Good news at last

i finally bring good news,

A constructive meeting took place on Tuesday in London between FIR and the Celtic Rugby Unions (SRU, IRFU, WRU).

The meeting was successful and an agreement was reached for FIR to join Celtic Rugby as an equal partner from July 1st, 2014. The terms of participation of two Italian teams were agreed upon.
Under the new agreement, FIR will ensure the participation of two Italian teams for the next four years in the competition which is currently known as the RaboDirect PRO12.

The agreement between FIR, SRU, WRU and IRFU will be officially signed in due course.

excited to know where i'll be going away next season, dont make it be rome

With Edimburgh, Connacht , Cardiff, Scarlets, Treviso and Zebre in big trouble this and next year, that's now half of the pro 12 separated from the other half by a deeper and deeper gap

On the long term prospect, Pro 12 will burst for a simple economic reason : Ireland, Wales and Scotland markets put together are barely 15 Millions, with Italy still to build a real Rugby tradition next to football

To save our talents and history in the highest level, Unions HAVE TO begin thoughts/tractations to mix the teams with bigger-market rivals

two hypothesis

n°1 Association with French or English rugby : two pools of 12 each, 6 Celts/ita / 6 Eng/FR each, final stages (play off, and down possibly)

n°2 Association with the rest of the world primary South Africa (no jet lag which is not that bad despite of the distance) : two pools of 10 each with 6 Celts/Ita / 3 S-A /1 invited (Italian Roumanian or Russian champion(s), Argentina Province, resuscitated Sottish Borders or Welsh Valley Ravens... the idea is rotation of the two invited teams to remain attractive)

I was referring to pro12 playoffs. The playoffs in Europe, if there is one , shall be 2 legged.

rossie wrote: I should add that the gates for the playoffs should be split 65/35 in favour of home team rewarding higher finish in regular season instead of current 100% to home team due to lack of prize money.

But aren't the English/French teams guaranteed home playoffs with the new European proposal? That's always been my biggest gripe with it.

I should add that the gates for the playoffs should be split 65/35 in favour of home team rewarding higher finish in regular season instead of current 100% to home team due to lack of prize money.

columoc wrote:

rossie wrote: Its probably the only way to get consensus between 6 unions.

This is how Unions can take the lead to improve a tournament.
www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9174759,00.html
Fantastic move, really helps developing the game.

Now that Argentina will have a pro team in new Super 17, what will the impact be on us? Any?

Clearly more Argentina players will be attracted to play at home, ergo less in Top 14 & PRL (though money will still count) - does this mean that these teams will look for more Irish to replace them, or will their be any impact. Maybe less Pacific Islands players to come North?

I can't open that link on my phone but think its a great move for Argentinian rugby. I would imagine that their internationals in Englandparticularly will head home given the pay cuts they have had to endure since their entry to the rugby championship not to mention not having an off season to speak of.

I think far higher on our agenda has to be making the pro12 a better product in every way. If we are honest its sh*t at present. Its gets a bit better in April / may but interest is low in general. Its our league though so we have to make it a commercial success. The new European qualification system will improve the league but on its own is not enough. Sky coming on board will help but I think the nature of the sky deal says a lot about the leagues standing. They cherry pick their games and only pay 5.5m for the privilege. When you consider 3 of the top 8 teams in Europe play in the league but the league still has an image problem says a lot.

IMO 2.5m of the 5.5m from sky should be held as competition prize money and be tiered from 1st to 9th to make the league more competitive. Wru, sru and irfu take 1m of sky money each and are allowed keep TV/media money they generate from their local broadcasters such as rate etc. Italians would no longer have to pay 3m per annum but now pay 650k to cover costs of teams travelling. They would keep any TV money they generate in Italy and any prize money won through league finish.
Example of how it would work is as follows -
Winner - 750k, runner up - 400k, losing semis - 300k each, 5th- 250k, 6th - 200k, 7th - 150k, 8th - 100k and 9th 50k.

I would also introduce a rule where ref and tmo must be from a neutral union and work the schedule better so that the top teams meeteach other at times of the season when they are at full sstrength and not h
ave fixtiures on same day as home 6ns games.I'd also return to calling it the Celtic league. Example the Guinness Celtic league. Its our league and needs identity with us.

Whatever happens we simply can't rely on European rugby as much as we have done anymore and must make the league work.

Clearly more Argentina players will be attracted to play at home, ergo less in Top 14 & PRL (though money will still count) - does this mean that these teams will look for more Irish to replace them, or will their be any impact. Maybe less Pacific Islands players to come North

A lot would depend on money. The ARFU already have a lot of players under contract through the Pampas XV so they will be the basis of the squad with probably a few big names coming back at some stage. Depends on money like everything else. Doubt it will affect the Pacific islanders as a lot of the french teams like Clermont have academies down there meaning a steady supply of the Islanders will make there way up north.

rossie wrote: Its probably the only way to get consensus between 6 unions.

This is how Unions can take the lead to improve a tournament.
www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9174759,00.html
Fantastic move, really helps developing the game.

Now that Argentina will have a pro team in new Super 17, what will the impact be on us? Any?

Clearly more Argentina players will be attracted to play at home, ergo less in Top 14 & PRL (though money will still count) - does this mean that these teams will look for more Irish to replace them, or will their be any impact. Maybe less Pacific Islands players to come North?

Its probably the only way to get consensus between 6 unions.

Fourdogs wrote: Unless I am missing something, or reading it wrong, I would have to agree with you.
With the way things stand today in the Rabo, the Seven teams automatically qualifying would be 3 Irish (Munster, Leinster & Ulster) 2 Welsh (Ospreys and Scarlets), 1 Scottish (Glasgow) and 1 Italian (TBC).

I would have thought the extra place for the winner's country would be the first thing to be scrapped when dropping to 20 teams given that it was only originally brought in to fill an extra place when the Italians joined the Pro12.
Both ERC and RCC proposals included playoffs for the last couple of spots.
I suppose they could take the view that the other Irish 3's dominant position in the Pro12 won't last forever and with maybe some tensions between RRW and the IRFU they mightn't have been in the mood for sharing.
I'll certainly take it if it's going.

5 groups of 4 with winners and 3 best runners up to qtrs. No room in season schedule for anything else.

pinky wrote: Interesting quote from GT's article about proposed Euro format.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/machinati...gs-to-come-1.1695155

The 20th place will be reserved for an extra team from the winner’s country.

Surely not? I would assume it should read "winner's league".
If not we could be in line for some more free passes in the future.

Pinky

Unless I am missing something, or reading it wrong, I would have to agree with you.
With the way things stand today in the Rabo, the Seven teams automatically qualifying would be 3 Irish (Munster, Leinster & Ulster) 2 Welsh (Ospreys and Scarlets), 1 Scottish (Glasgow) and 1 Italian (TBC).

If an Irish team win the HCup this year then the 20th spot would go to Connacht as we are the only remaining team from the winners country. The other three would already have qualified due to finishing in the top Seven in the Rabo.

Reasonable chance I might more badges for the Jersey.

Any news on the make up of the new competition. 4 pools of 5 with top 2 in each going to QF stage like the World Cup or 5 pools of 4, with pool winners and best 3 runner up making the QF's

Interesting times

RRW have applied to WRU for loan of 800k to pay wages. WRU have approved it interest free. Its because erc haven't paid out European money due to uncertainty over its future trading.

I would imagine that taking money from the WRU is the last thing RRW would have contplated so they really must be on their knees financially if no bank or private investor would loan them the money.

Interesting !! Revenge against Saracens in the future !!

Interesting quote from GT's article about proposed Euro format.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/machinati...gs-to-come-1.1695155

The 20th place will be reserved for an extra team from the winner’s country.

Surely not? I would assume it should read "winner's league".
If not we could be in line for some more free passes in the future.