Champioship nonsense

[Old Hob]

If Newcastle are the only club in the championship who are willing and able to be promoted aren't the playoffs a farce? Newcastle have an off day, say and the opposing team then do everything they can to lose just in case they end up at the top.
Rum scenario 2; say Newcastle genuinely muff it and come second and the club that wins it is denied promotion then Welsh, without main money man, ground or the majority of their top players will be forced to stay up.

[Eon B]

I have a feeling of amused fondness about it really,
but then I'm not much involved.

Generally speaking I'm sure play offs are a sign of the triumph of the moneymen over the clubmen.

It's interesting, to me, that Bedford don't much want to come up. If I were a Bedford fan I'd maybe not want to lose that quirky pitch and homely ground in exchange for the opportunity to be mostly beaten by bigger clubs.

I suppose a better run national game would be a good thing for some but it would be less good for the localness of sport.

So while I agree that it is nonsensical I'll say "It's a strange world, let's keep it that way."

[Smurphswillgetya]

It said on sky sports that it is only Bedford of the 4 teams that don't meet the criteria and hence Welsh would only stay up if Bedford win, otherwise one of the others get promoted.

[hww27]

As a Nottingham fan I'm really quite offended by the assumption that Newcastle are the only team willing or able to be promoted! Our ground passed the audit and we didn't work our backsides off all season just to be 'not bothered' about the playoffs!! I was at Bedford yesterday and yes we lost narrowly and it's far from over but if you had seen the dejected look on our lads faces when they trudged off the pitch you might think twice before saying 'they were not willing' to work for promotion. Not one to have a go usually but it annoys me when posters don't get their facts straight before posting!!!!!!

[Bill W (2)]

As a Nottingham fan I'm really quite offended by the assumption that Newcastle are the only team willing or able to be promoted! Our ground passed the audit and we didn't work our backsides off all season just to be 'not bothered' about the playoffs!! I was at Bedford yesterday and yes we lost narrowly and it's far from over but if you had seen the dejected look on our lads faces when they trudged off the pitch you might think twice before saying 'they were not willing' to work for promotion. Not one to have a go usually but it annoys me when posters don't get their facts straight before posting!!!!!!

Sympathy hww27. Gact remains that if by a fluke Bedford qualified they would not go up and therefore London Oxford Welsh would stay.

But then again if Tigers were relegated arguably they could not then be promoted because the pitch is not big enough!!! Yet the team at the top of the table will be sraging a home semi-final in a ground that is too small for European competitions!!

We live in a strange world.

I blame the 57!!!

[Mr Bean]

As a Nottingham fan I'm really quite offended by the assumption that Newcastle are the only team willing or able to be promoted! Our ground passed the audit and we didn't work our backsides off all season just to be 'not bothered' about the playoffs!! I was at Bedford yesterday and yes we lost narrowly and it's far from over but if you had seen the dejected look on our lads faces when they trudged off the pitch you might think twice before saying 'they were not willing' to work for promotion. Not one to have a go usually but it annoys me when posters don't get their facts straight before posting!!!!!!

Sympathy hww27. Gact remains that if by a fluke Bedford qualified they would not go up and therefore London Oxford Welsh would stay.

But then again if Tigers were relegated arguably they could not then be promoted because the pitch is not big enough!!! Yet the team at the top of the table will be sraging a home semi-final in a ground that is too small for European competitions!!

We live in a strange world.

I blame the 57!!!

Bedford Blues and Championship chairmen Geoff Irvine has said if Bedford win the playoffs he will contest the decision like London Welsh did last year.

[DickyP]

.... But then again if Tigers were relegated arguably they could not then be promoted because the pitch is not big enough!!! Yet the team at the top of the table will be sraging a home semi-final in a ground that is too small for European competitions!!...

I may be wrong - I often am - but the ground complies fully with the laws of the game and I was under the impression that it only offends the RWC rules.

[Bill W (2)]

.... But then again if Tigers were relegated arguably they could not then be promoted because the pitch is not big enough!!! Yet the team at the top of the table will be sraging a home semi-final in a ground that is too small for European competitions!!...

I may be wrong - I often am - but the ground complies fully with the laws of the game and I was under the impression that it only offends the RWC rules.

Come on Dicky P don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!

I think it is IRB regs that state that for "International matches" the pitch has to be bigger than Welford Road i.e. it specifies minimum dimensions which exceed those of Welford. I am not sure where this is documented (but I have not looked) - it is not insfaras I am aware within the "Laws of the Game".

[tigerburnie]

Goldington Road was big enough the last time the Blues were in the Premiership, I for one would welcome them with open arms, great little rugby ground rather than a soulless near empty footie stadium.The club who win the playoffs should be allowed to come up if they want and if the finances are not in place,then the relegated side can remain. We are rugby and above the mercenary money is god thing I would hope.

[Bill W (2)]

Pitch too small. Not enough seats. Too few loos.

Great little ground!! I was there a few weeks ago with my nephew who is a member.

[Smudge]

Bernie wrote:-

We are rugby and above the mercenary money is god thing I would hope.

Ahhh bless. Were it only so.


Have you forgotten all the nonsense posts about Moody, Twelvetrees, Aguilla, G Ford etc., spending the club's salary's etc.?

[Bill W (2)]

above the mercenary money is god thing I would hope.

Why bring g*d into the argument?

Which particular g*d did you have in mind?

[DickyP]

.... But then again if Tigers were relegated arguably they could not then be promoted because the pitch is not big enough!!! Yet the team at the top of the table will be sraging a home semi-final in a ground that is too small for European competitions!!...

I may be wrong - I often am - but the ground complies fully with the laws of the game and I was under the impression that it only offends the RWC rules.

Come on Dicky P don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!

I think it is IRB regs that state that for "International matches" the pitch has to be bigger than Welford Road i.e. it specifies minimum dimensions which exceed those of Welford. I am not sure where this is documented (but I have not looked) - it is not insfaras I am aware within the "Laws of the Game".

The laws do specify recommended minimum pitch sizes. Various competitions specify their own and as far as I am aware neither the ERC for the HC, nor the AP have done so in a manner that obviates the use of WR.

[Bill W (2)]

The laws do specify recommended minimum pitch sizes. Various competitions specify their own and as far as I am aware neither the ERC for the HC, nor the AP have done so in a manner that obviates the use of WR.

I think ERC specify minimum ground capacity for play off games which are significantly larger than Allianz Park.

[tigerburnie]

With Newcastle losing the first leg of their semi to Leeds, this playoff is looking more open, though I would bet on a home win in Newcastle, only 5 points in it.