One of the most heart warming features of this year’s B&I Lions squad announcement was the social media coverage of some of the players reactions. It shows just how much this accolade still means. One of rugby’s big challenges is also to bring to life the characters within the game, and this is what was behind the entry of RocNation into the world of rugby via the URC. They see real value in developing the individuals outside the sport and they are right, not only does this approach works for the game’s profile and the player – look at Ilona Maher as a classic example – but it also assists in the challenging world of life after sport where ex players must bring their sporting talents into the business world and that is not easy.

A Lions year is always tricky because those selected now have to stay fit and the disappointed players have to take a deep breath and carry on, not exactly hoping for injuries but reality says there will be some.

As the business end of the season approaches, I was struck by Scarlets’ away win against South Africa’s own Lions for the first time ever. A young squad operating with no fear and no little skill will now be tested by the Sharks in a battle for the playoffs but it is a testament to what you can achieve by building your own pipeline with some judicious player acquisitions. This against an incredibly difficult backdrop of Union negotiations, to remind us of the existential risks in our game and that is before you get to the head injury crisis and the recent review which has laid bare the questionable activities of full contact training during the key period of analysis, a practice now strictly monitored and which in my day never happened.

Meantime, in England, Northampton Saints offer up their own example of a home grown model as they prepare for their Champions Cup Final against the giants of Bordeaux. The comparison with Leinster is similar, the player budgets are lopsided but that will not stop the Saints as they know that they are capable of winning and some of their unfêted forwards are now being vetted for higher honours – it’s not always about money! Four Lions in Freeman, Pollock, Mitchell and Smith are the least they deserve and if Furbank had been fit I reckon it may have been five. They have to manage their resource carefully and so their imaginative second string failed to overturn a full strength Exeter Chiefs side, as did Bath fail to do against Bristol Bears at the Principality Stadium but they are contesting for 3 trophies this year so very understandable! Bristol did not have to be good and they were not but a feisty group of Bath understudies were not that far from a win. When you add in a meaningless fixture at Twickenham and a bonus point walk in the Stonex Park for Sarries against hapless and hopeless Newcastle, only one proper contest was left where it mattered for both teams and to be fair it was great viewing. The Tigers bared their teeth against a Sharks side for whom George Ford is playing out of his skin. In a nutshell, all the issues for the Premiership laid bare but exacerbated due to the time of the season. Remember 8 out of 10 clubs still qualify for the Champions Cup so nothing to play for there either because Exeter and Newcastle are so far adrift (but still have a paddle).

From a commercial standpoint, PRL rightly celebrate because they played in two National Stadiums, crowds were up and importantly younger, and the new TV deal is timely and TNT is probably aware of new conditional investment coming. They will have parked their resistance to no relegation or jeopardy because when you are told a franchise is inevitable enough times, either by a procession of clubs or a compromised RFU, then you believe it. More on that.

On field there are some great play offs and finals to look forward to in club rugby in the next few weeks as well as a quality number of English qualified players on show, many reasons to be cheerful if you forget financial woes and questionable structures for a second. The players and coaches have decorated the shop window well and the operational club administrators have done a great job. Kudos!

Finally, an opening shot on what is called the Governance review at the RFU but is nothing of the sort. In the attempt to restructure or even abolish the RFU Council, as ever the common sense answers elude us. The Council is certainly dysfunctional, I saw in my first meeting in 2023 after a 15 year absence that nothing has changed other than deterioration and lack of representation despite 63 bodies in seats. The concept of reconnecting to the regions through regional committees is a good one but that is missing the point. As in any business it is about the right people being involved. The Council have shown themselves disconnected from the needs of their members and the appointment process is currently more about who is prepared to do it than who is best qualified SO, halve the numbers and make them twice as competent and you have what you need to hold the Board to account on behalf of the broader game. This excuse for a review is the latest attempt to deliver even more power to the RFU Board which is simply not equipped to deliver for the game due to it’s lack of business and sporting knowledge. I sense the Council issue itself will run for a while and all member clubs of the Union will also be wondering why no other part of the organisation has even come in for scrutiny or comment when so much needs improvement. Not very seismic as claimed. More on this.

Back to the rugby and the play off excitement builds for PRL and URC in ideal weather conditions! With one eye on Australia, I read of a bad injury to midfield sensation Suaalii and a possible gap at 10, not what the Lions series wants to hear when the match ups are what builds the narrative….you kind of understand Jo Schmidt’s wish to cotton wool his top players away from midweek games but the increasingly impressive CEO Phil Waugh (what a player he was) may intervene we shall see!

Hallers