Northern Hemisphere Rugby

[Highlander35]

It's not excruciatingly difficult to go back to a variation on the Pro14 model. schedule.

Retain the existing shields, and add "Conferences" with 2 RSA, 2 IRE, 1 SCO, 1 ITA each. Double ups against 7 teams (the 3 teams in your shield, plus the other 4 in your conference) for 14 games, one offs against the remaining four teams for a total of 18. Fixturing is a touch more unfair than it is currently, and does mean the European teams play an extra game in South Africa, but it's not a death knell from a financial perspective.

 

[Wilson]

It's not excruciatingly difficult to go back to a variation on the Pro14 model. schedule.

Retain the existing shields, and add "Conferences" with 2 RSA, 2 IRE, 1 SCO, 1 ITA each. Double ups against 7 teams (the 3 teams in your shield, plus the other 4 in your conference) for 14 games, one offs against the remaining four teams for a total of 18. Fixturing is a touch more unfair than it is currently, and does mean the European teams play an extra game in South Africa, but it's not a death knell from a financial perspective.

I'd expect they'd look at adding a few more teams to make up the difference, which probably involves looking at the Georgian Black Lions and maybe teams from Spain, Portugal, Germany or even the Netherlands if there is the backing. Not sure adding teams would be the right decision though, but I'm not sure they'd want to go backwards. The risk is that South Africa would see the Welsh leaving as an opportunity to get more teams in and push to see the Cheetahs and Kings return. I wonder how committed the Irish and Scottish would be then be long term, particularly if the balance shifts to much towards South Africa. The Scottish particularly, who I don't think have a big margin to play with and might see an Anglo-Welsh league as a real changing tide and something they should jump on. It's a short hop from there to full UK league, which does have plenty of appeal as a product.

 

[LeCheese]

Understandably a fair bit of uproar over this - can’t blame the RFU for looking for a quick £100m though

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/08/06/sold-its-soul-cash-strapped-english-rugby-slammed-despite-securing-transformative-200m-deal/

 

[Strewthcobber]

Not really sure where this fits.....
Samoa have had to pull out of their Northern Hemisphere tour due to "significant financial challenges" and to "avoid embarrassment of being the first small union to go bankrupt".

Samoa rugby facing 'significant financial challenges', withdraws from Europe tour

In a letter, dated 11 July 2024, Lakapi Samoa chair wrote to World Rugby chair, saying the union wants to "avoid embarrassment of being the first small union to go bankrupt".

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[Wilson]

Not really sure where this fits.....
Samoa have had to pull out of their Northern Hemisphere tour due to "significant financial challenges" and to "avoid embarrassment of being the first small union to go bankrupt".

Samoa rugby facing 'significant financial challenges', withdraws from Europe tour

In a letter, dated 11 July 2024, Lakapi Samoa chair wrote to World Rugby chair, saying the union wants to "avoid embarrassment of being the first small union to go bankrupt".

www.rnz.co.nz

Some sort of revenue sharing arrangement, at least for the smaller teams can't come soon enough. With the Australia v Japan game looking like it has been postponed until next year, I'd to see the Wallabies either stop there or host Samoa before leaving, in whatever way is most financially workable. Might be an opportunity to tap into a bit of the PacificAus Sports funding.

 

[dru]

Some sort of revenue sharing arrangement, at least for the smaller teams can't come soon enough. With the Australia v Japan game looking like it has been postponed until next year, I'd to see the Wallabies either stop there or host Samoa before leaving, in whatever way is most financially workable. Might be an opportunity to tap into a bit of the PacificAus Sports funding.

Absolutely. Ideally (PacificAus) funding to get them here and share revenue (RA).

 

[Dan54]

Like Strewth ,I not sure where this should go. I have been reading NZ Rugby News mag on lead up to NPC, and was more than concerned to read of at least 6-7 players that have made themselves unavailable for Tonga and Samoa for extended Pacific Championship, and are playing for provinces. Not sure what the answer is, NPC money sure isn't much, and think the problem is the players seem to be reluctant to play for Tanga and Samoa and then perhaps have to wait for quite some time for pay?

 

[Dctarget]

Anyone with news on Sean McMahon? Has he retired? Apparently hasn't played a game in over 2.5 years.

 

[Dctarget]

Anyone with news on Sean McMahon? Has he retired? Apparently hasn't played a game in over 2.5 years.

a quick check of his instagram shows him very much in pre-season, I guess he's just been injured for two seasons.

 

[Slim 293]

I guess he's just been injured for two seasons.

On a positive note, he's still the same player as when he left Australia...

 

[Strewthcobber]

McMahon wasn't registered to play by Suntory for 23/24 due to injury. They brought in Same Cane to cover him (who also got injured)

 

[Dctarget]

A pet peeve of mine is Japan Rugby's disinterest in showing their game outside their country. Almost impossible for a fan to follow how their players are going over there, I feel like this is such a lost opportunity.

 

[Derpus]

A pet peeve of mine is Japan Rugby's disinterest in showing their game outside their country. Almost impossible for a fan to follow how their players are going over there, I feel like this is such a lost opportunity.

Lost opportunity for what? Japan cares about Japan.

 

[Dctarget]

Lost opportunity for what? Japan cares about Japan.

*synergy*

More money for Japan, more interest in Japan. I want Super rugby and Japan to work more together and we can't do that if we know nothing about their teams and their players.

 

[Derpus]

*synergy*

More money for Japan, more interest in Japan. I want Super rugby and Japan to work more together and we can't do that if we know nothing about their teams and their players.

Their teams are loss making corporate ego vehicles. The point isn't to generate interest or build a sustainable comp. It's to hire some gaijin to win your company some kudo points and demonstrate how much better your company is at hiring gaijin rugby players than other companies.

 

[Dctarget]

Their teams are loss making corporate ego vehicles.

Yeah I get why they're like that. JRU aren't though, they're interested in growing their game.

It would take no money at all to set up some english broadcasting. Give us the same stream, get some bored sweaty gaijin to commentate (Dismal is appropriate I assume), pay 'em not much yen, sell to Stan for a bit of moolah.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

What I'd give to hear the dulcet tones of Gordon Bray do this.

 

[John S]

Yeah I get why they're like that. JRU aren't though, they're interested in growing their game.

It would take no money at all to set up some english broadcasting. Give us the same stream, get some bored sweaty gaijin to commentate (Dismal is appropriate I assume), pay 'em not much yen, sell to Stan for a bit of moolah.

I would like to see Dismal give this a go - "and fluffy bunny no 1 has just dropped the ball, that runaway ex-AB is crapping his pants there" and so on

 

[Wilson]

Yeah I get why they're like that. JRU aren't though, they're interested in growing their game.

It would take no money at all to set up some english broadcasting. Give us the same stream, get some bored sweaty gaijin to commentate (Dismal is appropriate I assume), pay 'em not much yen, sell to Stan for a bit of moolah.

Legal fees just got very expensive....

 

[Bullrush]

Not really sure where this fits.....
Samoa have had to pull out of their Northern Hemisphere tour due to "significant financial challenges" and to "avoid embarrassment of being the first small union to go bankrupt".

Samoa rugby facing 'significant financial challenges', withdraws from Europe tour

In a letter, dated 11 July 2024, Lakapi Samoa chair wrote to World Rugby chair, saying the union wants to "avoid embarrassment of being the first small union to go bankrupt".

www.rnz.co.nz

Lakapi Samoa just had a 100 Yr 'celebration' and did not invite quite a few ex-players. So corrupt.....