Spedding 'unconcerned' over fixtures row

Speaking at the official launch of his online store, Rugby League superstar Richie Spedding said he wasn't bothered "one way or the other" whether Wigan's proposal to reduce the number of Superleague games in 2008 gets the go-ahead or not from the other clubs.

Some of Spedding's fellow professionals, such as Great Britain captain Jamie Peacock, have recently claimed clubs need to play less games at domestic level if we are to succeed internationally, but Spedding is far from convinced saying "personally, I feel I could play more games than I'm currently asked to, so I'm not entirely sure where these people are coming from however, if the change is implemented I'm sure I'll be able to occupy myself in the spare time it generates".

Before I was able to ask Spedding what he would do with his extra time he shot off to help a frail old lady cross the road, however sources close to the player believe he is working on proposals to solve the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan, repair the hole in the ozone layer and eliminate poverty in Africa.

NL clubs remain upbeat on TV deal

Despite the disappointing collapse of the proposed deal to show games live on Eurosport, the National League clubs are still anticipating a huge TV windfall for this season. This optimism comes from rumoured guest appearances throughout the NL season by Richie Spedding.

These rumours have sparked a media frenzy with the bidding-war for NL rights escalating at a never-before-seen rate of knots. By midday yesterday, both Sky & Channel 9 Australia had been forced to withdraw from the race leaving the field clear for the big-hitters from the States (HBO & Showtime) fighting it out to secure worldwide pay-per-view rights.

The news sparked concern amongst industry chiefs on the American continent as with Thursday evening kick-offs in the UK, the time-difference will mean that coverage will clash with the working day. "This is going to hit us hard" said a US CEO yesterday. "I have a largely female working population & I'm now having to consider closing the business for 1 day a week throughout the National League season. I've tried improving pay & conditions but in competition with a live feed of Spedding playing in a Rochdale v Sheffield Eagles scrimmage, I'm screwed."

The man himself was unavailable for comment yesterday, adding fuel to the fire of rumours that he was meeting with the President of the United States who had requested an audience in a bid to head off this threat to American economic dominance.

Spedding lauches online boutique

Besides his rugby league stardom, Richie Spedding is noted throughout London, Milan and New York as one of the world's leading fashionistas. And today he launches his online boutique to offer the man in the street the chance to own a piece of Speddingabilia. In launching the shop, a tie-up was also announced with sang-et-or.net, home of the Catalanglais - British fan club of the Catalan Dragons - to provide their official merchandise.
You can visit the shop here and there's a permanent link on the homepage.

Union lure for Spedding

Desperate RFU bosses are said to be launching a bid for Rugby League superstar Richie Spedding. The combined decline of the England RU team and inability to produce talent themselves sees the RFU looking to make Spedding a union player in the near future. Other players have switched recently citing the increased international profile of the union code as well as a new challenge. However only playing in front of 80,000 people is not an increase for Spedding and if he were to be confronted with a new challenge, then a new sport would need to be invented and that sport would be so tough that nobody else would be able to compete in it. Maybe Chuck Norris, but he's knocking on a bit now.
The RFU are believed to be wanting to accommodate Spedding into whichever environment he feels comfortable in, so are offering him the chance to choose his club. The stumbling block could be the number of rugby union clubs in the south, away from where Spedding's charity concerns are based, however Huddersfield Rugby Union Club are looking at putting a proposal together.

Spedding 'no' to testimonial appearances

Rumours have been circulating in the press that Richie Spedding was to turn out in Sean Long's testimonial alongside the likes of Tommy Martyn, Paul Newlove, Chris Joynt and Long himself in honour of ten year's service at St Helens. "To give these great players of the past one last chance to share the field with someone of the genius of Richie Spedding would have meant so much to me" said a tearful Long, "but I understand that his work in the Amazon rainforest takes priority at this moment".
Both Keith Senior and Paul Reilly had asked Spedding to appear at their joint testimonial game at Headingley on Friday before he departs for Brazil, but a conflict of interest prevented him from accepting. He did, however, offer to make up the difference due to the expected drop in attendance caused by his non-appearance.

Super League injury crisis

The impact on player's bodies of a long, hard Super League season with little time off before a tough pre-season is well documented, but the game was plunged into a new crisis today as it was revealed that Richie Spedding is not injured. An unnamed head coach was heard to say "What chance do any of us have if he's fit?" as he ambled around his club's training ground sticking needles into a very handsome doll.

Spedding wades into GB coaching row

Richie Spedding today threw his considerable weight into the growing furore over the GB coaching position. With ex-Saints, Hull and South Sydney man Shaun McRae looking the hot favourite to take on a full-time coaching position with the RFL, the usual suspects have been sticking their oar in saying it must be a British coach that takes over from Brian Noble. Garry Schofield even went so far as to say he'd apply for the position alongside Lee Crooks.
"I care passionately about Great Britain rugby league", Spedding told this site, "and as such, I am not bothered if the appointee is British, Australian or Tanzanian as long as they are the best person for the job." When asked if he himself would like to take over, he said, with a cheeky grin, "Despite my obvious qualifications, I don't feel able to commit to a full-time GB coaching role at this moment. However, if it means I'd stop Schofield doing it, then count me in."

No Carnegie sponsorship for Spedding

Carnegie will not be sponsoring Richie Spedding any time soon. An offer was made to the all-round superstar, but for altruistic reasons, it was turned down. "I believe university money should be spent on education" said our hero, explaining his position, "and I hope that puts an end to the matter".
No Carnegie representatives were available for comment, but they're understood to be 'gutted' at the loss of such a high profile in the media.