Ex-Lions forward suggests it's 'time to look at a British League'
Former England lock Martin Bayfield, a 1993 tourist with the British and Irish Lions, has called on the rugby authorities to shake up the club game by organising a British League. The sport in the UK has been blighted by financial crisis this season. The Gallagher Premiership in England saw two of its participants collapse while there is anger in Wales with no regional budgets signed off for next season by the WRU.
That latter situation has resulted in a messy build-up to next week’s round three Guinness Six Nations match, as players in Wales will hold strike talks. In the meantime, Bayfield, who now works as a rugby presenter for BT Sport, believes it is time for the Premiership to open up and consider becoming a British League if the overall club product is to prosper.
“Not sure if it’s a 6’10” thing but I was having a conversation along the same lines as Derwyn Jones,” wrote Bayfield on his Twitter account. “Surely now is the time to look at a British League. The unions can no longer exist in splendid isolation. Time for a proper deep dive into the possibility.”
Jones, the ex-Wales lock who now runs a players’ agency, had earlier written along the same lines as Bayfield and the British Leagie idea: “With two English teams going under this season and all of the issues surfacing in Welsh Rugby over the past 24 hours surely now’s the time for CVC to demand we re-visit the idea of a British League.
“Having been involved in far too many Welsh rugby re-sets over the past 20 years, I can’t ever remember the players being treated with such a lack of compassion and respect. Without them, there is no game and all who are discussing their futures would do well to remember that.”
Not sure if it’s a 6’10” thing but I was having a conversation along the same lines as @derwynjonescdf Surely now is the time to look at a British League. The unions can no longer exist in splendid isolation. Time for a proper deep dive into the possibility.
— Martin Bayfield (@MartinBayfield) February 16, 2023
Numerous rugby fans made their feelings knowns in the replies to these tweets. Here is a selection of what was said: “Why would the Irish, Scottish and Welsh unions take on the bin fire that is PRL? The URC is thriving (despite the internal Welsh issues) while PRL are falling apart. After PRLs shenanigans in destroying the HEC, I can’t see the unions wanting to do them any favours at all.”
“Regional rugby is the only way to keep the game sustainable and profitable. Uncomfortable but.”
“I disagree. Less is more is a nice idea but impractical. Australia has four teams, previously three – they are twice RWC winners. The game is gone. Pro rugby isn’t working. Why? Eyeballs. Think it’s time to revert to the original model pre-1995.”
“I fear it will make no difference though it would be nice if it was the answer. Pro rugby just depends on basic finances: Is the product good enough to make enough money to sustain the current costs? If not then makes no difference how the leagues are organised.”
“Personally a British and Ireland NFL-style league system I think would be brilliant. Not a true closed shop so always jeopardy but with increased teams, increased local derbies and rivalries etc… bring in a university structure that has a draft system. Just need imagination.”
“I have thought this for some time. Two top-tier divisions across Eng/Ire/Scot/Wales. Strengthen club rugby, keep players local and not heading abroad, keep crowds healthy and hopefully clubs more financially secure.”
“Absolutely it is, but the original PRO12 (or whichever name it was) took on Italian rugby and has been a major factor in their development, they can’t be forgotten – deal done for France’s Top 14 to become 16?! Mustn’t forget those on the journey!”
“The regions work in Ireland as they are franchised by the union. Same in Scotland. Wales is an unworkable hybrid. Either WRU takes it all over or goes back to their old league system. Their current plan helps no one. British league isn’t needed, just sort their house out.”
With two English teams going under this season and all of the issues surfacing in Welsh Rugby over the past 24 hours surely now’s the time for CVC to demand we re-visit the idea of a British League ?
— Derwyn Jones (@derwynjonescdf) February 15, 2023
“Experiment with kick-off times first. 3pm is designed to be convenient for a small number of travelling away fans. Will attendance increase with earlier or later kick-off? Personally I’d love a 10am kick-off. Probably not good for beer sales though.”
“I agree with the idea, when rugby went professional I believe there was a rush to grab some of the pie without looking at the big picture. The club game seems fragmented and unsustainable for some.”
“Not saying I agree but it’s inevitable in some shape, pro game in infancy and developed on the hoof. Time to reflect. Those more successful clubs/regions might say it’s okay as it is but if more clubs struggle/disappear who will you actually play? It’s safeguarding sustainability.”
“Anglo-Welsh is the best idea. Irish and Scottish teams are union owned I believe which would make salary capping them difficult.”
“I’m only 6’3″ but I have been saying this for years. At least with English and Welsh clubs. two leagues of 10 with both properly funded and relegation and promotion of top + playoff between second and ninth. Five Welsh teams, including one from north, 12 from England, three from Scotland. Sorted.”
“I can never understand why this didn’t happen with Wales and England. The cross-border games were huge crowd pullers pre-regions. The best example if this being done before is Welsh football. If Cardiff, Swansea, Newport had played in the Welsh leagues they would have failed.”
“My concern would be one of two scenarios: No Welsh clubs/regions would be in the top tier. If they started in the top tier, would they survive? One Welsh/club region is in the top tier, battling for honours and the WRU finds a way to get all the top Welsh talent into that side.”
“The harsh truth is that rugby union lives beyond its means. I’d rather see a game with most players earning good money in a financially secure club structure. But to do that the very top players’ salaries are going to have to be reduced – pretty dramatically.”
“We need a global salary cap!”
“I’d be up for an Anglo-Welsh league with a beefed-up second division. As a Bath fan I’d love to go to Cardiff vs Bath… plenty of heritage. What you don’t want is Super Rugby where defence is optional and none of the fixtures have any history or gravitas.”
“Why would the URC teams want this, only to dilute the quality? No thanks. Edinburgh are currently ninth in URC but beat Sarries here and should have beaten them at the StoneX. Shows how poor the English Premiership is.”
“Personally, I think an NFL-style British and Irish League would be great. Increased number of teams. More local derbies, increased TV coverage because of more games. A university system that leads to a draft system. Coverage and exposure are key and having 12 top clubs not good.”
“I can see more English clubs going under as benefactors back away. Their clubs suffer from a lack of contact with other nations while Wales desperately needs a competition that brings the crowds back. Makes sense to get this up and running. It’s a turning point for the sport.”
“The clear example is in front of us! The English football league, scrap all ring-fenced competitions and install a UK-wide league. Harmonised season with promotion and relegation from top to bottom. Get international rugby back where it belongs as an occasion, not a career essential.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to comments