You don't have to say what you did
I already know, I found out from him
Now there's just no chance for you and me
There'll never be
...why did you leave me all alone
Now you tell me you need me
...the bridges were burned
Now it's your turn
To cry
Cry me a river
Cry me a river
Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake
Fair play to Coventry - just as supporters were beginning to ask questions about a lack of any additional fixtures to make up for the loss of the Jersey game in late May or to celebrate Cov's 150th anniversary, from out of the hat Nick Johnston pulls England U20's.
A hell of a coup that.
And in attracting such high-profile opposition, Coventry Rugby continues to make the headlines - a club successful on the pitch and one more than capable of hosting a game that is bound to attract massive interest not just locally, but nationally as well.
And pretty much a guaranteed sell out as well.
So, all-in-all, a pretty astute bit of business on Coventry Rugby's part.
Despite what appears to be, initially at least, a fairly low-key reception from Cov supporters, for me it's a really important milestone in Cov's continuing journey of self-development, a recognition that the club is making its mark even at the highest levels of the game.
In the official club announcement, Nick Johnston sums it up as follows:
Bringing international rugby to Coventry creates a really big occasion and it will be great for our local community to see future stars in action.
It is also a great example of our club’s ability to bring a big, family-focused event that generates income for the city.
That Cov has included the game as part of its season ticket package is much to the club's credit, too. The importance of the opposition and the context of the game are such that Cov could easily have charged an entrance fee for everyone attending; I'm not too sure many would have complained.
Rather than doing that, the club has remained loyal to its supporters and I'm sure that is something that will be greatly appreciated, especially at a time when everyone is feel the pinch financially.
Amongst the current England set up, the likes of Itoje, Sinckler, Watson and Daly all represented the country at this level and the World Cup winning squad of 2016 included Max Malins, Sam Aspland-Robinson (a familiar name to Cov supporters), Joe Marchant, Harry Mallinder, Jack Willis and Ollie Thorley. All familiar names that have made their mark in the game. To have the next generation of potential future England stars come not only to Coventry, but to actually play the club, is beyond exciting in terms of Coventry Rugby's own progression.
The game is part of England U20's build-up to the to the World Championships in South Africa in the Summer, so whilst it might be a celebration of Cov's longevity and past glories as far as supporters are concerned, it also carries a good deal of significance for the U20 players and coaching staff, too.
When you're building towards the pinnacle of the game, the World Cup, it's not about showboating or simple festivities, it's about serious preparation and groundwork and England has chosen Coventry to be part of that process. The importance of that shouldn't be understated.
I'm sure the irony won't be lost on most Cov supporters or even within the Championship itself.
Coventry Rugby was chosen, according to Mark Mapletoft (the England U20's senior coach) because 'Alex Rae and his staff have done a fantastic job and we want to test our squad against the strongest possible opposition'.
Yet, the announcement of the game comes just weeks after Bill Sweeney's threat to relegate all those tier two clubs that refuse to sign up to his proposed restructuring of the league, a league which he has openly said isn't for purpose, doesn't deliver on its objectives and represents a poor return on the RFU's 'investment'.
Not according to Mark Mapletoft, though. If Sweeney were to be correct in his judgements, Coventry wouldn't have even been considered, let alone selected, for such an important game in England's World Cup build-up.
So, for Mapletoft then, it's less about Cov's jubilee celebrations and more about the quality of the opposition. The Championship provides exactly the sort of challenge and levels of competition that the future stars of the game need if they are to develop further.
And that's from the very person charged with ensuring their transition to the next level, and for some that might well be a full cap. So, not from Sweeney but from someone of importance, an ex-player, who really knows what is happening at this level.
Suck on that, Bill Sweeney.
The game is significant not only in the context of the U20's and their build-up to the World Cup, but also because it becomes a self-refuting act as far as the RFU is concerned, flying in the face of the very arguments Sweeney has maintained necessitated his refusal to fund the Championship to the required levels to make it anything approaching a viable product.
Mapletoft's words are the antithesis of all the spurious rhetoric, and that's what it really amounts to, that Sweney has been pouring forth these last few seasons. Yes, I think virtually everyone agrees the Championship needs re-structuring but not for many of the reasons he's proffered.
I'm not sure what the rugby equivalent of an own goal is, perhaps an interception in your own dead ball area, but whatever it is then the RFU have managed to come up with it. How can it possibly argue that the Championship doesn't provide the necessary rigour and standards when, according to one of its senior coaches, it actually offers the 'best challenge possible'?
The club doesn't always get everything right, although it's currently doing a fantastic job of listening to its supporters and responding to any fair criticism, but I would defend to the hilt the club in terms of fighting its corner, and that of the Championship, against Sweeney's dictatorial posturings.
Nick Johnston hasn't held back, rightly accusing Sweeney of 'playing God' with player's well-being and Coventry Rubgy has been at the forefront of the Championship's consistent rebuttal of Sweeney's restructuring of the league and, in particular, his removal of a meritocracy approach to selecting teams for his proposed Prem 2.
All Championship clubs need a Nick Johnston...and perhaps his voice along with those from clubs like Pirates, Doncaster and Nottingham, is at last being listened to - if the gulf between the RFU and the Championship clubs was quite as wide as it currently appears from the outside, it seems unlikely it would agree to such a fixture on the basis of Mapletoft's comments.
It could, I suppose, just be an altruistic gesture on their part, but the RFU, and Sweeney in particular, isn't exactly renowned for its compassion (ask Nottingham Rugby Club following the terrible flooding it suffered recently).
Or then again, maybe it's just a case of the board being completely out of touch with the realities of the game...
Anyway, kudos to Cov for pulling off such a scoop. Irrespective of the reasons why the U20's have chosen to come to Coventry, from a club's perspective it's a fitting note on which to end the season. Another full house is guaranteed and with the interest it will surely generate in the national media, Coventry Rugby's reputation will be further enhanced.
And that won't do season ticket sales for 2024/25 any harm at all.
It can't have been an easy sell for Cov but the fact that they've managed to bring the England U20's to the BPA for what should be a competitive game is much to the club's credit.
One of the highlights for me from last weekend's game against Pirates, and there weren't too many of those, came after the final whistle when lots of young Cov supporters ran on to the pitch seeking their Cov heroes in the hope of capturing a signature or even a selfie.
The players duly obliged, even after having a narrow loss which must have hurt.
It's something that we've not seen a great deal of in recent years, but this group of players (and those in the previous few seasons before them) are bringing unprecedented levels of success to a club that has had little to celebrate over the last couple of decades or so.
However well the club does in terms of the league, its future depends on attracting new supporters, and the younger they are the better. Seeing so many young faces clearly having enjoyed themselves on Saturday despite the result is encouraging and the numbers will only increase if Coventry remains successful on the pitch and progressive off it.
The presence of an England side, even the U20s, is bound to further pique the interest of those youngsters, creating more interest both in the game locally and in the club itself.
The knock-on effects could be significant for both Coventry Rugby and the local rugby playing community.
I hope that is indeed the case.
Up the Cov.
This one's for Mr Sweeney...
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