Throughout this international rugby season there has been one on-field issue that has stood out more than any other: injuries.
This is the nature of rugby. Sometimes you get lucky and retain the majority of your squad for the season.
Sometimes you aren’t so lucky, losing not just a large number of players, but perhaps a few big names whose absence can effectively nullify your chances of not only winning, but contending for the finals.
Some teams survive better in these situations than most. Those with a greater talent pool can usually manage. Others who rely on very few top line players to see them competitive throughout a season are far more vulnerable.
But I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.
There is no absolute solution to this problem. Without the benefit of a draft there is nothing you can do to stack each team with an equal amount of decent players and letting fate sort the rest out.
Teams like the Western Force will always struggle to lure and retain big name players, and places like NSW will always have the upper hand when it comes to contract negotiation.
So what can we do to help out teams who may be hamstrung by a dearth of injuries in the middle of the season?
For years the English Premiere League has allowed for temporary loan transfers of players in the middle of the season. Basically, they are able to loan a second string player or emerging youth player to another team for a limited period of time and for a nominal fee.
This way clubs who are overly hampered by injuries are able to draw on the resources of bigger clubs without long term contracts, drawn out negotiations, or concerns about players playing out of position or being thrown in the deep end too quickly.
The great thing about this system is that it benefits both sides.
The ‘loaner’ gets a small cash injection into the business which would normally not be there. They also allow one of their rising players to get some serious game time and match fitness where it would otherwise not be available.
They get to see their player perform under top competition pressures and will have a better knowledge of their ability when they return.
The ‘loanee’ gets a hungry, young (or experienced) player who wants to prove themselves on the field. They don’t have to make room for them in their squad because they are only a temporary stop-gap measure.
They could be there to cover the bench, or a legitimate starter. They also get to provide an insight to the running and ethos of the club in case this player becomes available or off contract somewhere down the line.
Are there drawbacks? Possibly. Any decent idea doesn’t come without its risks. The player could be injured while on loan, may resent being loaned out, or the players of the new team could resent the loaned gun coming into the team.
However if proper rules and regulations are put in place and it’s used in situations where the team is going to seriously struggle without assistance, I don’t see why it couldn’t work.
With as much rugby as these guys are playing I think we need to look to these sort of solutions.
It probably won’t help a team win a title but it could help in the development of players and the competitiveness of each team, even at the pointy end of a long, hard season.
Bakkies
Guest
Soccer players that are loaned out aren't allowed to play against the club that they are actually contracted too. For instance Adebayor while under contract at Man City who was loaned out to Spurs wasn't able to play for Spurs against Man City.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
Thanks RedsNut. I'm sure I meant dearth of players. The article was written in haste at work. Appreciate the feedback.
MR
Guest
Really jake white did that? Smart practical clever
Colvin
Guest
I suspect the loan would have to be untill the end of the season. Next season, different calls.
x_man
Roar Rookie
The glaring issue with Australian rugby is the lack of a 2nd tier competition for development purposes and the concept of a player loan system directly addresses that problem by giving players on the outer of one squad the opportunity to get some real Super Rugby game time in another. However I see the issue raised by Billy Bob as being a huge barrier. Knowing the oppositions game plan and lineout calls/back line moves would be a massive advantage and those kind of secret tactics don't really exist in soccer were the system originates. It would quickly become the norm for teams to loan players out purely on reconnaissance missions and this would make the likelihood of team accepting loaned players very small. A more feasible solution is the tallent squad Jake White as created at the Brumbies. It involves 20-odd players from the local Canberra competition meeting with a coach once a week to learn the Brumbies calls and be given access to their training and conditioning programs. The idea being, the gap between these players and the Brumbies in terms of skill and knowledge would not be as great if they were required to make the step up to cover injuries. The progeam not only up-skills the players but is also a great drawcard for the local Canberra competition because it offers the opportunity for players in the comp to be part of the tallent squad.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
That's the kind of players I had in mind. I certainly don't think that teams are going to let their fully contracted players on the fringe of selection go to another club but they may have some keen bean training up a storm who they'd like to see perform at top level.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
Thanks for that Neuen. Interesting to know. I think that I'd prefer it if the Aussies stuck to the national reserve grade comps but I think about the Force and the need for some experienced heads towards the end of a long season and a foreign loan from up North could seriously help.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
Good to know Bakkies. I thought that there might have been a couple already but if it was officially recognised as a standard practice then maybe it could get more traction. I hope moving forward that it does so. It's pretty self regulating. I don't see it ever getting out if hand.
RedsNut
Guest
Dearth = scarcity in my dictionary. A team with a dearth of injuries is one with a "scarcity" of injuries, so won't need helping out.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
This is happening. I know the South African Rugby Union got a player exchange system with several English and Irish clubs where players are loaned and exchanged both ways. Normally they loan players out with the option to buy. If I can remember correctly the Stormers loaned Jebb Sinclair in Super Rugby earlier the season.
Bakkies
Guest
There have been loan deals in the past. Nathan Charles was loaned to the Force while contracted to the Brumbies and then was turned in to a permanent deal. That's the positive about it. If a player is not getting game time and is loaned to another team it gives him a chance to see how he fits in to new surroundings before getting in to a longer contracted agreement. Jono Owen was sent down to the Rebels this year while signed to the Brumbies and now he has a contract at the Reds. Owen might be a bit unlucky as he could of got some solid match time had Sanzar allowed the two props on the bench law.
oldboy
Guest
Sounds an awful lot like the National Academy system to me. The risks associated with "loaning" out full time professional contracted players far out weighs the benefits. However the 'semi pro's' in the academy system or for example the "Ready Reds" or what ever they are called would be feasible.
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
Absolutely BB. Those sort of risks would be ever present. I guess the team would have to decide if the time and effort to change calls after the player goes home is worth his skill set. I prefer this idea to that of foreign imports because it means our local talent is getting blooded first and foremost.
Billy Bob
Guest
I like both ideas. But the original state swapping one of the article, may pose a other one. What about secret lineout, and kick off calls? And backline moves? Deception is part of rugby. Players 'on loan' may be suspected if they are only there for the short term. Though I like the idea. It would free up precious talent , presently warehoused with the richer teams.
Johnno
Guest
I have said all along , one of the best ways to handle player welfare issues, is foreign imports. They can fill in all season or most of season, and allow the star local wallabies to be rested, without compromising standards of our super rugby teams, who otherwise have to rely on local rookies,or locals not up to it we simply don't have the depth. 5 imports per club is fine, and only allow 1 of each position , at each club. FOr example each club can only sign 1 foriegn prop, or 1 foreign hooker, or 1 foriegn half back. And guys like Gareth Delve are very handy 5 like him per team is very handy. Hardened experienced players , who can play most of year,, and allow the star wallabies to be rested and rotated.