Rugby News from unexpected places

[Rebels3]

Not much has been said, if anything on these threads but it looks like Wales are about to get rid of a region and replace it with another one. Rumors are Ospreys (who have been their most successful region since the restructuring farce of 15-20yrs ago).

They must of seen with the Aussie Super sides showing some improvement, it was their opportunity to take the mantle of worst run/performed and dysfunctional domestic structure off our hands. It'll be South Africa's turn again soon (East and Western Province about to implode) before it returns back to some farce in Australia, then rinse and repeat.

Although i do agree in the long run the restructure makes some sense

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Not much has been said, if anything on these threads but it looks like Wales are about to get rid of a region and replace it with another one. Rumors are Ospreys (who have been their most successful region since the restructuring farce of 15-20yrs ago).

They must of seen with the Aussie Super sides showing some improvement, it was their opportunity to take the mantle of worst run/performed and dysfunctional domestic structure off our hands. It'll be South Africa's turn again soon (East and Western Province about to implode) before it returns back to some farce in Australia, then rinse and repeat.

Although i do agree in the long run the restructure makes some sense

They're looking at Colwyn Bay or perhaps Wrexham in the north of Wales. The Welsh U20s play out of Colwyn and attract good crowds so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

 

[Dctarget]

They're looking at Colwyn Bay or perhaps Wrexham in the north of Wales. The Welsh U20s play out of Colwyn and attract good crowds so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

As I remember it, Wrexham has quite a big league presence. Though they have a substantial union scene too.

 

[Slim 293]

Ospreys and Scarlets look set to merge...

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-ospreys-set-merge-major-15921430

 

[Omar Comin']

Seems strange they would give up a team based in the 2nd most populated city in the country.

Edit - just realised Llanelli and Swansea are 20 minutes apart. From that perspective it kind of makes sense. But it'll be very difficult to get buy in from both sets of fans.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Seems strange they would give up a team based in the 2nd most populated city in the country.

Edit - just realised Llanelli and Swansea are 20 minutes apart. From that perspective it kind of makes sense. But it'll be very difficult to get buy in from both sets of fans.

The Welsh regions set up is a mess. The Ospreys are DOA for all intensive purposes and will be lucky to see out the season financially at present. This isn't so much a merger and a takeover.

 

[boyo]

Project Reset: Wales bosses to discuss Scarlets-Ospreys merger

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47443612

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Not sure where to put it but wanted to express my deepest sympathy to Sri Lankans everywhere for the appalling bombings yesterday. NZ having just experienced a similarly hateful atrocity, albeit with far less loss of life, knows your pain. Kia kaha Sri Lanka.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Not sure where to put it but wanted to express my deepest sympathy to Sri Lankans everywhere for the appalling bombings yesterday. NZ having just experienced a similarly hateful atrocity, albeit with far less loss of life, knows your pain. Kia kaha Sri Lanka.

Yeah, bloody horrendous. I know a few Sri Lankan born blokes and they are pretty upset about it.

 

[Quick Hands]

Not sure where to put it but wanted to express my deepest sympathy to Sri Lankans everywhere for the appalling bombings yesterday. NZ having just experienced a similarly hateful atrocity, albeit with far less loss of life, knows your pain. Kia kaha Sri Lanka.

Warringah Rats former sponsor was Sri Lankan and for a while at least there was a relationship between Warringah and Sri Lankan rugby. IIRC The Rats went on at least one tour there.

 

[Lindommer]

wo, beautifully put. Many rugby followers from the developed world and other places where rugby's popular don't know of the immense popularity of our game in Sri Lanka. How it became so and how many play the game would be good subjects for another, lengthier post. For these atrocities to happen in Christian churches on the holiest day in christendom is appalling.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Been catching up on MLR - so two conferences of 6 teams each next season, including 3 new US teams. Seems Vancouver still not got themselves sorted. Only I Canadian side (Toronto) seems to leave bleak prospects for developing the game in Canada.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Been catching up on MLR - so two conferences of 6 teams each next season, including 3 new US teams. Seems Vancouver still not got themselves sorted. Only I Canadian side (Toronto) seems to leave bleak prospects for developing the game in Canada.

Apparently there's some talk about a Prairie Fire (Alberta) team that might be in the works. But there's nothing official out there. Not even rumblings. Apparently there is some interest in a Miami based team as well. But we'll have to wait and see first.

A big thing for the league in the meantime is for all the teams to find suitable playing facilities. Houston have finished there's but have had to re-locate a game because the turf hasn't bedded down enough yet. New York are looking at developing a 4-5k stadium likely somewhere in the Bronx. Their owner made his money in the NY construction industry. It looks likely Atlanta will start play out of either 5th 3rd Bank Stadium in Kennsaw or Silverbacks Park while it looks like DC will at least play their exhibition season out of Cardinal Stadium at the National Catholic Uni in DC. No idea where New Eng. will play out of.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Apparently there's some talk about a Prairie Fire (Alberta) team that might be in the works. But there's nothing official out there. Not even rumblings. Apparently there is some interest in a Miami based team as well. But we'll have to wait and see first.

A big thing for the league in the meantime is for all the teams to find suitable playing facilities. Houston have finished there's but have had to re-locate a game because the turf hasn't bedded down enough yet. New York are looking at developing a 4-5k stadium likely somewhere in the Bronx. Their owner made his money in the NY construction industry. It looks likely Atlanta will start play out of either 5th 3rd Bank Stadium in Kennsaw or Silverbacks Park while it looks like DC will at least play their exhibition season out of Cardinal Stadium at the National Catholic Uni in DC. No idea where New Eng. will play out of.

Been looking into the crowds for this season - generally look ok but a little down after first season but still quite reasonable.

Conference model set up for next season for future expansion with 10 games home and away interconference and 6 home and away across conference games.

Be interesting to see how MLR grows and evolves as has potential to turn USA into major XV's powerhouse in next say 5 years if expansion and growth of the league continues. Early days though. Continue to be concerned about Canadian rugby though and really unsure what the plan is there to develop Canadian rugby.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Been looking into the crowds for this season - generally look ok but a little down after first season but still quite reasonable.

Conference model set up for next season for future expansion with 10 games home and away interconference and 6 home and away across conference games.

Be interesting to see how MLR grows and evolves as has potential to turn USA into major XV's powerhouse in next say 5 years if expansion and growth of the league continues. Early days though. Continue to be concerned about Canadian rugby though and really unsure what the plan is there to develop Canadian rugby.

The crowds have been going up in the last few weeks thanks largely to the cold weather in places like Colorado and Utah finally giving in. Stadium choices also effect attendance in some places. Houston saw a significant jump on their opening weekend at their new facility thanks to it's location and set up as opposed to the baseball stadium they had been using. Without the weather factor (which won't be as much of an issue next season with the start being pushed back a bit) and the Texas teams facilities issues the average would be actually be up a bit on last season.

 

[Omar Comin']

Continue to be concerned about Canadian rugby though and really unsure what the plan is there to develop Canadian rugby.

Presumably they'll eventually get a 2nd MLR team. But even with 1 they've got a domestic pathway, and there's not much stopping Canadian players moving to the US to play for the other teams. As far as I know Canadians are not counted towards the teams foreign player cap.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Presumably they'll eventually get a 2nd MLR team. But even with 1 they've got a domestic pathway, and there's not much stopping Canadian players moving to the US to play for the other teams. As far as I know Canadians are not counted towards the teams foreign player cap.

They aren't and there's at least another team and a half worth of Canadians running around in the other 8 MLR teams at present.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Only problem is with only 1 Canadian team it limits growing Canadian rugby fan base

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Only problem is with only 1 Canadian team it limits growing Canadian rugby fan base

True enough. Though RC has reinstated the Pacific Pride program for player 18-24 as a form of pathway to MLR for players in the West. So hopefully this can act as a catalyst for a group to push for MLR in the near future.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Not so much an unexpected place but I didn't think this needed a whole new thread. According to some Japanese based posters on another forum there are currently discussions on a bit of a restructure of the Top League. Things like removing the league from under the direct auspices of the JRFU, looking to become more community linked and shifting the season to January-May from 2021 onwards are all apparently on the table.