The UAFC

againstthehead wrote:passes out the handbags....

Mark McCall has slammed Ulster for upping the market rate with their recent signing of All Blacks winger Charles Piatau.

The former Ulster coach wants to improve his Saracens side after they again failed to reach the final of the European Champions Cup, but said he would not be signing a high-profile marquee player whose wages are exempt from the salary cap.

"I'm a great believer that people should get what they deserve, even within our own group. But it's getting more difficult when some clubs splash big on someone who probably doesn't deserve that kind of salary," said McCall, Saracens director of rugby.

"We know where we'd like to improve and we're prepared to wait for the right person. We don't just want to get 'a name' because he's available post-World Cup. It's got to be someone with the right kind of ambition and hunger."

Mark McCall wrote:
"I'm a great believer that people should get what they deserve,

widerball wrote:Anything further on:

Toulon Jocelino Suta who wrapped his arm round Richardt Strauss’ neck.

Saracens' winger Chris Ashton's try saving tackle.

Shan wrote:

Mark McCall wrote:
"I'm a great believer that people should get what they deserve,

Well he should be pretty happy with the result of the match at the weekend so.

Wee Woman wrote:That's poor form from McCall.

People in glasshouses and all that.

As Russ said, they are £40M in the red for a reason. That reason is NOT high admin staff costs.

Russ wrote:Lol Sorries obsession with Ulster continue

Organisers fear there may be 40,000 empty seats when Clermont Auvergne and Toulon contest the European Champions Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday week. The 82,000-capacity stadium is set to be half empty for the first final since the old Heineken Cup was mothballed last year.

Despite the presence of two French clubs, it is understood no more than 8,000 supporters are planning to travel to London for the final. The defending champions, Toulon, have already returned 40% of their ticket allocation and Clermont have been allocated only 5,000 tickets. To date barely 30,000 tickets have been sold for the showpiece fixture.

The likely upshot is the smallest crowd for a European final since Toulouse beat Perpignan in front of 28,600 spectators in Dublin in 2003. Over the intervening 12 years the majority of finals have been sellouts, with 81,744 watching Leinster beat Ulster at Twickenham three years ago.

This time the newly formed tournament organisers, European Professional Club Rugby, are expecting the lowest attendance at a major Twickenham final in the professional era. There are plans to offer a number of cut-price deals to clubs and schools while numerous hospitality tickets have also been allocated but individual seats remain available for £38.

Had Saracens and Leinster not lost in the semi-finals the situation would have been less acute but moving the final to the start of May, a mere 13 days after the competing sides were confirmed, has been another contributory factor.

The French clubs insisted on shifting the date from the end of May because they did not want to disrupt the latter stages of their Top 14 championship and Premiership Rugby were happy to accommodate their wishes.

It was also not impossible to predict that Clermont and Toulon, who are now going for a hat-trick of European titles, might be leading contenders to make the final.

The two heavyweights could face each other three times in six weeks as they are scheduled to meet in the Top 14 next month and are favourites to contest the French championship final in Paris on 13 June.

The easiest solution – to stage the final in France – may well come to pass next year, with French club officials having already lodged a bid to host the 2016 final in Marseille.