The Future of the Prem

[BFG]

I agree BFG but what about the transition from junior/colt to senior? That's losing a lot of players. Is there anything better we could do to keep more of those in rugby?

There's always more to be done but it's a social issue relevant to all sports.
Youngsters gain new interests and move on.

[JP14]

Rugby 20 has been reasonably successful but suffers from a poor graphics engine and lack of rights for the big sporting nations (England, Sanzar) & Super Rugby.

[TigerBoy1880]

I agree BFG but what about the transition from junior/colt to senior? That's losing a lot of players. Is there anything better we could do to keep more of those in rugby?

One thing that could be done would be to continue playing on Sundays after Juniors. I had to give up due to working on Saturdays.

It wouldn’t solve it but would keep a few more playing.

I think it’s more a mind frame than anything else. Some people find other things they’d rather be doing.

[Mark62]

I agree BFG but what about the transition from junior/colt to senior? That's losing a lot of players. Is there anything better we could do to keep more of those in rugby?

One thing that could be done would be to continue playing on Sundays after Juniors. I had to give up due to working on Saturdays.

It wouldn’t solve it but would keep a few more playing.

I think it’s more a mind frame than anything else. Some people find other things they’d rather be doing.

Agree on both counts.
Social and family demands mean that a greater number of people work on Saturdays and therefore are unable to play rugby.
Family wise a number of serious high profile injuries will have meant parental pressure to stop playing.

The mind frame is that people have better things to than spending 5 or 6 hours travelling to getting ready for, playing in and socialising after a game of rugby

[Scott1]

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1027869820?-11081:2392

[JP14]

Plausible but like the article says needs Irish/Pro14 approval mainly to get the go ahead.

[trendylfj]

http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1027869820?-11081:2392

Makes total sense to me but will it happen - money talks loudest but hopefully it would reduce the clashes between club and country matches

[chipnchase]

How about a slightly more radical idea...

At the moment they play 6 pool games then 3 knockouts... total 9 weekends to find.

Alternatively...

Expand to 32 clubs in a straight knock out format... total of 5 weekends required.
Losers from the first round then drop into a second tier comp losers from that round drop into a 3rd tier comp.
Gives every club 3 games minimum and gives a sudden death element from the off.

Clubs:

Gallager Prem - 12
Top14 - 14
Pro12 - 12 (minus the S.A sides)
4 Wildcards - From qualifying rounds for the top 16 sides from - Georgia, Spain, Romania, Russia, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany.

Thoughts?

[Scott1]

How about a slightly more radical idea...

At the moment they play 6 pool games then 3 knockouts... total 9 weekends to find.

Alternatively...

Expand to 32 clubs in a straight knock out format... total of 5 weekends required.
Losers from the first round then drop into a second tier comp losers from that round drop into a 3rd tier comp.
Gives every club 3 games minimum and gives a sudden death element from the off.

Clubs:

Gallager Prem - 12
Top14 - 14
Pro12 - 12 (minus the S.A sides)
4 Wildcards - From qualifying rounds for the top 16 sides from - Georgia, Spain, Romania, Russia, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany.

Thoughts?

From a viewing standpoint me likey from an attendance standpoint no. It's a good idea though mate,rugby definitely needs a shakeup.

[Scott1]

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-b ... ch-backing

[chipnchase]

How about a slightly more radical idea...

At the moment they play 6 pool games then 3 knockouts... total 9 weekends to find.

Alternatively...

Expand to 32 clubs in a straight knock out format... total of 5 weekends required.
Losers from the first round then drop into a second tier comp losers from that round drop into a 3rd tier comp.
Gives every club 3 games minimum and gives a sudden death element from the off.

Clubs:

Gallager Prem - 12
Top14 - 14
Pro12 - 12 (minus the S.A sides)
4 Wildcards - From qualifying rounds for the top 16 sides from - Georgia, Spain, Romania, Russia, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany.

Thoughts?

From a viewing standpoint me likey from an attendance standpoint no. It's a good idea though mate,rugby definitely needs a shakeup.

Wouldnt fancy a away day to Munich in October?

[Scott1]

Just one away trip?

[sk 88]

Another option for a 7/8 week comp is to combine the Champions and Challenge Cups into a single knock out slightly differently to above.

12 sides (i.e. bottom four in each league) play off in a preliminary round

Remaining 26 side and 6 winning sides go into round 1. Played a double legger H&A.

Winners go on to a Champions Cup Round of 16. Losers go onto a Challenge Cup Round of 16. They are double legger H&A too.

Then single leg quarter finals at higher seeds or random or highest scorers or whatever. Neutral semis, neutral final.

4 matches for most sides, two home games guaranteed for all but 6 sides in Europe. Still get two Comps and two finals for EPRC to sell. Less logistically complicated than organising group matches and always having a spare part to have to integrate into a domestic competition.

[Tigerbeat]

Please, if you have anything for discussion on this topic and are making references, please at least say where people can find this,. Unsubstantiated rumours with no point of reference do not make for good discussion. Some posts have been removed for this reason.
Thanks

[Mark62]

Please, if you have anything for discussion on this topic and are making references, please at least say where people can find this,. Unsubstantiated rumours with no point of reference do not make for good discussion. Some posts have been removed for this reason.
Thanks

Thanks Tigerbeat totally agree