McCall or Rowe: A Prem Rugby titan will bow out this weekend
CityAM rugby columnist Ollie Phillips discusses the last weekend of Prem Rugby fixtures, and how a major giant of the game in Tony Rowe or Mark McCall will bow out come full time.
Tony Rowe, Rob Baxter, Nigel Wray and Mark McCall: the four men who have, arguably, defined English club rugby over the last two decades.
For Saracens it was departing director of rugby McCall and former owner Wray – architects of one of Europe’s most successful rugby dynasties, and the biggest salary cap breach in the English game.
And for Exeter Chiefs its director of rugby Baxter – who was instrumental in what could be the most successful promotion story in English club history – and Rowe, who has bankrolled the club and overseen a potential sale to Michael B Jordan’s Black Knight consortium.
They face off this weekend in what is one of the few interesting Prem games of the final weekend of fixtures. And on the line is a place in the semi-finals.
McCall and Rowe titans
But beyond that it could be Rowe’s last game in his position, depending on when the pending sale goes through, and it could be McCall’s last match in charge of Saracens.
Both men, with Baxter and former Saracens owner Wray, have been consequential in the shape of the English game we know today.
Both clubs – with the salary cap breaches or concerns over Native American imagery – have had their controversies, and have arguably held the crown as the most hated club in England among their peers at times.
Each club has developed models that others are now replicating. For Exeter it was all about the brand and imagery of being in the south west. Home grown talent, few of whom are consistent England internationals, with an eye for external talent.
For Saracens it is a group of brilliant England internationals with rare, but quality, overseas talent.
Both clubs have seemingly cracked the code, and it comes to a head this weekend.
But no matter what happens at Sandy Park on Saturday, the game will lose a titan.
Former England Sevens captain Ollie Phillips is the founder of Optimist Performance. Follow Ollie @OlliePhillips11