Saracens etc and the future

[Offside]

If they want it to be like NFL why don’t they play/own NFL. Professional players want to be paid well but changing the game to a different one to be paid more is not fair on the long tradition of the game. Let’s have 1/s with all the glitz that the money men want and see what happens to it. It it takes over from 15s done more traditionally then so be it. I suspect it won’t.

[jgriffin]

Went to one game years ago at Mile High, fortunately well oiled and in the company of two lovely Native American lasses, so the gross boredom was diluted. Just can't watch it, despite it being an interesting game TBH.
Would support any initiatives to increase playing time in RU, thats why old games are fun to watch, all action and players knackered after 50 mins.

[Cardiff Tig]

I've said it many times before on here that rugby is pretending to be a professional sport.

Something will have to give in the future. And I doubt it will be player wages - who wants to earn 20k a year only to have brain damage by the time you're 45.

[Old Hob]

Interesting comments here. I don't think it says anywhere in the article that players' wages are an issue or that they want to turn the game into NFL. The latter would be nuts if they want to crack the US market. It reads, to me, like they want to jazz up the game, more cheerleaders and very loud music say which sounds completely ghastly to me. I think the key point is the "businessmen not bureaucrats" line. In other words, deregulate and give rich owners control.

[Cardiff Tig]

Interesting comments here. I don't think it says anywhere in the article that players' wages are an issue or that they want to turn the game into NFL. The latter would be nuts if they want to crack the US market. It reads, to me, like they want to jazz up the game, more cheerleaders and very loud music say which sounds completely ghastly to me. I think the key point is the "businessmen not bureaucrats" line. In other words, deregulate and give rich owners control.

I think the wages issue is linked though. Rugby isn't profitable at the moment for the business folk, and so something needs to change. Either less expenditure on players, bigger crowds or more lucrative games or tournaments etc.

[Pellsey]

Interesting comments here. I don't think it says anywhere in the article that players' wages are an issue or that they want to turn the game into NFL. The latter would be nuts if they want to crack the US market. It reads, to me, like they want to jazz up the game, more cheerleaders and very loud music say which sounds completely ghastly to me. I think the key point is the "businessmen not bureaucrats" line. In other words, deregulate and give rich owners control.

I think the wages issue is linked though. Rugby isn't profitable at the moment for the business folk, and so something needs to change. Either less expenditure on players, bigger crowds or more lucrative games or tournaments etc.

Something only "needs" to change from the side of the "business folk" not for anybody else. For the good of everybody else and the sport, I hope it doesn't too much. Overcommercialisation of anything often makes things tacky and as Old Hob says "ghastly".

[sk 88]

Interesting comments here. I don't think it says anywhere in the article that players' wages are an issue or that they want to turn the game into NFL. The latter would be nuts if they want to crack the US market. It reads, to me, like they want to jazz up the game, more cheerleaders and very loud music say which sounds completely ghastly to me. I think the key point is the "businessmen not bureaucrats" line. In other words, deregulate and give rich owners control.

Well let's be frank the county blazer brigade are still a very big problem for rugby globally. The capture of several unions by old bores who simply don't know where the game needs to go is seriously holding the game back.

If the choice was between Peter Tom or Bill Beaumont I know who I'd rather have in a seat of power.

[northerntiger]

I remember they tried it with cheerleader and half time entertainment in football when the premiership started. Didn’t last very long. As someone commented on here, the American expectation is different the British.
On the grounds of making the sport more popular, it doesn’t help that it’s all on pay tv. Would be great to have a match of the day style highlights show. Show all the best bits of the games, available to everyone, at a sensible regular time. As it stands club rugby is never even mentioned by bbc or itv

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If its done right it doesn't have to be tacky or gastly.

Pre match/half time entertaiment and comptitions could bring in extra crowds and revenue for the clubs, as could give-aways outside the ground and just trying to make more of an occasion out of it. I like the fact that we still play through the winter, but this could be an issue for bringing in new younger blood*. If we can make the whole thing more appealing to kids to stand around for 2 hours on a rainy January saturday afternoon, that has to be a good thing.

*this new younger blood could be our clubs future stars.

Cheer leaders I agree with though, tacky, pointlees, and does nothing for inclusivity. Actually a few double headers with the womens team could be good also.

[ads]

I remember they tried it with cheerleader and half time entertainment in football when the premiership started. Didn’t last very long. As someone commented on here, the American expectation is different the British.
On the grounds of making the sport more popular, it doesn’t help that it’s all on pay tv. Would be great to have a match of the day style highlights show. Show all the best bits of the games, available to everyone, at a sensible regular time. As it stands club rugby is never even mentioned by bbc or itv

This is also a very good point. Nowhere near enough exposure of the club game in this country.

Also, lower leagues, the french rugby thread on here shows the Pro D2 league and its really strong. Thats what we need.

[Old Hob]

On the grounds of making the sport more popular, it doesn’t help that it’s all on pay tv. Would be great to have a match of the day style highlights show. Show all the best bits of the games, available to everyone, at a sensible regular time. As it stands club rugby is never even mentioned by bbc or itv

A lot of Welsh rugby on BBC Wales with dedicated regular programming and full games. Same for Scotland (I think). Not sure about NI.

[Scott1]

On the grounds of making the sport more popular, it doesn’t help that it’s all on pay tv. Would be great to have a match of the day style highlights show. Show all the best bits of the games, available to everyone, at a sensible regular time. As it stands club rugby is never even mentioned by bbc or itv

A lot of Welsh rugby on BBC Wales with dedicated regular programming and full games. Same for Scotland (I think). Not sure about NI.

Yes,games on BBC Wales,BBC NI,S4C and Alba,all free. A notch below premiership level but still some decent games.

[jgriffin]

I remember they tried it with cheerleader and half time entertainment in football when the premiership started. Didn’t last very long. As someone commented on here, the American expectation is different the British.
On the grounds of making the sport more popular, it doesn’t help that it’s all on pay tv. Would be great to have a match of the day style highlights show. Show all the best bits of the games, available to everyone, at a sensible regular time. As it stands club rugby is never even mentioned by bbc or itv

This is also a very good point. Nowhere near enough exposure of the club game in this country.

Also, lower leagues, the french rugby thread on here shows the Pro D2 league and its really strong. Thats what we need.

I'd agree wholeheartedly with the ProD2 comments. We need a strong and well-financed Championship

[ourla]

There may be an element of truth in that but actually if you think about it not really. American's in general don't understand cricket as much as Brits don't understand baseball.

Curiously enough, the reigning Olympic cricket champions?

The United States of America

Not according to Wiki

[ourla]

I agree, but I believe that it is normal in American sports to have other forms of "entertainment" as well as the sport which you are there to see. Im not sure that would be welcome to the average rugby fan IMHO.

Didn't we have "Tigers in the park", different pre-match events, the big boot half time competition, bands in the bar afterwards and so on. I think the concept of let's make a day of it isn't unique to American sports. I don't disagree there are some fans who don't want or need all the extra's - tbh I might even put myself in that category.