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#Post#: 153532--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: Guildford Quin
Date: April 28, 2026, 4:30 am
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I think the most favourable solution for the future of English
clubs would still be a combined league with either the Welsh or
Scottish clubs (or both). An expanded British league comprising
13/15 teams would generate increased TV revenues, provide a
lifeline to the WRU and avoid the expense of ridiculous away
trips to SA. As it would rip a hole in the URC it probably won't
happen, but if a re-branded British league avoided the
requirement to spend a year in the Champ to qualify for an
expanded league, it would seem to be the most sensible
alternative
#Post#: 153536--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: April 28, 2026, 6:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Neil Quinnock link ---
>
> I think the most favourable solution for the future of English
clubs would still be a combined league with either the Welsh or
Scottish clubs (or both). An expanded British league comprising
13/15 teams would generate increased TV revenues, provide a
lifeline to the WRU and avoid the expense of ridiculous away
trips to SA. As it would rip a hole in the URC it probably won't
happen, but if a re-branded British league avoided the
requirement to spend a year in the Champ to qualify for an
expanded league, it would seem to be the most sensible
alternative
>
--- End Quote ---
with respect I really would rather avoid the train crash that
Welsh rugby has become, it won’t happen as the prem clubs said
no in 2024, and CVC are stakeholders in both leagues.
Also why would it increase media rights revenue as both Wales
and Scotland combined is a smaller Market than London, Wales
also has Welsh language restrictions around rugby, hence the FTA
deal with S4c.
The Welsh could have joined the league in 1996 but said no, the
tribalism and anti female comments that are apparent on some
other forums are disturbing, which amount to cut any region as
long as it is not the one I support, and Women’s rugby is
sucking the money that the men’s game creates and making us cut
a region, the 2 proposed women’s teams cost would be less than
2% of the WRU budget.
Having a national league for English rugby is not something we
should give up, and despite my comments on champ rugby, they
should be given a chance to become franchises first.
#Post#: 153538--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: dawson9
Date: April 28, 2026, 7:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Camquin link ---
>
> Similarly, if you use the Wasps or London Irish names, you
might attract some of their old support - but how many of those
have switched allegiance in the wilderness years.
>
--- End Quote ---
Switched allegiance, moved on to other sports, given their
saturdays to other hobbies or... simply passed on. The average
crowd at a club rugby game has a lot of grey hairs in it. Every
year that goes past without any update and I do wonder how many
legacy fans would be left for Wasps. Especially when moving to
Kent - thats also effectively throwing away all the Midlands and
Wycombe support and relying on an even older legacy fanbase or
the odd fan who used to travel a lot.
--- Quote from: Camquin link ---
>
> The RFU loves to talk about there being 30 million Rugby fans
- but where are they. They might be liking the odd social media
post. But they certainly are not playing or paying to watch on
a Saturday or a Sunday.
>
--- End Quote ---
Watching the international and nothing more. Six nations time
and I can talk to dozens of my friends and colleagues about
whats going on. Ask them whos top of the Prem? I'd be lucky if
more than 1 or 2 could tell me.
#Post#: 153541--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: April 28, 2026, 9:12 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: dawson9 link ---
>
> Watching the international and nothing more. Six nations time
and I can talk to dozens of my friends and colleagues about
whats going on. Ask them whos top of the Prem? I'd be lucky if
more than 1 or 2 could tell me.
>
--- End Quote ---
That's true with all sport, though, isn't it? I ended up
watching loads of curling in the olympics, but I couldn't tell
you the name of a single curling team.
Hell, I very occasionally watch football during world cup time
(sorry!) but I don't know who is in the premier league (if
that's what it's called).
#Post#: 153549--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: dawson9
Date: April 28, 2026, 10:56 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> That's true with all sport, though, isn't it? I ended up
watching loads of curling in the olympics, but I couldn't tell
you the name of a single curling team.
>
> Hell, I very occasionally watch football during world cup time
(sorry!) but I don't know who is in the premier league (if
that's what it's called).
>
--- End Quote ---
Personally Id argue that, for a top tier sport, its actually
quite unique. Using football as a comparison, you of course get
huge numbers of 'casual viewers' during a WC, but I'd argue the
disparity between those types of fans vs the regular club and
country fans is quite disproportionate compared to Union,
especially for internationals outside of tournaments. Obviously
everywhere is different and depends on the demographics of where
you grew up - but for me, I've gone from school -> university ->
work with club union always being niche and barely even known
among my sports loving friends and colleagues, while nearly
everyone has an EPL team. Yet they all watch the internationals
in both sports. (I'm sure that would be different if I'd grown
up in a Gloucester/Bath but I think the general point remains!)
And that for me is one of the biggest problems Union has here -
how does the RFU convert selling out Twickenham/huge TV figures
for England into attendances at club/grass roots? Half of the
(football) premier league clubs have ground capacities 50% or
more of Wembley's capacity and regularly sell out, yet there
isnt a single stadium in the rugby premiership that compares.
Outside of Ashton Gate/Welford Road the rest go from 12-19% of
the capacity of Twickenham. Average attendance in the second
tier in both sports last season was 22k vs 1.5k. For whatever
reason, the interest in internationals just simply doesnt
convert into bums on seats like it does in other sports. How
they improve that, I have no idea!
#Post#: 153553--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: RodneyRegis
Date: April 28, 2026, 12:19 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> That's true with all sport, though, isn't it? I ended up
watching loads of curling in the olympics, but I couldn't tell
you the name of a single curling team.
>
> Hell, I very occasionally watch football during world cup time
(sorry!) but I don't know who is in the premier league (if
that's what it's called).
>
--- End Quote ---
Walk down the street in Twickenham, the home of rugby, and ask
30 people who is top of the Premier league, and who is top of
the premiership.
#Post#: 153557--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: never sleep
Date: April 28, 2026, 12:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: RodneyRegis link ---
>
> Walk down the street in Twickenham, the home of rugby, and ask
30 people who is top of the Premier league, and who is top of
the premiership.
>
--- End Quote ---
Saints and arsenal?
#Post#: 153558--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: Yareet
Date: April 28, 2026, 12:58 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: never sleep link ---
>
> Saints and arsenal?
>
--- End Quote ---
Southampton are top of the Premier League??? 🤯
Perhaps more worryingly give we live in the home of rugby, ask
my boy’s schoolmates to answer the same questions. Or the even
his rugby team.
#Post#: 153560--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: never sleep
Date: April 28, 2026, 2:01 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
To be honest, it was a bit of a guess. But, it remember someone
on the radio banging on about arsenal.
Saints was a bit of a guess. I wasn't sure if it was them or
bath
#Post#: 153568--------------------------------------------------
Re: Jeopardy and Momentum
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: April 29, 2026, 3:32 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: dawson9 link ---
>
> Personally Id argue that, for a top tier sport, its actually
quite unique. Using football as a comparison, you of course get
huge numbers of 'casual viewers' during a WC, but I'd argue the
disparity between those types of fans vs the regular club and
country fans is quite disproportionate compared to Union,
especially for internationals outside of tournaments. Obviously
everywhere is different and depends on the demographics of where
you grew up - but for me, I've gone from school -> university ->
work with club union always being niche and barely even known
among my sports loving friends and colleagues, while nearly
everyone has an EPL team. Yet they all watch the internationals
in both sports. (I'm sure that would be different if I'd grown
up in a Gloucester/Bath but I think the general point remains!)
>
> And that for me is one of the biggest problems Union has here
- how does the RFU convert selling out Twickenham/huge TV
figures for England into attendances at club/grass roots? Half
of the (football) premier league clubs have ground capacities
50% or more of Wembley's capacity and regularly sell out, yet
there isnt a single stadium in the rugby premiership that
compares. Outside of Ashton Gate/Welford Road the rest go from
12-19% of the capacity of Twickenham. Average attendance in the
second tier in both sports last season was 22k vs 1.5k. For
whatever reason, the interest in internationals just simply
doesnt convert into bums on seats like it does in other sports.
How they improve that, I have no idea!
>
>
>
--- End Quote ---
As they could sell out HQ 3 times over, how about stipulating
that to apply for an International ticket you first have to be a
STH at a Prem club, or at least have ticket stubs for, say, 5
Prem games a season...? (Especially the Corporate t-ossers)
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