Long sent home...!

[Matthew]

It does sound highly suspect to me.

Who is going to play scrum half now? Surely our "game plan" could not have been to get to the final and then change probably the most important position on the field? Unless Mrs Long has gone into labour or is having problems, then this is most likely a cover up. The final isn't for two weeks so if it was for one of these reasons surely he would be coming back in case we got to the final?

However, after his performance against the Kiwis, I can't see it making a lot of difference next weekend...

[Bear]

The Stupid Boy

[Bear]

I heard of a mate at dinner time it was because of his wifes pregnancy or something :conf:

[bikerharry]

I've read that Long himself has asked to leave the tour for various personal reasons. I know his wife's pregnant at the moment, so hopefully there's no problem there. Nobby supported his decision, and as for a cover up, I think there's enough conspiracy theories knocking around without this one. I thought he, along with alot of the GB players, were very poor on saturday, and perhaps his performance had a bearing on his decision to leave.

[ancientnloyal]

Being an international and wanting to prove himself at that level, i doubt Long would quit the GB team for rugby reasons... hes not injured, his form was good His wife is pregnant yes but shes not due for weeks yet.

Things knocking about are gambling (doubtful) and drunkeness (very likely)... apparently he didnt observe a drinking curfew on a flight back from NZ > Australia... arguments with Noble over playing Newton instead of Roby etc...

[cpwigan]

He was definetly drunk on the Sundat after the NZ match. Confirmed by several journalists. Make up your own minds.

[adrenalinxx]

Long has gone home to be with his Wife, give the guy a break he is allowed to have a life, something are more important than rugby.

Also Long may have been drunk but so were alot of the other players if you saw the Leon Pryce thing before the NZ game.

Lets not start wild rumours when we know very little about it.

[cpwigan]

Sorry BUT its BULL, even the personal reason excuses are coming out mixed and confused. Moreover, GB face a major problem. We hardly have sufficient internationasl players as it is BUT we now have a coach at St Helens who puts CLUB before COUNTRY and encourages / supports his players to not tour.

The whole thing stinks and if it was true it is not good enough. Having made the commitment he should remain. What on earth use is a bloke anyway when a woman is about to give birth.

[ancientnloyal]

The pryce video shown players within a drinking curfew and being allowed to get drunk, or drink alcohol. The times when long was apparently drunk wasnt within this curfew, so team rules were broken.

[ancientnloyal]

cpwigan posted:
Sorry BUT its BULL, even the personal reason excuses are coming out mixed and confused. Moreover, GB face a major problem. We hardly have sufficient internationasl players as it is BUT we now have a coach at St Helens who puts CLUB before COUNTRY and encourages / supports his players to not tour.

The whole thing stinks and if it was true it is not good enough. Having made the commitment he should remain. What on earth use is a bloke anyway when a woman is about to give birth.

use of a bloke when a woman is giving birth? to me its one of the most life changing moments you can have, but thats my personal opinion. whatever job i would be in, if i was in australia playing for GB with a crucial match upcoming, i would return home if my wife was about to give birth.

everything else you've said is spot on though