Brown hits out at lack of respect for players

FORMER England full-back Mike Brown says there’s been a lack of respect and players have been left in the dark during the Covid-19 shutdown of rugby.

Writing a column for the Daily Mail, the Harlequins player Brown how a player the calibre of England team-mate Manu Tuilagi can be left without a club to play for following his exit from Leicester Tigers over a contractual dispute.

Brown wrote: “Until now, the bloodgate scandal at Harlequins was the most unsettling period of my career.

“During those few months we were kept in the dark about a lot of things. Who was our coach? Would the owners pull out? Would we be left with a club? There were investigations left, right and centre.

“I thought nothing else in rugby would come close to that, but the past few weeks have brought just as much uncertainty. It feels as if our sport has been brought to its knees.

“Most developments have played out in the media before the players have been informed. The lack of consultation has been disrespectful.

“I understand that we need to take a pay cut to help our clubs keep their heads above the water. But I do scratch my head about how we’ve ended up in this mess.

“How has a superstar like Manu Tuilagi potentially been left without a club? A lot of mistakes have been made along the way. Why was the salary cap not set at a sustainable level in the first place? It’s frustrating.”

Meanwhile, England coach Eddie Jones arrives back in the UK today amid revelations of how he played his part in helping lure All Blacks superstar Beauden Barrett to Japanese rugby.

The Australian has been in lockdown in Tokyo during the Covid-19 pandemic and seemingly used some of that time in the Far East helping to snare Barrett in his role as a consultant and director of rugby for the Suntory Sungoliath club.

Suntory are coached by Kiwi Milton Haig, and he jumped at the chance when Barrett’s name was mentioned.

“He ( Jones) has been in Tokyo for the last four months. I have regular meetings with him,” Haig told NewstalkZB. “He’s been helpful for us in terms of pre-season and the planning for next year. Eddie was obviously involved as the director of rugby.

“Beauden’s name came up and as soon as they said his name I said he’s the guy I want. Eddie was in favour as well.”