RugbyPass Premiership Fantasy: 4 tips on how to absolutely smash it this season
It’s been about three months since last season’s Premiership ended and a lot has happened in the world in that time. A giant inflatable baby president caused chaos in London, we lost (then swiftly regained) Brooklyn Nine-Nine and had to consider the terrifying prospect of a Terry Crews-less existence, and a summer heatwave caused widespread melting and overly optimistic barbecue investment across Europe.
On the rugby side of things, Eddie Jones’s England already fractured honeymoon period was well and truly brought to an end in slippery conditions in South Africa, New Zealand continued to prove that they’re actually quite good at this rugby lark and half the Melbourne Rebels squad decided getting arrested would be preferable to cardio training.
Now though, the Premiership is back and we can look forward to another season of twists, turns and Tuilagi brothers. With Rugby Pass Fantasy League, you can jump into the proverbial Director of Rugby driving seat and try to predict just who the best performing players will be each week.
To help you pick the best side possible, here are a few tips on how you can make sure you’re fighting it out at the top come the end of the season:
- Pick your stars first
You’ve got a limited budget to play with so the first step in choosing a fantasy team is to pick your stars. That doesn’t mean blow all your cash early on big name players, but invest in those you absolutely can’t live without – the ones who will bring in the serious points. For my team (Skåne RFC if you’re interested), I opted for Jonny May on the wing despite a hefty $7million price tag because I’m banking on him bagging enough tries to justify the cost. Similarly, Sam Simmonds’s $6.5m salary is pretty steep for a flanker but his average haul of 14.25 points a game last season coupled with his likelihood to play week in week out makes him a must pick for my side.
- Take a gamble
Not every pick will be a sure thing. I’ve gone for Dylan Hartley at hooker despite his inherent unpredictability. It’s a move that may not pay off, but if Hartley plays (and if he stays on the bloody field), he’s amongst the top performing hookers in the country. And if it doesn’t pan out, I’ve got the option to heartlessly kick him to the kerb in favour of younger talent, just one of the many similarities between myself and Eddie Jones.
- Go bargain hunting
As with the real deal, a salary cap applies to Rugby Pass Fantasy League (and this one is actually enforced). This means you can’t fill your squad with superstars – you have to go rooting around in the bargain bin to find players that will bring in the points without breaking the bank. I’ve gone for Sales’ AJ McGinty at Fly Half, because for just $5.1m (low for his position), he still bagged an average of 11.51 points a game last season – the same as the much more expensive Owen Farrell. Fly Half is a key points-scoring position, so having a player with a decent kicking record and who will play regularly is vital.
- Research, review and revise
One of the main reasons for an underperforming Fantasy League team is a lack of attention. You have to nurture it and show it lots of love and affection, like a puppy that’s actually 15 giant blokes stuck together. I was all set to have Chris Ashton as the lynchpin of my back three, hoping he’d bring his Top 14 form with him on his return to Premiership action. However, Flash’s stint on the naughty step means keeping him in my side would be both literally and figuratively pointless.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on injuries, suspensions and anything else with Rugby Pass to make sure you know exactly who you should keep and who needs the boot. Another great way to keep the points rolling in is to take the Moneyball approach and use Rugby Pass Fantasy League’s Scout, a tool that monitors player behaviour using rich statistical analysis to give you vital insights into how your team is performing. Finally, being a nerd might help me succeed in something sports related.
Good luck and happy picking! – Sign up Here
Comments on RugbyPass
In 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 getitng 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.
5 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.
6 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
5 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.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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.
54 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.
6 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments