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       #Post#: 97153--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: Harleys Evil Step Mum
       Date: October 13, 2022, 9:22 am
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       Certainly made me delay my #COYQ tattoo!!!!!!
       #Post#: 97154--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: A222Quin
       Date: October 13, 2022, 9:29 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: ecrowe link ---
       >
       > I know it may fit into one of the suggested options but what
       about a NFL style league? The league would be ringfenced with
       the uptake of some championship teams.
       >
       > North - Newcastle, Sale, Nottingham, Doncaster, Leeds, Caldy
       >
       > Midlands - Leicester, Northampton, Wasps, Worcester, Bedford
       >
       > London - Quins, Irish, Sarries, Ealing, Richmond, London
       Scottish
       >
       > West Country - Bath, Gloucester, Bristol, Jersey, Cornish
       Pirates
       >
       > Each team plays the teams in their league home and away and
       then play ONE team from the other leagues - totalling 12 games
       over the season. Top two of each league go to a knock out match
       all ending with a final.
       >
       > Fans still get to see a mixture of opposition teams at home
       and get to travel to away games across the England.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Assume Exeter go into the West Country group?
       Nice idea but the mismatches would be pretty horrendous. Would
       you want to be a championship player having Andre or Billy
       Vunipola flying at you at full tilt?
       #Post#: 97155--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: never sleep
       Date: October 13, 2022, 9:32 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I wonder whether the answer is to split the Prem league from the
       Euro cup.
       Basically have a Prem league that culminates in a final.
       Then have a small number of franchised teams who compete in the
       European cup.
       Advantages of this - it would reduce the salary bills for the
       league clubs and Clubs could reduce their squad sizes.
       The franchised super clubs would be good at competing against
       the Irish Provinces and some of the richer Top 14 clubs.
       Basically, it would be a bit like southern hemisphere rugby
       where the Super Rugby franchises are separate from the
       provincial/club sides.
       [edited]
       Some players (e.g. Maro Itoje) could play for England and London
       Raiders and occasionally be loaned to Sarries. This would reduce
       player burnout and would help Sarries to lower their wage bill.
       #Post#: 97156--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: The Kid
       Date: October 13, 2022, 10:09 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       If there is going to be a franchise model (and I think this is
       where it is going), then if it’s going to work, it needs to look
       like the following:
       Most Importantly, by far,they 100% need use the clubs they have,
       and that’s 10-11 existing, established clubs with 100+ years of
       history in most cases, rather than lighting that on fire. If
       they don’t, they will lose the room, and the whole game risks
       going bang.
       No games on international weekends. Bye week remains if there
       are 11 viable teams.
       Franchises must be essentially permanent; the bottom cannot be
       allowed to fall out. Those on the outside need to present a
       viable, credible operation backed by success on the pitch to be
       able to get an “expansion”. If Wasps and Worcester are reborn
       and in 5-10 years time, viable, then expansion needs to be
       discussed and unanimously agreed.
       Central administration of the league needs to be a lot stronger,
       whilst allowing clubs to shape their own direction re. Squads,
       talent pipeline etc. There can be no “draft” as academies are
       too strong and a point of difference. Prem Rugby needs to work
       hand in glove with the RFU and perhaps central fund the 5
       million cap, with clubs paying back in revenue like a
       “subscription” to their franchise status. I have no idea how the
       business arrangement would work here, but linking England Player
       availability to their clubs is paramount or the fans will not
       come.
       Salary cap must remain low so that clubs are viable, perhaps
       relating to a “size capped” squad. NFL teams carry 52 and a
       practice squad of 16. A senior squad of 32, with 9 front rowers
       minimum, would make sense. England players would have to be
       available every weekend for this to be viable (the NFL model
       doesn’t have this issue and English Rugby needs to eliminate
       it).
       Squads could then carry an academy (100% homegrown) squad of
       12-16 players who are dual registered in the champ and play when
       not required (at least 3 front rowers). This is essentially the
       arrangement Quins have with Scottish now. Franchises could then
       also offer partnerships with universities, with players
       registered for degrees and playing BUCs? This would sit above
       the U18s but below the first team.
       Scrap the prem cup. The dual registered players get game time
       with the partner teams and/or in relief of the main squad of 30
       due to injury (perhaps limited call ups to 5 per player per
       season).
       Teams are involved in Europe as normal. Extend the season if you
       have to. But no midweek rugby.
       #Post#: 97157--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: Surbiton Quin
       Date: October 13, 2022, 10:10 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Banstead Quin link ---
       >
       > the money guys know that ultimately, we will just want to
       watch Rugby and will swallow whatever they come up with.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       I don't think history shows this to be correct, which is why I
       mentioned the Welsh franchises the attendance is very poor the
       average for URC season 21/22 was 6,400 and context around
       Dragons - one of the better known teams -
       "The Dragons rugby team share their home at Rodney Parade with
       Newport County AFC. While the Dragons play in a top flight
       international league, Newport County are in the fourth level of
       English football’s system.
       There shouldn’t be any competition as far as their support goes,
       after all, Wales is rugby mad and there’s a massive local
       population. That doesn’t even go into the issue of supply - the
       Dragons only had nine home games last year compared to the
       seemingly over-abundant offer of 25 County home games.
       But the Dragons average attendance of 5,111 is barely more than
       County’s season average of 4,333." Source the National - Welsh
       website/paper
       Super Rugby in Aus averages about 9,500 a match and this is
       where there are big state rivalries which map to the teams, take
       out the final and semis and the average drops off, in fact take
       out Brisbane/ Queensland Reds and it is quite low.
       The SA clubs only moved North for the hope of cash and NZ
       pulling out of super rugby was also done for money reasons. The
       bigger shinier thing that is pushed by consultants doesn't tend
       to last.
       Leinster doesn't bother with Thomond Park for a lot of their URC
       matches.
       Rugby League moved to summer to boost TV and match day
       attendances, how did that one work out?
       I am more likely to go and watch Esher than follow a combined
       London side, so yes in a way you are correct I will probably
       still watch rugby but not the "super product".
       #Post#: 97165--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: ecrowe
       Date: October 13, 2022, 11:20 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: A222Quin link ---
       >
       > Assume Exeter go into the West Country group?
       >
       > Nice idea but the mismatches would be pretty horrendous. Would
       you want to be a championship player having Andre or Billy
       Vunipola flying at you at full tilt?
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Oh yes, not sure how I forgot about them...means one team loses
       out or you stretch groups even further.
       I know it has its problems in places but just putting idea out
       there. The Championship has been cast off by the RFU so maybe by
       including them in a league they will have more funding which
       would lead to improvement of the teams.
       #Post#: 97166--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: T-Bone
       Date: October 13, 2022, 11:46 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       none of these solutions addresses the reality the rugby is a
       minority sport and will remain so. "england" fans who watch
       during the world cup and 6 nations don't care about rugby the
       rest of the season in the same way I don't about county crciket.
       talk of growing the game is silly
       marcus, maro, etc would like us to emulate nfl but it ain't
       going to happen. football is the sport in england - union,
       league, cricket and hockey can fight over the scraps. everything
       you do to alienate the small existing base will only hasten the
       demise
       the supporter base is probably getting older too. stop trying to
       convert a market who don't care and try to retain the market you
       have, and their children
       #Post#: 97168--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: Quinofthestoneage
       Date: October 13, 2022, 3:41 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I don't often agree with him,  but I think Andy Goode might be
       right. He put forward the idea that CVC might be waiting for all
       this stuff to play out and then offer a sum of money for the
       whole league itself (e.g premiership rugby) plus a stake in some
       clubs. I'm not an F1 fan, but perhaps someone who is could say
       how this went for that sport? I get the impression that the fans
       don't like it, but it would be interesting to know.
       #Post#: 97172--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: DOK
       Date: October 13, 2022, 4:41 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Proposals for new 10-team Premiership gaining support as crisis
       continues
  HTML https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/13/proposals-for-new-10-team-premiership-gaining-support-as-crisis-continues
       #Post#: 97173--------------------------------------------------
       Re: What Next?
   DIR By: Quinston Churchill
       Date: October 13, 2022, 4:56 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: T-Bone link ---
       >
       > none of these solutions addresses the reality the rugby is a
       minority sport and will remain so. "england" fans who watch
       during the world cup and 6 nations don't care about rugby the
       rest of the season in the same way I don't about county crciket.
       talk of growing the game is silly
       >
       > marcus, maro, etc would like us to emulate nfl but it ain't
       going to happen. football is the sport in england - union,
       league, cricket and hockey can fight over the scraps. everything
       you do to alienate the small existing base will only hasten the
       demise
       >
       > the supporter base is probably getting older too. stop trying
       to convert a market who don't care and try to retain the market
       you have, and their children
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       For the most part, I agree with you. However, I don’t think I’d
       go as far as branding ‘talk of growing the game’ as ‘silly’.
       I’d argue that the Premiership is quite a bit more entertaining
       than test rugby and the profile of players is probably greater
       than it ever has been. ‘Marcus, Maro, etc.’ might be overly
       ambitious, but I think they’re broadly on the right track. There
       are opportunities for social media etc. to grow the presence of
       rugby in fans’ minds outside of the 6N and RWC. The sport is
       also way more diverse than ever which also makes it more
       accessible to those outside of traditional supporter base. That
       can only be a good thing IMO.
       The bigger issue is that rugby is still run by dinosaurs and is
       terrible at promoting itself. Is it ever going to be NFL or
       football? Of course not. However, I think it could definitely be
       bigger and significantly more financially viable than it is now.
       Out of interest, what do you feel is being done to ‘alienate the
       small existing base’?
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