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Pacific Islands profit share idea proves popular on social media
The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare organisation’s idea of a profit share system with tier one nations has received almost universal backing on social media.
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PRPW director Dan Leo has shared a letter sent to the unions of England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France in which he suggested a “revitalised profit-share model” whereby a 10 per cent share of the profit generated by tier one nations hosting tier two nations is shared.
Currently, the home side keeps 100 per cent of the profits, but it is said on the PRPW website that “just 10 per cent of the profits from a sell-out England match at Twickenham could help a Pacific Islands nation run their international set-up for three years”.
Leo also wrote of the pressures that the Pacific Islands nations are under such as “player drain, the lack of any viable professional pathway, the reliance on government funding, and issues of depression/suicide resulting from players having to leave home”.
The former Samoan international said that these issues would be alleviated with more funding, as well as strengthening the teams and increasing competition in the international game.
READ| Pacific Rugby Players Welfare has called on some of the game's Richest unions, to agree a profit-sharing deal to boost the Pacific Island nation’s international programmeshttps://t.co/1kMbR89GbL
— PacificRugbyWelfare (@pacificwelfare) August 21, 2019
Amidst all the gloom surrounding state of Pacific rugby of late, this is a positive solution and perhaps light at the end of the tunnel for the sustainability of the sport in our region
Come on rugby family, we need everyone to get behind this! #Profit_Share @SixNationsRugby https://t.co/519O7VKVAU
— Daniel Leo (@danleo82) August 21, 2019
It's about time that some good news is potentially on the horizon towards better funding the Pacific Islands Test-playing countries https://t.co/Ahh5MuLHm5
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 21, 2019
Leo’s idea has been widely supported by many people on Twitter, who equally feel that the wealthier nations should be doing more to help those that are struggling. Of course, it is hard to know the intricacies of such a proposal, but in theory, this is something that fans from all over the world seem to support.
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Only this past autumn, Fiji faced Scotland and France, historically beating the French, and Tonga faced Wales. The Scotland versus Fiji game at Murrayfield was a sell-out and any share of that has been shown to be hugely beneficial to tier two nations.
The player drain and financial troubles of the Pacific Islands nations has been an issue for many years, and the vast majority of the rugby world would want to see those teams helped to play to their potential.
That is why an idea like this is proving to be so popular already for many. This is what has been said:
It would be incredibly selfish of the 6N teams not to agree to this. Never do it for NZ, but definitely for the pacific island teams. https://t.co/7m361clqhH
— Dave Owen (@hobbittfeet) August 21, 2019
This is such a good idea – and it’s only 10% they are asking for. Even if more Tier 1 countries (hate that term!) play in the Pacific Islands, sell out crowds wouldn’t bring in this kind of money. If Unions are serious about expanding the sport, this is a golden opportunity! https://t.co/BcHH0hhiRG
— Nicks Johnston (@nicksjj) August 21, 2019
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This is a fantastic initiative & I would urge the Unions of Eng, Wal, Scot and Fra to agree to what PRW are proposing.
Pacific Islands need support, & simply cannot generate necessary revenue. This would be huge help – provided guarantees of proper financial management in place. https://t.co/2mUCv72q1w
— Rugby and the Law (@rugbyandthelaw) August 21, 2019
Nice! https://t.co/coGU3303bQ
— Nkululeko Mnikathi (@Nkuli_MniCarthy) August 21, 2019
. @sixnationsrugby we must work with the Pacific nations to create a framework to not only allow these incredible players to continue being a huge part of our sport but to do it in a fair & inclusive way. Rugby is exploiting these countries and their players and it has to change. https://t.co/QlrioLkdcY
— Ola (@OlaLola81) August 21, 2019
It shouldn't be necessary to ask. The greedy unions should recognise that they benefit from the PI nations being strong https://t.co/88Gw3XkjEm
— Wrighty (@neilwrightlegal) August 21, 2019
Open letter to the rugby unions of England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, & France. Ref the Pacific rugby players welfare, CMON DO THE RIGHT THING.
— John Jephcott (@JJ43_Wasps) August 21, 2019
Really hope they do something about this. The Home Nations could share 10% of the wealth https://t.co/l4dGSpcl5n
— Rob Rich (@robrich247) August 21, 2019
How about any Tier 2 Union that travels a Tier 1 gets a match fee in line with the predicted scoreline…the bigger the spread, the bigger the payout. And this isn't just about PIs!
— AC Slater (@TheStroBro) August 21, 2019
The RFU donated £75,000 to Samoa after the Test at Twickenham in 2017 as the players shared their match fees, and this is one of the goodwill donations that Leo wrote of in his letter. He said they made a “huge difference for the receiving unions” and it is understandable why an official and a more consistent system like that should be set up.
Already this year, tier two nations have been able to fend off the threat of the proposed Nations League which they felt would be hugely detrimental to the Pacific Islands teams and now this proposal is about taking a positive step.
In order for the game to grow, those nations that may be struggling financially cannot be ignored and this could be a step in the right direction.
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Comments on RugbyPass
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments