ROOM FOR ONE MORE?

GOPPERTH TO LEICESTER?

The rumour mill is now in overdrive with the news today that Jimmy Gopperth is leaving Wasps, with a move across the M69 more than likely.

Leaving aside confirmation that Malakai Fekitoa is another high-profile Wasps player to leave for the URC, Gopperth looks a cert to fight with Dan Kelly for the number 12 shirt and his experience alongside Handre Pollard in pressure situation ought to avoid second half scenarios like on Sunday, will be very useful.

You could easily see Gopperth playing alongside Dan Lancaster in a similar way he has helped Jacob Umaga at Wasps, nurturing the England U20 international next season. It wouldnt be a surprise if Lancaster was introduced to Premiership action in the near future, probably next season.

I still maintain that the experienced core of players from 25 years upwards are the reason why Tigers are in a healthier position now. While Kelly and the re-signings of Porter, Potter, et al were all very useful, keeping onto Matt Scott and especially Hanro Liebenberg are more significant signings to me.

While Genge and Ford are off, this remains a deep and well-rounded playing squad. As always, you will have your favourites you want to see stay at the club and being the typical hack, popcorn days are more interesting to me as to who is left out. Bring on the rest of this season to find out.

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LEICESTER TO AVOID POINTS DEDUCTION?

As we enter the 2nd month of 2022, what's the latest on Leicester Tigers’ alleged breach of the Premiership's salary cap?

While a charge looks more likely than not, it has yet to be laid. However, the more I learn, the smaller the chance of any points deduction seems.

What is known that a minimum of three seasons are being looked at, with the possibility of more. The potential overspend confirmed to me is considerably higher than that at Harlequins a few years ago but nothing like that at Saracens, who overpaid Maro Itoje £800,000 for a share of his image rights company, among other breaches.

Leicester in the clear?

A current estimate of the cumulative amount of alleged overspend at Leicester does not exceed that, but it is believed stand at a figure in excess of half a million pounds.

If there’s no case to answer, then Leicester’s spectacular start to the season can continue unabated. But even if there is, the regulations appear not to offer any points deduction of any nature.

The amount per season is unlikely to be enough to merit it and current regulations do not allow a challenge on the cumulative amount. If it did, then a substantial points deduction would be certain.

Tigers are co-operating fully with the investigation so one assumes the books are open and being examined. But when Saracens refused to do so, PRL and other clubs made it plain that they had to choose between doing that or being relegated. This was completely out of step with the regulations.

It’s not clear yet what the mood would be among other Premiership clubs if they felt Leicester had made deliberate and repeated overspends. Whether they could legally impose a points deduction (look up ultra vires) is far from certain, but I sense little desire to rake over the coals again.

The truth is much of the situation is hypothetical. Just as we do not know if there is a charge to face, equally we do not know what evidence the Salary Cap Manager is finding - and whether there is more that remains uncovered.

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APOLOGIES

I know that when I started WRW before last season that its future was completely unknown. There were 3 editions a week for much of last season and of course after a month, this is the first effort of 2022.

Settling in for the season has proved challenging in the last few months and I don’t anticipate it becoming any easier any time soon. Thanks for the patience and apologies there hasn’t been an edition until now this year. Hope to get things sorted out soon and hopefully see you again in the near future.