Wasps' Abu Dhabi do is a great step for the game

Updated: 19:07 EST, 6 January 2011

It beggars belief that Wasps felt obliged to defend their groundbreaking decision to take an LV Cup game against Harlequins to Abu Dhabi, after confirming the venture on Wednesday.

From the responses on newspaper websites, message boards and elsewhere, it would appear that a sizeable chunk of the club’s regular fans are up in arms.

Innovation has been derided as greed, despite the fact that season ticket holders will be reimbursed for missing the game.

Wasps owner Steve Hayes and director Lawrence Dallaglio deserve credit for recognising an opportunity to enhance the status of the club, but instead they have had to painstakingly appease their own supporters.

They cannot say as much, but those complaining are guilty of small-mindedness.

Forward looking: The Wasps hierarchy deserve credit

They are not transplanting an Aviva Premiership semi-final to the Gulf; this is a low-key cup game that would probably attract a crowd of around 6,000-7,000 in High Wycombe.

The diehards are incensed that they are being robbed of a right to watch their team, but they would have more clout if there were more of them. Wasps are not among the best-supported teams around, so the hierarchy are understandably trying to experiment in an attempt to broaden their appeal.

The likes of Leicester are regularly watched by crowds of 20,000 and more, but they are alive to the possibilities of taking games abroad.

Wasps are acting as English trailblazers and make no mistake, if this venture succeeds, the Tigers and others will be falling over themselves to follow suit.

Wasps supporters should accept the money-back option, watch the live coverage on Sky and recognise the bigger picture — that this may be a productive step into the unknown for their club.

Of course it is about money to a certain extent, but why should that be such a reviled concept? Clubs are fighting to stay afloat in tough economic times so have to be creative. There will be no moans if the game attracts new sponsors who fund a raft of high-calibre new signings.

It is one thing for national unions to hawk over-worked Test teams around the world to the highest bidder to swell their bank accounts.

That is a grubby enterprise. This on the other hand is a visionary move within the confines of the regular season — a novel occasion which could ultimately provide a boost to the whole domestic game, not just Wasps. Good luck to them.

It took just one week for this column to jinx a team with its new year predictions. Northampton for the Aviva Premiership title, it said in this space last Friday, so sure enough they promptly surrender a proud home record by losing to Harlequins at Franklin’s Gardens.

Sorry Saints, but the blame may not lie here after all. Further research reveals that — partly because of the play-off system — it is five years since the club leading the league on January 1 went on to claim the trophy in May.

Despite this surprise setback Saints, led by Jim Mallinder (right), can buck that trend.

Schools Cup heads for big screen

Rugby’s popularity on the big screen shows no signs of abating, with another film in the pipeline.

Invictus depicted Nelson Mandela’s role in the Springboks’ 1995 World Cup triumph, while Mickey Rourke is preparing a movie about former Wales captain Gareth Thomas.

Now actor Alexander Warner and film-maker Dan Susman have written a script for Scrum Down, about a teacher at a failing inner-city school who uses rugby to transform the lives of his pupils. Based on true stories, the film charts their against-the-odds progress in the Daily Mail RBS Schools Cup.

With Oliver Chris (Green Wing and The Office) lined up for a lead role, the writers are in talks with the RFU to secure their support and are hoping to raise up to £2million to fund the project.

Most clubs are desperate to encourage loud support, but Toulon have asked their fans to be quiet.

For next weekend’s visit by Munster for a crucial Heineken Cup tie, the French club have urged the hordes who make Stade Felix Mayol such a raucous arena to fall silent for the kickers.

They are apparently determined to display good manners, but in doing so they are taking on an ingrained culture and are surely doomed to fail. French grounds are loud and boisterous on match-days, with bands playing non-stop and even home kickers line up shots at goal to a backdrop of handclapping.

It doesn’t seem to have done Jonny Wilkinson any harm, so Ronan O’Gara is unlikely to have any complaints if traditions are maintained.

The last word

Yet another club v country row rumbled along in Wales yesterday, with the WRU denying furious claims by Dragons coach Paul Turner that his flanker, Dan Lydiate, suffered a neck injury during fitness tests with the national squad on Monday.

According to Turner, requests for Lydiate to be excused were ignored. ‘It’s a disgrace,’ he said.

But the WRU insist the player was not tested.

This row follows an angry reaction from the Scarlets after teenage wing George North played against New Zealand despite evidence of a shoulder injury which subsequently required surgery.

There’s also a circus surrounding Gavin Henson’s likely Wales comeback, with Jonathan Davies arguing that the centre is being lined up to return too soon.

The Welsh game is apparently awash with in-fighting and angst, but this is a country that doesn’t comply with rugby logic.

They so often fail when expected to prosper and sink when expected to soar, so perhaps it’s time to put a tenner on Wales for the Grand Slam!