Western Force coach John Mitchell calls for player-contract rule changes

[travelling_gerry]

Western Force coach John Mitchell calls for player-contract rule changes

By Justin Chadwick
February 26, 2009 Western Force coach John Mitchell has urged the ARU to alter their contract rules to prevent players from signing with rival clubs mid-season.
Star fly half Matt Giteau's decision to return to Brumbies at the end of the season has left the Force scrambling to secure the rest of their playing stocks.

Wallabies duo Drew Mitchell and James O'Connor top the list of uncontracted players at the club contemplating a move east.

John Mitchell admitted the timing of Giteau's decision - just two rounds into the season - had been a major distraction and called on the ARU to review the current rules relating to contract negotiations.

“Hopefully people will see this situation and what we are experiencing as a club and they do consider looking at changing it going forward,” Mitchell said on Thursday.

“I think it's important for players to be totally focused and committed to the one cause.

“Every person and player has rights but it must be a distraction for them at this time of year, and more importantly it must be a distraction to a team.

“It is an unusual model and system in professional sports.”

With the future of several uncontracted players at the Force still up in the air, Mitchell said the club was trying its best to overcome the distraction ahead of a season-defining, three-game road trip starting with Saturday's derby clash with Brumbies in Canberra.

“Some of the more experienced players handle it very well, it's how the younger players handle those situations where they haven't been in that scenario much in life,” Mitchell said.

AAP

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html

[James]

People always say that players can't negotiate contracts while they are with the Wallabies squad but thats less than a quarter of Super 14 players and with the tripe we get served up by touring NH sides it won't hurt to let players take a bit of extra time to negotiate contracts.

Or just do it when the finals are on. That effectively halves that quarter.

[Burgs]

On The Rugby Club the opinion of the ARPU is that it fits the global contracting season (ie for NH Clubs) so they are "happy" for it to continue as it gives their players/members more options in negotiating a new contract.
I'm totally with Mitch on this one but I don't think it will change either.

[blueandblack]

...
“It is an unusual model and system in professional sports.”
...

I don't think that is entirely true. Pretty sure GayFL players get involved in team-shifting research within the season. Also, MLB players (at least. maybe NBA and others too) can change teams up to the middle of the season.

Personally I think that all the contracting business needs to be carried out out of season and not near the start of or within a playing season.

[Burgs]

Probably the difference with those comps though BnB is they are so much longer seasons?
Surely there are enough other weeks that from say 1st of Jan to the week after the Final is off limits?

[waratahjesus]

so he doesnt want people to recruit players during the season as the force did a few years ago cos it disrupts him and he believes everyone should be committed to the one casue when he has a second job?

mitchell may be the greatest mind this old rugby game has ever seen!

[JediKnight]

On The Rugby Club the opinion of the ARPU is that it fits the global contracting season (ie for NH Clubs) so they are "happy" for it to continue as it gives their players/members more options in negotiating a new contract.
I'm totally with Mitch on this one but I don't think it will change either.

Even more reason for a standard, global rugby season?

[MI5_Dog]

On The Rugby Club the opinion of the ARPU is that it fits the global contracting season (ie for NH Clubs) so they are "happy" for it to continue as it gives their players/members more options in negotiating a new contract.
I'm totally with Mitch on this one but I don't think it will change either.

I was watching that and wondering why, in all the talk about how players are paid, that no mention was given of 3rd party payments.