British and Irish League debate is dismissed as a deflection tactic
Ospreys chairman Rob Davies has created quite a discussion this past week by saying that there will be a British and Irish League in place come 2022.
This is a topic that has been discussed for years and flares up from time to time with advocates on either side of the debate.
The Welsh regions have often been the most staunchly in favour of such a league, while English sides have been the strongest opponents. Since Davies’ comments last Friday, this debate has ignited once again.
While the Welsh regions struggle financially and would benefit hugely from the investment that would come with this new league, Davies’ comments have been dismissed by many as a deflection tactic.
The chairman endured a tough time last week, as the Ospreys were grilled for being rather vague regarding their head coach Allen Clarke.
https://twitter.com/Slimfrog1/status/1200506750123814912?s=20
It’s just cruel to casually drop this in to a press conference as a tactic to deflect attention away from his own huge ineptitude….HOWEVER, that won’t stop me convincing myself it’s happening & that the regions will become sustainable European superpowers ?
— Pembs_HT (@head_stp) November 30, 2019
Davies has since revealed that Clarke remains an employee at the Liberty Stadium but no longer has a coaching role – and will remain employed until the legal situation at the region is resolved.
Former Wales head coach Mike Ruddock has come in since then on a short-term consultancy role, but the situation regarding Clarke remains nebulous.
He doesn’t know if he has got a coach at the moment, I’d take anything he says with a pinch of salt…
— Ian Alexander ??????? (@ianalex86) November 29, 2019
Attempted cover to distract from his car crash interview earlier this week ?
— Henry J???? No Farmers No Food (@henryj17) December 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/tumblescarlet67/status/1200461348737605632?s=20
The management of the region had already come under fire prior to the coaching debacle, so nothing has not helped their cause in the past week. Therefore, talk about a British and Irish League would be the perfect way for Davies to skirt around any criticism he may face.
Almost as if he's saying it to divert some of the flak…call me cynical
— Chris Commander (@EkralP) December 1, 2019
Or is it a 'Dead Cat' thrown onto the table to deflect?
— Nik Thomas ??????? (@NikThomas01) November 29, 2019
Whether this was a case of deflection or not, it does not mean that Davies was not telling the truth, although the timing means some have said that his comments need to be taken with a pinch of salt.
What it has undoubtedly done is start this discussion again, particularly regarding the practicalities of such a league, the future of the Champions Cup, and what will happen to the Italian and South African teams that are currently in the PRO14.
While this would be one of the defining changes made to northern hemisphere rugby in the professional era, many are not getting ahead of themselves yet.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Can someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
227 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
3 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
86 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
227 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
227 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to comments