English fans have their say on possible new British League
After a division around the rugby world earlier this year with the now binned Nations Championship idea, British rugby has its own idea that is splitting opinion.
An anonymous chairman of a Gallagher Premiership team has said that a new British League will be in place in two years’ time. Similar to what they have already done in the Premiership, CVC are seeking to buy a stake in the PRO14 with the aim of forming a possible Anglo-Welsh League, or a British and Irish League.
While this idea has been warmly welcomed by Welsh fans on social media, many English fans have their reservations. The Welsh regions have struggled in recent years both on the field and in terms of garnering support. Stadium attendances have plummeted as have viewing figures, and there have been funding problems with the Welsh Rugby Union.
On the other hand, the Premiership is in a much healthier position, not only with attendances, but they have a lucrative TV deal with BT Sport. Many fans are struggling to see what the incentive is for English clubs to give up their league.
The biggest concern for English fans is that a British and Irish League would devalue the Champions Cup considerably. If all nations from the British Isles were competing week on week, it would mean that there are only a handful of new and unique fixtures against French opposition in the Champions Cup. The prestige and gravitas of the European competition would be diluted as a result.
Regional rugby supporters believe an Anglo-Welsh League would bolster attendances… @rhigarthjones crunches the current @PRO14Official and @ChampionsCup numbers that need to be considered ?https://t.co/UX7fNbitDQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 23, 2019
Furthermore, when looking at the Champions Cup, it is the matches against the Irish and French sides that draw in the biggest crowds in England and receive the most attention. While an Anglo-Welsh League seems the least likely of the options in the future, matches between the two countries will not be as attractive to English clubs as they are to Welsh.
However, with the funding that CVC will provide, the British and Irish League may be different from what many think it will be and could very well be a success. That is why there are some English fans that are keen on this idea. But the majority seem to be content with what is in place currently. This is what has been said:
Can’t see an upside for English clubs with a British and Irish League. Not suddenly going to be making profits on the back of playing Cardiff and Newport. ???? pic.twitter.com/0W7HUDyPql
— David Summers (@davidsummers64) July 21, 2019
The Prem is doing just fine.
But thanks for the interest.— Mark murray (@Markmur29392563) July 21, 2019
No thanks. I like my rugby to mean something every week and would rather fewer games in the league with a European cup that means something different.
— peter r (@DaddyRiz1) July 22, 2019
Can’t see an upside for English clubs with a British and Irish League. Not suddenly going to be making profits on the back of playing Cardiff and Newport. ???? pic.twitter.com/0W7HUDyPql
— David Summers (@davidsummers64) July 21, 2019
I don't really see what is in it for the us (the English clubs), the overall league will be better off but some of the individual clubs will become just smaller fish in a bigger pond
— Mark Roberts (@Markdaktari) July 22, 2019
And it would destroy the European cup
— Goonersquare (@goonerquins) July 22, 2019
Terrible idea. Crowds will drop, shouldn't use the English Premiership to bale out the poorly supported pro 14.
— Shedview22 (@Shedview22) July 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/Stephen91314828/status/1152868235278213120?s=20
I think I’d prefer to ring fence the English Premiership than have a British League and I absolutely hate the thought of ring fencing.
— Andy Moakes (@AndyMoakes) July 20, 2019
Given the success Irish provinces have had over the past few years both domestically and in Europe, it is no surprise that this new league seems to be an unpopular option across the Irish Sea. Likewise, given the growing success of the Scottish sides in the PRO14, they are equally unlikely to match the Welsh’s zeal for this change.
With the South African clubs only joining the PRO14 two seasons ago, and the Italian sides not many years before that, this new league idea would put out a number of countries if it were to happen. These are early days in this saga, but many fans already seem set on what they want.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments