plus
  8. The Rugby World Cup Approaches
  9. The Summer Break
  10. The Final Countdown
  11. The Summer Tours Up Next
  12. Rugby Continues Thankfully
  13. The Six Nations - Happy Days
  14. 2023 Has Arrived
  15. The Halfway Point of the Season
  16. The Season Continues into Autumn
  17. Here we go! A new season
  18. The Twilight Zone
  19. The Season is Nearly Over
  20. The Six Nations and Some
  21. The 6 Nations Begins
  22. 2022 and All THAT!
  23. Christmas is nearly upon us!!
  24. We’re Still Waiting
  25. The Season Progresses
  26. At Last - We are back
  27. The New Season is Nearly Here
  28. Lions Tests are Here!
  29. The Lions Up next
  30. Now It’s Europe
  31. 6 Nations Beckons
  32. 2021 at last! A year of renewed hope!
  33. A New Premiership Season
  34. Still NO Grassroots Rugby!!!!!
  35. It Continues - NO GRASSROOTS RUGBY!!
  36. No End In Sight To The Madness
  37. Autumn Internationals BUT Still NO Crowds
  38. We're Back - In Part At Least
  39. The Restart is Still a Long Way Away
  40. When will we play again?
  41. Time for a beer and a haircut!!
  42. It's easing apparently???!!!
  43. Behind Closed Doors or ...... ??
  44. Lockdown or not to lockdown
  45. The Debate Continues
  46. Yet another new page
  47. The Nightmare Continues - the blog
  48. The Season Grinds to a Halt
  49. The Season Moves On
  50. It's Official - The Drought is Over
  51. 6 Nations Starts
  52. Another New Page - Sorry
  53. 6 Nations Beckons
  54. Welcome To A New Decade
  55. It'll soon be over. Xmas that is
  56. Xmas is Coming
  57. Back to the Grassroots Game
  58. Bleater in Japan
  59. The Grassroots Season Starts
  60. Not Long Now!
  61. Japan Still Beckons
  62. Japan Beckons
  63. Nearly Time To Look Ahead
  64. The Summer Break is Here
  65. The Final Countdown
  66. Yet another section of drivel
  67. The Season Continues for a Little Longer
  68. The 6 Nations Continues
  69. Six Nations and More
  70. It's RWC Year!!
  71. Its Definitely Winter
  72. Winter is here. Brrrr!!!
  73. Its the Autumn, soon to be Winter
  74. We Are Off And Running
  75. The New Season Approaches
  76. Still the Summer Tours Go On
  77. The Summer Internationals Plus, Plus
  78. The Season Climax Approaches
  79. Summer is Coming
  80. Another Section, More Drivel
  81. 2018 Already!!!! It'll soon be Xmas
  82. The Season Approaches the Half Way Point
  83. The Season Takes Shape
  84. The Season Starts
  85. More Pre-Season Build Up
  86. Pre-Season and Other Stuff
  87. The Lions Tested
  88. The Lions Roar
  89. We Are Still Counting Down
  90. It's All About The Lions
  91. The Countdown to Season's End
  92. The Season Continues Apace
  93. It's Time for the 6 Nations
  94. 2017 - Let The Fun Begin
  95. The Big Man Will Be Here Soon
  96. Let's Countdown to You Know What
  97. It's Time For Europe
  98. The Season Is Well Underway
  99. At Last Let The Competition Begin
  100. Not Long to the New Season
  101. Not So Much Rugby Now
  102. Still Plenty of Rugby to Debate
  103. The Summer Break
  104. Here Comes Summer
  105. They Think It's All Over
  106. Jones - A New Era
  107. It Was A Grand Slam!!!!
  108. 6 Nations - A Grand Slam??
  109. Six Nations 2016
  110. A New Captain, A New Start
  111. Welcome to 2016
  112. The Countdown to Christmas
  113. Winter Has Arrived
  114. November Movember
  115. The World Cup Is Over
  116. Rugby World Cup Quarters
  117. Rugby World Cup into the knockout stages
  118. Rugby World Cup Day 9 to Day 24
  119. Rugby World Cup Day 1 to Day 8
  120. Sept 9th to Sept 17th
  121. August 24th to September 7th
  122. August 11th to August 23rd
  123. July 16th to August 9th
  124. July 1st to July 15th
  125. June 17th to June 29th
  126. June 2nd to June 16th
  127. May 19th to June 1st
  128. May 7th to May 17th
  129. April 28th to May 6th
  130. April 22nd to April 27th
  131. April 13th to April 21st
  132. March 13th to Aprill 11th
  133. March 5th to March 12th
Bleater's Blog
  1. The Season Run In
  2. It’s Six Nations Time!
  3. 2024 Has Arrived
  4. It’s Nearly Here…… January
  5. Countdown to Chri….. January!
  6. RWC 2023 - The Final Approaches
  7. Rugby World Cup 2023 Plus
  8. The Rugby World Cup Approaches
  9. The Summer Break
  10. The Final Countdown
  11. The Summer Tours Up Next
  12. Rugby Continues Thankfully
  13. The Six Nations - Happy Days
  14. 2023 Has Arrived
  15. The Halfway Point of the Season
  16. The Season Continues into Autumn
  17. Here we go! A new season
  18. The Twilight Zone
  19. The Season is Nearly Over
  20. The Six Nations and Some
  21. The 6 Nations Begins
  22. 2022 and All THAT!
  23. Christmas is nearly upon us!!
  24. We’re Still Waiting
  25. The Season Progresses
  26. At Last - We are back
  27. The New Season is Nearly Here
  28. Lions Tests are Here!
  29. The Lions Up next
  30. Now It’s Europe
  31. 6 Nations Beckons
  32. 2021 at last! A year of renewed hope!
  33. A New Premiership Season
  34. Still NO Grassroots Rugby!!!!!
  35. It Continues - NO GRASSROOTS RUGBY!!
  36. No End In Sight To The Madness
  37. Autumn Internationals BUT Still NO Crowds
  38. We're Back - In Part At Least
  39. The Restart is Still a Long Way Away
  40. When will we play again?
  41. Time for a beer and a haircut!!
  42. It's easing apparently???!!!
  43. Behind Closed Doors or ...... ??
  44. Lockdown or not to lockdown
  45. The Debate Continues
  46. Yet another new page
  47. The Nightmare Continues - the blog
  48. The Season Grinds to a Halt
  49. The Season Moves On
  50. It's Official - The Drought is Over
  51. 6 Nations Starts
  52. Another New Page - Sorry
  53. 6 Nations Beckons
  54. Welcome To A New Decade
  55. It'll soon be over. Xmas that is
  56. Xmas is Coming
  57. Back to the Grassroots Game
  58. Bleater in Japan
  59. The Grassroots Season Starts
  60. Not Long Now!
  61. Japan Still Beckons
  62. Japan Beckons
  63. Nearly Time To Look Ahead
  64. The Summer Break is Here
  65. The Final Countdown
  66. Yet another section of drivel
  67. The Season Continues for a Little Longer
  68. The 6 Nations Continues
  69. Six Nations and More
  70. It's RWC Year!!
  71. Its Definitely Winter
  72. Winter is here. Brrrr!!!
  73. Its the Autumn, soon to be Winter
  74. We Are Off And Running
  75. The New Season Approaches
  76. Still the Summer Tours Go On
  77. The Summer Internationals Plus, Plus
  78. The Season Climax Approaches
  79. Summer is Coming
  80. Another Section, More Drivel
  81. 2018 Already!!!! It'll soon be Xmas
  82. The Season Approaches the Half Way Point
  83. The Season Takes Shape
  84. The Season Starts
  85. More Pre-Season Build Up
  86. Pre-Season and Other Stuff
  87. The Lions Tested
  88. The Lions Roar
  89. We Are Still Counting Down
  90. It's All About The Lions
  91. The Countdown to Season's End
  92. The Season Continues Apace
  93. It's Time for the 6 Nations
  94. 2017 - Let The Fun Begin
  95. The Big Man Will Be Here Soon
  96. Let's Countdown to You Know What
  97. It's Time For Europe
  98. The Season Is Well Underway
  99. At Last Let The Competition Begin
  100. Not Long to the New Season
  101. Not So Much Rugby Now
  102. Still Plenty of Rugby to Debate
  103. The Summer Break
  104. Here Comes Summer
  105. They Think It's All Over
  106. Jones - A New Era
  107. It Was A Grand Slam!!!!
  108. 6 Nations - A Grand Slam??
  109. Six Nations 2016
  110. A New Captain, A New Start
  111. Welcome to 2016
  112. The Countdown to Christmas
  113. Winter Has Arrived
  114. November Movember
  115. The World Cup Is Over
  116. Rugby World Cup Quarters
  117. Rugby World Cup into the knockout stages
  118. Rugby World Cup Day 9 to Day 24
  119. Rugby World Cup Day 1 to Day 8
  120. Sept 9th to Sept 17th
  121. August 24th to September 7th
  122. August 11th to August 23rd
  123. July 16th to August 9th
  124. July 1st to July 15th
  125. June 17th to June 29th
  126. June 2nd to June 16th
  127. May 19th to June 1st
  128. May 7th to May 17th
  129. April 28th to May 6th
  130. April 22nd to April 27th
  131. April 13th to April 21st
  132. March 13th to Aprill 11th
  133. March 5th to March 12th
Lockdown or not to lockdown
Bleater's Blog 44 of 133

44. Lockdown or not to lockdown


Tuesday 19th May: 10:00

Well, that didn't take long did it? A Premiership club has nailed their colours to the mast and come out against Lord Myners recommendation. It is no surprise that it is one of the biggest egos in the game and the one with the biggest bags of cash at his disposal has led the charge. Yes Steve Lansdown has said he wants the cap to stay the same and the marquee player scheme to remain in place.

He claims "now is not the time to take a step back and stifle progress". This is clearly a man who believes progress is having 12 out of the 13 clubs being seriously in debt, one club already disgraced by salary cap indiscretions, and others breathing a huge sigh of relief that they haven't been found out. In addition he clearly has no grasp of the real world in which we are now (being forced to) live in.

I laughed when he stated his club had not spent up to the salary cap limit but have capitalised on the marquee player scheme. There are words and there is bullshit. If you add the spend within the cap to the spend on marquee players I'd have a wild stab that Bristol Bears are one of the biggest spenders on players salaries in the league. The clubs have to buy into Lord Myner's report in full or the winners will be the biggest egos with the deepest pockets and the game itself will be the loser. Nigel Wray should be first out of the blocks saying "we support it in full".

I repeat my previous comments it will be only when one of these clubs goes to the wall will PRL and others finally wake up and realise what a complete mess they are making of things.

Sale Sharks have also broken ranks and have called their players back to training. All UK based players, except those whose partners are pregnant, were present at what has been described as a clandestine training session. The overseas players have not yet returned because of travel restrictions in their own countries. It is not known what training was done but I am led to believe that it was more about individual conditioning than group work and full squad training. More sessions are planned this week according to the press.

For the record I say "go Sharks". These are young fit men with immune systems build up over many years that will be more robust than the average. As long as they are not putting anyone else at risk then I applaud the decision. As I said yesterday we are being held to ransom. Again for the record I have a family member involved in this so please don't say "it is easy for you to say".

On a different tack one of the interesting stories that caught my eye is about Tom Rees. A Wasps and England flanker for just a very short space of time as his career was brought to an abrupt end by injury. Taking it on the chin he decided to follow his parents into medicine and is now on the front line in Basingstoke Hospital. Sky Sports website for the full story. It is well worth the read not just because of the transition but how those saving lives are very modest and phlegmatic about it all.

A different doctor has also been in the news, one Dr Barry O'Driscoll (second cousin of B.O'D). He has long been a critic of rugby especially when it comes to managing head trauma. He has said that when rugby returns it should have uncontested scrums and rucks and mauls should not be allowed to develop. I guess we could call the new format of the game......... netball. He fears, something I have written about, is that rugby is ripe for lawsuits from the slugs known as injury lawyers and that Covid-19 could open Pandora's Box when it comes to that. I think the sentiment is right but I fear he is another with his own agenda and the practicalities wouldn't make the game safer, it would make rugby not rugby.

Whilst I applaud Sale for their actions, and remain convinced that we should get on with life now and not in 3 or 4 or 5 months time, none of this would be an issue if some weeks ago PRL said the season was over. As horrendous a thought for clubs they should bite the bullet and plan for a full-on new season in September. Based on watching some of the Bundesliga on Saturday games that are played behind closed doors are soulless and uninteresting. On top of this, for me at least, watching people being forced to wear face masks on the sideline which only yesterday medical experts were saying there is no evidence they serve any purpose, would drive my blood pressure up. It was farcical. If I am wrong about lockdown then rugby should not be thinking about starting in any form anyway.

Moving on. Izack Rodda has been stood down by Queensland Reds for refusing to take a 25% pay cut. Fair enough, have a 100% cut. I think the same approach should be taken when people refuse to go back to work. Their fears might be genuine and it is perfectly ok to make that decision but please, the minute it happens furlough payments are stopped and so are salary payments.

I know I am not a lone voice about concerns who is controlling the Covid-19 narrative and you might not like what I say. Can I therefore direct you to the newspapers that are reporting Trumps new medical adviser made millions on the stock market yesterday as Moderna, a company linked to GlaxoSmithKline and therefore Bill Gates announced "excellent progress" on a vaccine. Follow the money. Once you have done that read one of the many articles on a drug: hydroxychloroquine that is readily available costing as little as $0.10 a tablet that seems to work instantly. Put it this way Donald Trump himself is taking it.

Simon obviously didn't get the advent calendar joke of yesterday so just for you my friend.....

A guy came up to me in the pub the other day (oh how I wish), all aggressive and demanding to know if I'd been giving his girlfriend ugly looks. 'No!' I replied, 'it was her parents who did that'

My friend paints with cheese and decided to paint his wife. He didn't paint her once........ wait for it.......... he Double Gloucester.

Back tomorrow with a few comments about Robert Kitson's article in The Guardian about the European tournaments.

Monday 18th May: 10:10

I am going to start by wishing my god-daughter Olivia a belated "Very Happy 18th Birthday" for yesterday. My goodness where has that time gone?

I hope you had a good weekend. Mrs Bleater and I did. We are trying to keep some structure to our lives as it would be all too easy for each day to blend into one another. We are missing having our granddaughter on a Tuesday, walking netball on a Thursday, and Friday club for example. So Friday afternoon the bar opens around 4pm and closes after we have finished eating on a Sunday. This weekend's food and drink was particularly good.

Anyway, to more important matters. Two key items on the agenda today. First up the salary cap. Over the weekend I have imagined receiving an email from Darren Childs asking me to define the new salary cap, so here goes. First thing I did was to take Paddy O'Fez's framework and start from there. I would set the cap at £6m. There are no credits or debits for academy players or internationals. No marquee players outside the cap. The cap is £6m, a reduction of 20% on today's level, no 'ifs' or 'buts'. Each squad can be made up of as many players as they like. There is no limit on that and there is no compunction to pay players the same. I would suggest £5m is used as salary (next paragraph) and £1m is held back for bonus payments.

The salary is defined as any payment received as a result of being a playing member of the club. There will be a basic salary which for the top players will be at the top end of the clubs scale as it will now include a sum for image rights. On top of this additional benefits such as housing and cars and loans and appearances at events (whether they be rugby related or otherwise) and any other benefit that has a cash value will be included. If a player is given a house or a car or a loan the value of that will be spread across seven seasons. Any item under the value of £1500 will be included as a one-off payment in the year the benefit is received. The list will be long and detailed to avoid any possibility of doubt. In addition players will not be able to enter into any joint ventures or businesses with owners or sponsors or other third parties that have come about as a result of being a member of that club.

How it would be managed and the punishments for non-compliance will be as Lord Myner's recommendation.

There would be one exception. Players would be allowed to earn from marketing. Player M is used by say Vitality Health Insurance to promote Vitality Health. He is paid the going rate, he has sought approval from his club and he has declared the benefit received in full to the Salary Cap Manager. That is fine. Player A appears in an advert for a hoover. The company who makes them is his club's sponsor. He has met the same criteria as Player M so no problem. However in the case that Player A has been paid three times the going rate and/or the advert is never used then that falls foul of the regulations. Serious fines all round.

As I have said before there will be complexities but by making it as simple as possible then that should improve transparency and consistency.

The second issue is more concerning and actually is affecting us all. Are we sleep-walking into a police state influenced by the media and big business. There are many conspiracies flying around at the moment about the role of drug companies and Microsoft (Gates) and Amazon (Bezos). Also the way the media are reporting this virus is questionable at best, downright wrong at worst, and not just here in the UK. I have stopped watching and listening to our mass media and have of my own volition started to look for articles written by real scientists with real knowledge of viruses. I have been pointed in the direction of some by readers of this blog and I have found others myself. What is disturbing is those who argue governments reactions to the virus are wrong are being silenced. They are being refused airtime by the mainstream media and having to resort to YouTube etc.

What seems to be consistent is this virus has come from China and is a virus that has been 'tinkered with' in a lab. It appears this is a strain of SARS (HN51 or bird flu) that has mutated but it has muted in an unnatural way. In a way that was being experimented on in 2003/5. That is the first worry.

The second is that healthy young people are being put into lockdown when actually they should be getting on with their lives as normal. There is strong scientific evidence that what Sweden did was actually the right approach. Don't dismiss the virus as 'nothing to worry about' but don't bring the whole world to a grinding halt. Young people will get the virus and spread it but in most cases that means spreading immunity. Look at London now. Infection rates are dropping off a cliff because by default the crowded tubes and buses have spread immunity.

Taking this forward, YES we ABSOLUTELY need to protect the old, the vulnerable, especially the old and sick, those with serious underlying health conditions and those working with those people. Everyone else should get back to work, and based on Friday's blog TOLD to get back to work.

A vaccine is not the answer and the science tells me at that vitamin D and C and lots of exercise can be just as effective. There is talk about being banned from sporting events or travelling if you don't have the vaccine. This is Big Brother in action and is unnecessary. Likewise police closing roads to Brighton and the Lake District is the first step to us being a police state.

I have spent many hours over the weekend pondering whether it is right for me to put this forward in this blog. I have looked at my mother and other family members for inspiration. My mum who is 87 years old, an injecting diabetic with other health concerns would need to stay in isolation for some time yet, as would some others in my family. They will need support but at least everyone else can get on with their lives. One of my friends is now on medication for depression because of the situation he finds himself in. That cannot be right, especially if the narrative driving this lockdown is a) flawed or b) deliberately vague as it suits others agendas.

I make no apology for this and this is MY VIEW of the world right now. Very happy to be corrected but please don't quote the BBC or SKY or Channel 4 as your source.

The madness continues as the 2020 Advent Calendar Chocolate Eating Championship will now be held behind closed doors.

Back tomorrow with the soap box back in the garage.

Friday 15th May: 09:00

No sooner had I hit 'save' and had finished my Weetabix (other breakfast cereals are available) that Lord Myners review of the salary cap was published. I have not read, or intend to read the 55 pages so am reliant on the sports websites for their verdicts.

My take is that a salary cap is needed and can be made to work. Myners was not charged with agreeing the appropriate level but indicates the application of it needs to be more tightly controlled and the sanctions for breaches to be clearly defined and enforceable. These to indicate stripping clubs of titles, having "stronger investigatory powers" so that punishment "fits the crime" and making PRL, club executives, players and weasels agents more accountable.

Lord Myners goes onto say that it is no longer acceptable for the PRL and clubs to police themselves and the fact previous breaches were swept under the carpet supports this key point. In the report there is mention that some clubs have a strong degree of support for scrapping the marquee players system (yesterday's blog) and the current cap rules are overly complex. He makes reference to applying more draconian measures such as publishing players' salaries, restricting salaries and image rights payments, but these were not included.

The bit that worries me is Lord Myners has clearly stated his report is not a menu of options from which to pick and choose. PRL will only benefit if recommendations are implemented in totality. Darren Childs however thanks Lord Myner and then goes on to talk about consultation with clubs and other stakeholders and to consider carefully blah, blah, blah. Basically self-interest, self-preservation and blind faith that PRL and the clubs know best will prevail. My prediction is little will change and the sooner one of the big clubs goes to the wall the sooner the smell of the coffee will bring PRL back from Narnia into the real world.

Having re-read yesterday's missive I just want to clarify something. Image rights and marketing opportunities for players. I am not opposed to players exploiting these or in fact any benefit accruing outside the salary cap. My point is they cannot be done without the agreement of the club. The club must be able to control what their employees get up to. Players cannot be allowed to swan off and do their own thing. Finally based on Lord Myners report I think my good friend Paddy should send his idea of how the cap should be implemented to PRL. Problem solved.

In their desperate bid to complete the season (aka in their desperate scramble for money) Premiership Rugby is auditing grounds to see which are capable of supporting multiple fixtures in a safe way. A ground that is bio-secure, whatever that means, has a pitch that can withstand a series of matches in one weekend, training facilities in the vicinity and room for more than two teams to change and prepare. Good luck with that. Childs also bullshits about safety and not putting players etc at risk. Not at any point does he be honest with all concerned and state money is the driving force and everything else really doesn't matter.

To date I applaud the RFU for their prompt and decisive action during the crisis. Cancelling the rest of the season, finding a way to resolve relegation and promotion, making money available to clubs and county bodies and making sure, unlike the banks, the money is distributed quickly, keeping all involved updated on a regular basis. Where my praise stops is postponing the England v Barbarians game and not refunding the money. The tickets will be valid for the revised date whenever that will be. Money will only then be refunded if people cannot attend. No mention of not wanting to attend. Quite frankly this is a disgrace. Some of the financial mess the RFU is in is of their own making. Keeping money from people who through no fault of their own are in difficulty is unacceptable.

Well done PK. The unions are talking about a 4 Nations mini series. Now all the summer tours are officially cancelled this will move quickly to the top of the agenda.

Regular reader 'Chichester Geoff' has been in touch and with his permission I am going to paraphrase his excellent words of wisdom......

We have some weeks ago been lectured by Wee Jimmie Sturgeon about treating the public "as adults". Now it seems she and others are saying that the relatively simple social distancing message is more complex than Quantum Mechanics which we adults cannot manage to de-cypher. (Hence today's photo). Personal agendas are the priority me thinks!!

Geoff goes onto say "in complex projects something ALWAYS goes wrong. Even with intense project planning the nature of managing change means that it is virtually impossible to predict and avoid every occurrence (particularly when people are involved"

It is also important to note "the well established principal in leadership is that in extreme circumstances people need to be TOLD what to do, whereas in less extreme cases other techniques work best (eg delegation, sharing ideas etc.) The problem with Covid-19 is that as individuals we are all in differing degrees of maturity so some people need to be told what to do whilst others would respond better to being trusted and making their own decisions. It is almost impossible to adopt a single leadership approach that is ideal for everyone in is this crisis"

In essence the Government is damned if they do, damned if they don't and will never please all of the people all of the time. It is not helped by self-serving queens such as wee Jimmie Sturgeon.

Before I go did you here about the white horse who walked into a bar and orders a drink. The barmen says 'what a coincidence, we've got a whisky named after you'
The horse replies 'what, Gerald?'

By the way, Belgium night tonight. Moules et frites avec une Stella Artois (ou trois ou quatre).

Back on Monday when I will have had time to review a fascinating interview with an eminent scientist about why lockdown is unnecessary and possible wrong.

Thursday 14th May: 10:00

Not wishing to replace Countryfile but I am going to start with pitches. The lack of pitches regardless of the virus, and the potential state of pitches post Covid-19 is a worry for all, but in particular to women's sport. In rugby the women's game is one of the few growth areas yet they are often at the back of the queue when it comes to pitch allocation. Club's who are resetting themselves ready for rugby to restart might want to think carefully about the role of women in the game both on and off the field.

The full article was in The Times and stems from a report by the Grounds Management Association (formerly the Institute of Groundsmen). The wonderful Damper has been on Twitter again and has been touch with the main man at GMA, one Graham Webb. It turns out that he is more than aware of Crowborough RFC for two very good reasons. 1. The work the Friday Club have been doing and the very high esteem with which the club is held in the groundsmen's arena, and 2. his father Warwick was born and bred in Crowborough and played for the club some 60 years ago.

Another piece that caught the eye is by Will Greenwood asking the question whether marquee players are to become a thing of the past. Each Premiership club is allowed two marquee players outside the £7.5m salary cap. These players are paid handsomely. Charles Piutau at Bristol is on £1m per annum. Cutting them out of the equation and removing the complexities of the current system could allow clubs to be more financially sound, be within the (current) cap, and most importantly hold onto most of their best players. Some weeks ago Paddy O'Fez did a well thought out proposal of what a 45 man squad could look like with some of the top players still earning say £250k a year for playing. The clubs are having to think along these lines now.

One thing Paddy added was if his idea was put in place players should be allowed to negotiate their own image rights and marketing endorsements. I understand where he was coming from but would argue Premiership Clubs are 'big brands'. I worked all my career on 'big brands' and there is one thing you don't relinquish and that is control over how your assets are marketed or what they are linked with. I exaggerate but Anthony Watson appearing in a Hoover ad would go down at Bath like the Titanic. I don't say it can't be done or shouldn't be done but I feel it would be complex to say the least.

It is not only in England where cuts are being made. Scarlets have confirmed the departure of Hadleigh Parkes to Japan, coach Ioan Cunningham back to New Zealand and the departure of six others plus the retirement of Wales wing Tom James. Toulon have announced the departure of All Black Julian Savea.

It is not all doom and gloom as Ospreys announce a multi-million pound takeover by Asian based sports marketing group Y11 Sports & Media. They now hold a 75.1% stake with the existing shareholders sitting on the balance. I for one find it slightly odd that anyone would invest in a sports club at this moment but I am not a financier nor an optimist. This is good news for the Ospreys and hopefully for the game as a whole in Wales but I fear we will see all the mistakes the Premiership clubs have been making coming into Wales. Ospreys, despite their plethora of stars have been woeful and are probably glad the season was brought to an abrupt halt. Let's see what happens.

It is a real shame but I guess not a surprise that Agustin Pichot resigns from World Rugby. This is a big loss as all too often voices of reason and voices of dissent are needed in big organisations other wise they become autocracies.

There is stupidity and there is stupidity. I think it is stupid to be thinking about playing team sports anytime soon. I think it is even more stupid for the Government to say that professional athletes can refuse to return to training. Nonsense. This is a job and if your employer tells you are required back at work you better have a good reason why you are not. This will be music to the hears of the left wing anarchist Mick Loadsa Cash who will be using that statement to justify him telling his members not to go back to work. On top of that players are already demanding answers to the questions about their 25% pay cuts before returning to training. It is a fffffnnnn shambles.

My brothers are delighted golf is open. However, one being an ex-policeman who has been asked to return and both having wives who teach they are concerned about the lack of clarity over some aspects of the easing of lockdown and how it is being interpreted. This is the dilemma; we have to get the country back to work and the economy up and running again but at what cost. 'I am going to get as many rounds in as I can as lockdown will be back fully in force in 3-4 weeks' he says. That is a depressing thought.

Call me an arse but here is a rant. I caught on the news a piece where the reporter was making such a fuss about a 95yo woman who had been in a care home for 15 years with dementia passing away with Covid-19. This is not a news story. If a 43yo care worker with two kids passed away with Covid-19 and it was due to lack of testing and PPE then that is a news story that needs airing. We have to keep things in perspective!!! Yes, someone has to speak out.

Okay Simon, here they are.........

I keep having a recurring dream about some members of King Arthurs round table sitting in the same pew in church. That is three nights in a row now.

My wife has threatened to leave me because of my World War 1 artillery collection. 'I can't see howitzer problem' I said.

Wednesday 13th May: 10:00

My politics and The Guardian's politics along with those who read The Guardian vary widely. The Guardian however is a wonderful rugby paper with articles that get to the nub of what is going on in our game............. and of course the articles often support what I have been bleating on about for some time.

Just today the excellent Robert Kitson headlines his article 'English youth rugby's obsession with size stunts the progress of talent'. In the article Kitson uses an interesting quote from Mike Umaga (Tana's brother) 'even some of the best English youngsters are succeeding in spite of the system rather than a product of it'. What a sad indictment that is. In essence the issue is no matter how talented you might be far too many coaches are throwing talent on the scrap heap because players are deemed too small. I won't name him but many will know a lad from CRFC who joined Harlequins academy only to be thrown out due to being too small. Thankfully he is still in the game and will be playing in National 1 next season (whenever that is!!)

Comparisons are made where skill and pace are the priority in New Zealand whereas here the obsession is with size. That comes through into the senior game which is why English rugby is becoming very static as buffalo and rhino go head to head phase after phase whilst the cheetahs and the gazelles can only sit in the stands and lament the lack of skill. I exaggerate slightly but I think it is fair to say the obsession with leviathans is killing the game.

Its a good article and well worth reading.

In the same paper there is a piece on the importance of getting grassroots pitches ready for life after Covid-19. There is a call to arms for volunteers to get cracking now so that when the green light is given pitches are ready. This of course is easier said than done as many pitches are council owned and as The Times pointed out pitch maintenance is not easy and low on councils to do lists. Overly enthusiastic volunteers can do more harm than good at times but the basis of the article is correct. If grassroots sport has any chance of restarting quickly it needs pitches.

We at CRFC have been lucky as our groundsman has been kept on and has been working tirelessly on the pitches. Our wonderful Exec have also been able to invest in seeding and aerating and with the help of two volunteers the grounds and facilities have been maintained. We will be ready. For the record the strictest of safety measures have been in place throughout meaning not only are the pitches ready the equipment has been sanitised within an inch of its life.

With immediate effect World Rugby has removed an anomaly from the law book. Tries will no longer be possible by placing the ball against the base of the post protectors or the post themselves. No more needs to be said me thinks.

Sky carry an article with Eddie Jones discussing his management style. It is awfully short: 'I am a dick! That's it'

On the same website there is a piece about former Saracens player Matt Hankin who is suing the club over an injury incurred during a drinking game whilst on a team bonding tour in Budapest some five years ago. Here we go again. Some sleaze bag injury lawyer wants to turn what many will see as a self-inflicted injury into a money making lawsuit. Do people no longer know how to use common sense. 'I don't want to do this because it is dangerous and I have had a drink. Call me whatever you like but I am not doing it'. No, this has to be someone else's fault. Another article well worth reading in full.

The lure of Japan is not just for players. Gloucester's coach Joahan Ackerman, despite recently signing a new contract, is rumoured to be heading east. It is unlikely Gloucester will stand in his way as there are many rumours flying around about dressing room unrest under Ackerman and I am sure Gloucester will see this as another opportunity to cut their wage bill.

The headlines scream 'foul' all the time. This often to the benefit of the minority rather than the majority and it helps fuel agendas. I have often asked why we didn't hear about the c.85% of people who had great service in A&E rather than always hearing about the c.15% who thought they hadn't.

Right now the headlines scream 'foul' because of the travel companies. Some of it is justified, more than justified, but there is always another side to the story. The beautiful beach photo from a few days ago was taken in Grenada where Mrs Bleater and I were due to fly off to in three weeks time. We booked with BA. Prior to paying the final payment we rang their helpline. Got straight through and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. Final payment was deferred in the hope of things going ahead. We then got a series of emails telling us what we had known for some time; the holiday was cancelled. We were advised we didn't have to do anything else as our deposit would be repaid in full in 7-10 days. 8 days later the credited amount was back on the credit card. No holiday but excellent customer service. Don't always believe everything you read in the press.

Having considered the easing of lockdown there are many positives to Boris's decision and quite a few major negatives. I will continue to keep my views up my sleeve until other rugby related stories dry up. I will leave you with this thought however: it seems wrong that now people who are on furlough and can go back to work they don't want to. They are quite happy being paid to do nothing. Yes, yes, it is ok when health is a concern but in many cases it isn't!!

Just for Simon, todays gags.......

My job at the sewerage works is so boring that I've lost all interest. I feel like I'm just going through the motions.

However, since I've stopped wearing boxing gloves I've been feeling a lot better.

Tuesday 12th May: 09:00

It would be wrong not to start by thanking Ken the Wise One for sending me the photo of the scenes at the Severn Bridge yesterday. Not long after the announcement that Wales and England would be taking a different approach to lockdown things quickly developed. It was reported that the strains of 'Men of Harlech" could heard as far away as Bristol.

I am led to believe that there has been a rush to the Scottish border but it appears that those tradesmen from England released from lockdown have gone with all haste to rebuild Hadrian's Wall. One was heard to say: 'ee lad, we don't need them Scots hoardes coming down here with their blue faces, kilts and bare backsides. It's bad enough we have them soft southerners up here with their lardy dah ways'.

Yes, the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish have taken a different path to lockdown to the one Boris laid out yesterday for England. More on this in a moment.

First sport and rugby. Unlike those who have raked through the archives to find documents from way back when to use against the government I can state I had no such trouble. It was only a few weeks ago that I predicted the English and French clubs would demand a place at the table when it came to restructuring the global rugby calendar. Quite frankly it was bleedin obvious. The clubs and their owners were never going to stand idly by and allow World Rugby to reorganise the global calendar to the detriment of their interests. The international game is the biggest generator of cash for the game and therefore as a follower of the grassroots game I am bound to say allowing the tail wag the dog is a recipe of disaster. If the English game in particular, and despite how the French spin things to their advantage (no change there), was a well run business where the sustainability of the clubs was guaranteed and the grassroots was benefitting from the clubs success then I would welcome them to the table with open arms. They are not so why should we at the grassroots prop up failing business models to our detriment? We shouldn't. The game is bigger than 13 English clubs and 28 French clubs. Let them break away if they want. After all the time is...........

Boris has indicated that elite sport might be able to recommence behind closed doors after June 1st 'if the conditions are right'. Soccer has interpreted this as they can kick off behind closed doors mid June. Based on a number of factors such as Brighton players testing positive, the in-fighting about neutral venues versus playing home and away, the players being concerned about playing and being advised not to sign any waivers about risk this won't be easy. Only this morning there is talk clubs may have to repay £340m to the TV companies even if the season resumes and for the first time curtailing the season has been on the agenda. There is much to flow under that bridge before a ball is kicked.

When you read about soccer and then think about rugby the situation is worse. Rugby is a serious contact sport where prolonged person to person contact cannot be avoided. They are also faced with same challenges regarding venues and the TV deal and I have read that players have been consulting sports lawyers about the waivers that they could be asked to sign. It is clear no insurance company is going to insure players against the virus and any subsequent impact of the virus. Playing under a waiver scheme might also negate the insurance policies clubs have thus putting players at risk if (when) injuries occur. It is a minefield.

For both there is no guarantee sport will get the green light on June 1st anyway.

The upheaval at Leicester Tigers continues with the CEO Simon Cohen being replaced by Andrea Pinchen. According to the press Cohen has been seen as part of Tigers recent problems. To use Stuart Barnes phrase: 'he has made rugby a business, as opposed to the business being rugby'. Leicester Tigers are in a mess but at least they are using this terrible time to get their house in order. Do not forget that they could/would have been relegated if it wasn't for the Saracens saga.

Sadly I think there are many who are now using Covid-19 for their own ends and it doesn't matter what Boris and the government do it will always be wrong. The usual suspects have crawled from under their stones: Mick Loadsa Cash, Len McClusky, the teachers union, the left wing press luvvies to name but a few. Wee Jimmie Sturgeon has been front and centre for sometime in taking every opportunity to portray herself as the Queen of Scotland and is now using the crisis to further her (misguided) independence agenda. Think about the oil price!!

On the other side of the argument whilst I think Keir Starmer is using this to stamp his new found authority on proceedings he at least is doing it with dignity and asking very pertinent and sentient questions, unlike his idiot predecessor. The contribution of Matt Hancock has to be challenged and Sunday's announcement and yesterday's more detailed briefing was somewhat disjointed and often vague, leaving more questions than answers. You cannot please all the people all of the time and you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. This is where Boris finds himself.

In the interests of time and the expectation there will be little rugby news I'll leave my more in depth view until later but I leave you with the sad thought that 'Stay Alert' is vague at best, sending the wrong message at worst.

No timeframe for airlines to get back into the air yet but an interesting story from the US. A vulture boards an airplane carrying two dead racoons. The stewardess looks at him and says; 'I'm sorry sir, only one piece of carrion allowed per passenger'

Also in North America two Eskimos sitting in their kayak were chilly so they lit a fire. Unsurprisingly it sank which once again proves that you cannot have your kayak and heat it.

Monday 11th May: 09:10

I for one think the symbolism and memories of VE day were exactly what we needed last weekend. As I said on Friday we must never forget the sacrifice made by so many. The break from the constant drip of bad news about Covid-19 was most welcome. I am sure we were not alone as Mrs Bleater and I flew the Union Flag from our window and joined all our neighbours for an impromptu, socially distanced street party. We drank and ate, and drank and chatted. It was a relief. We met new neighbours, and we found out new things about old neighbours. We watched the fly past by the Red Arrows, listened to Churchill at 3pm and watched her Majesty later in the evening. We sang along to Vera Lynn. As Peter K wrote: 'It was a cracker'.

There was of course chat about Covid-19. With several teachers present their concerns were aired. Interestingly not about safety of themselves or the kids but about the practicalities of social distancing and having schools starting back with different age groups at different times. There was consistency in the praise for the NHS, care workers and shop workers and dismay at the bull emanating from both sides of the political divide. A great weekend especially with plenty of war films and the excellent Darkest Hour to watch.

Let's talk rugby. The Friday Club had their fortnightly 'zoom' which was fun and it was here that we were updated on how hard those who have volunteered to support Drew (thanks Gus and Simon) are working to keep the club and the grounds in good nick.

The Bard sent me an interesting piece from The Times which chimed with the above. Basically more and more local sports clubs are becoming reliant on more and more older volunteers to keep grounds playable. With council cuts maintaining sports grounds is now low on the priority list. It is easier to cancel use than maintain. We at CRFC are lucky as the loyal band of old farts, The Friday Club, do an amazing job BUT most are well into their 60s with many in their 70s and some even older than that. Drew, our head groundsman, has appeared on Antiques Roadshow as a sale item he is that old. As with many things in life currently youngsters don't have the time or the inclination to help out and in terms of being a groundsman as a profession, forget it. Yet another worry for sport in general.

Peter, in his recent mail made the very good point that normality for sport is a long way off. The 6 Nations is not going to be completed and it will be a miracle if the Autumn internationals go ahead. He has put forward the three home nations and Ireland could put on a tournament, even having games home and away. Well worth considering.

New Zealand will launch Super Rugby Aotearoa in July. The five super sides playing in a short sharp eight game series. Rugby Australia has announced a similar event with the Western Force being invited back into the fold to make up their five teams. It'll be on TV and hopefully with Fox and SKY NZ running the broadcasts they could be on Sky UK.

Closer to home Premiership rugby is still desperate to finish their season. With no mention of sport by Boris yesterday I hold out little hope of it being completed. When I read things like playing games without scrums, mauls or tackling I ask myself why bother. The Pro14 situation is even less likely with teams from South Africa and Italy to be included. I say cancel and regroup for next season.

There is a growing sense that the north and south will need to harmonise their seasons. It has been pointed out to me that this would be no bad thing on the basis that grassroots rugby, which would be dangerous on hard grounds during the summer, stays as a winter sport. Redesign the grassroots game so it starts in say October stopping week one December for a proper Christmas and New Year break starting again in February and running through to the beginning of May. With the big boys then playing in the summer on their wonderful AGP or hybrid pitches they could be attracting many more fans who wouldn't normally get to games. If as Stuart Barnes suggested recently what was on offer was greatly improved then it is win-win.

Big, big decisions ahead for some of the Saracens stars. As the song goes 'should I go, or should I stay?' Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola being two of the biggest names pondering their future.

I watched the Bath v Wigan games for obvious reasons. I thought the boy did good in both games actually. The games made a change from Lewis, and Miss Marple. I stick by my assertion that the union sides would be much more adept at taking on the league code now than they were then.

No comments on Boris's speech today as I want to wait until tomorrow when we will have a little more flesh on the bone.

Before moving on I think The Bard has taken me to task about my comment regarding vaccine. He quite rightly points out that a vaccine is to prevent infection in the first place. Yes, absolutely, which is why I am relieved my grandchildren have had the MMR vaccine. Covid-19 is unlike anything we have seen before and like flu has already mutated. People laud the flu vaccine but flu mutates and therefore the vaccine is potentially useless. I see mass vaccination against Covid-19 falling into the same category. Useless unless they can guarantee the virus hasn't mutated or won't mutate. I also fear this is the first step towards Big Brother and whilst not wholly supporting the conspiracy theories about the role of drug companies in all this there is something at the back of my mind saying mass vaccination guarantees nothing for those who have it but untold riches for those who make it.

Before I go I better tell you about last night's meal. We had a chicken tarka. A bit like a chicken tikka but a little otter. With that we had an onion budgie. Like a bhaji but a little cheeper.