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#Post#: 84184--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: February 9, 2022, 3:46 am
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Some of us have got to work, you know!
#Post#: 84185--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: Brown Bottle
Date: February 9, 2022, 3:46 am
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I don't think you can divide England into North and South in a
useful way. There's the East and West Midlands in between.
That's Leicester, Saints and Wuss. No idea how much league is
played in the Midlands.
#Post#: 84187--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: February 9, 2022, 3:55 am
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Speaking as a person born in Krugersdorp I feel safe in
discussing the North/South divide without too much bias.
When Broncos were playing at The Stoop we made the effort to
watch a couple of their games. It was ok but the behaviour of
the crowd was loudly tribal and more like watching wendyball
than rugger. The language and aggression in the watching fans
was certainly not what we were used to with children around
anyway. Also, it just seemed to me that what got the fans out of
their seats cheering was a move where the ball span down the
line and someone scored in the corner. There has been a lot of
huff and puff since the schism to end up with both codes
celebrating the same thing tbh.
I once had an Employee take a swing at me for not knowing who
the Manager of Sheffield United was after I had mentioned that I
followed Man United (because in the sixties all SA kids did!),
he was a little drunk and soon became a former employee but it
highlighted for me the difference between softy southerners and
chip on their shoulder Northeners in sport.
My best mate is from Wakefield so I have no axe to grind....Mind
you he moved to Adelaide a while back, so....
#Post#: 84189--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: never sleep
Date: February 9, 2022, 4:27 am
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--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> Speaking as a person born in Krugersdorp
>
--- End Quote ---
And I thought that being born in Doncaster was unfortunate . . .
#Post#: 84193--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: Camquin
Date: February 9, 2022, 4:54 am
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The Counties with two members on the RFU Council are Yorkshire,
Lancashire, Notts, Lincs & Derby, North Midlands,
Gloucestershire and Surrey. All others have one.
Yorkshire is one of the few counties to have four levels of
county leagues, plus merit tables. I think they have 98 clubs,
which I believe is more than any other CB.
#Post#: 84196--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: February 9, 2022, 5:14 am
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--- Quote from: Isca Quin link ---
>
> Ealing and Doncaster are the only two clubs to have submitted
the 'paperwork' applying for membership of the Premiership. This
means only they can be promoted.....in theory.
> Ealing had an agreement in place with QPR to groundshare
should they and not Sarries earn promotion for this season,
although that was refused by the RFU (NOT Prem Rugby).
>
> I believe that agreement is in place again for next season
should they make it (tweaked for due process). Vallis Way is a
huge site (check out their new indoor training pitch) and
temporary stands could be put up with ease, the issue is more
about local traffic.
>
> There were many rumours regarding Ealing refusing to purchase
P shares and this is true (valued at £45M). But contrary to the
reports that this means they cannot be promoted, in actual fact
refusing to buy them just means the promoted side receive 30%
less revenue than the other Prem teams.
>
> One of two things will happen. Either the 13 teams remain in
place in a fully ringfenced Premiership, or Ealing/Donny will be
allowed in. Relegation will remain with the caveat that the top
Champ side will play the bottom Prem side for that final Prem
spot.
>
> *I'm an ex-Ealing player.
>
--- End Quote ---
Loving the deep dive into union/league but wanted to come back
to this. As a former player, Isca, what's your opinion on Ealing
as a Premiership side? Leaving emotion out of it, do you think
they'll add to the Premiership? Do you think they'll be able to
get the crowds?
I've always been very negative on them but would be good to hear
some reasoned opinion that I assume is to the contrary!
#Post#: 84208--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: SwindonQuin
Date: February 9, 2022, 6:33 am
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I fore one don't have any issue with Ealing, but the London club
saturation isn't great for expanding the game, premiership wise.
Whilst I don't think that Quins, Sarries or Irish will lose fans
we may not gain additional ones as people choices would be
greater for new to rugby folk.
I would, from a league development & rugby point of view, prefer
to have wither Pirates or Doncaster come up as it would help
branch out into more areas so that the younger generation had
more exposure to a great game and the principles it sands for.
#Post#: 84283--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: PinguthePenQuin
Date: February 10, 2022, 3:59 am
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I think Ealing will, in the long term, be a success. I expect
that IF they get into the premiership this time around, I would
think that they will struggle for the first season while there
is no relegation. This would be because the system makes signing
players in advance a bit of a gamble in case promotion doesn't
happen. I think in that case, Ealing would end up bottom,
possibly without a win and facing plenty of heat for not being
good enough. On the flip side, I think Ealing would comfortably
beat the current Bath side.
HOWEVER...Ealing do have money. They have invested more into
their facilities than most prem sides. Their academy is now also
part of Brunel Uni and last season twonked Cardiff Met (scoring
80+ points). I would guess their second season would be a
mid-table one with a couple of big names joining them. Here's a
good video of their facilites (prior to completions of the gym
and indoor pitch)
HTML https://youtu.be/THGRbELHz9A
Currently, they have some good players who they have tied into
long contracts which has held off Prem teams. Bobby de Wee and
Rayn Smid could easily play in any of the prem teams from 6th
downwards. Other players like Charlie Walker or Max Bodily
already have prem experience.
In terms of location, obviously it would be better for the game
if a northern or SW club made the leap (or Jersey). But location
isn't Ealing's fault.
A few seasons ago, I thought that Ealing being promoted would
have affected Quins, as there is a very large minis and youth
section there (my son had 175 other children in his age group
alone). I know that a lot of those families watch Ealing and
Quins and getting prem rugby to Vallis Way would more than
likely retain those families. But then Quins won the
Premiership, so their success should be the deciding factor in
keeping those families.
However, promotion could claw back some of the fans that have
gone to Irish to watch their games.
That said, I doubt Ealing will ever grow beyond 6k as a fanbase.
#Post#: 84286--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: Monte
Date: February 10, 2022, 4:39 am
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But looking at it objectively Premiership rugby needs to cover
Cornwall, Yorkshire and other areas. I am sure we would all love
to see Cornish Pirates come up, but Cornwall is still messing
around with planning permission and the latest effort to turn
the new ground slightly has been refused as far as I am aware.
They are short of funds to build the original stadium and this
modification is essential. Dickie Evans, very sadly, who is the
main man is not well and without him I am not sure what happens.
Quins are going through a bonanza period at present but those
of us who have watched/supported for 20 years or more know this
doesn’t last forever. … don’t we!?
#Post#: 84289--------------------------------------------------
Re: O/T - English Championship
DIR By: A222Quin
Date: February 10, 2022, 4:59 am
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I've never had anything against Ealing and think they'd
eventually do well as a club. They've got good backing and are
demonstrably improving their facilities.
My issue is that in a minority sport, further geographical
concentration isn't really a good thing. Being able to throw a
blanket over 4 clubs in a 14 team league isn't a great thing.
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