topcat(The most tip top) Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Still a bit of a footer but that actually sounds alright for the fixtures. Will lead to inevitable claims of unfairness as their always in when teams play each other an odd number of times though A certain imbalance is inevitable in any system that isn't a round robin The NFL deliberately give the easier fixture lists to the teams that had a poor season last time. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 I read somewhere (BBC I think) that the South Africans can win the pro 14 but cant qualify for the champions cup. If so will they play Currie cup games during European fixtures? In wales some of the press and the general feeling is people are unsure on the South Africans joining stating that they are the weakest of the South African franchises and have generally struggled in Super Rugby. There is a feeling that the pro 14 will be devalued in competitiveness as a result. This I believe is not true. Super rugby is extremely tough and competitive league with domination by the NZ franchises. The Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will be a great addition and bring a different brand of rugby. In an overall league table I reckon they will easily be mid table and challenge for playoffs. I think they will win games such as the Italians Edinburgh and Dragons with relative ease and will start struggling with everyone else picking up wins here and there. I also believe this is last chance for the Italians. If they struggle again I do believe they will be told to merge the two teams and the American franchise will come in as replacement keeping it at 14. If the Italians are allowed to keep both teams and the American franchise comes in then really another nations franchise should be brought in. 16 clubs two conferences of 8. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestly united Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Having just reread and there will be 3 derbies next season so the welsh and Irish can play home and away against all 4 clubs 21 games in total 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afca32 Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Both Cheetahs and Kings finished with more points than the Bulls this year. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingscot Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 18 hours ago, Doonhamer doon south said: I also believe this is last chance for the Italians. If they struggle again I do believe they will be told to merge the two teams and the American franchise will come in as replacement keeping it at 14. If the Italians are allowed to keep both teams and the American franchise comes in then really another nations franchise should be brought in. 16 clubs two conferences of 8. Americans should be nowhere near the league. I understand the South African teams but taking teams from another timezone adds problems. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Americans should be nowhere near the league. I understand the South African teams but taking teams from another timezone adds problems. I'm curious as to how they perform. I think there will be more money and fan base in an American franchise as opposed to the Italians but would they compete any better. Lessons need to be learned from super rugby though. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestly united Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 The us franchise would be in now if it wasn't for the legal wranglings with the us pro league that has just folded. Canadians would be in as well but there isn't a suitable stadium for them, would need to be indoor with correct astroturf 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afca32 Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Good start to Brumbies-Canes. Hope the Brumbies make a game of it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 The pro league only lasted one season didn't it? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestly united Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 10 minutes ago, Doonhamer doon south said: The pro league only lasted one season didn't it? yeah, the guy that was running it (US RFU didnt have much involvement as far as I am aware) seems a bit of a charlatan, he basically set up and owned all the clubs, contracted all the players, etc etc and was expecting loads of sponsorship and tv money that didnt materialise. He didn't pay the players on time, if at all, but expected them to be held to the contracts and not go elsewhere. There were stories of restaurants that the teams were using not being paid for players lunches for weeks on end, coaches having to fork out their own pockets to feed the players etc. Its what happens when you try to force through franchises over organically growing the club game (which is actually quite big in the US as is the college rugby programmes), you need deep pockets at the start as it takes time to build, although probably better long term. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 yeah, the guy that was running it (US RFU didnt have much involvement as far as I am aware) seems a bit of a charlatan, he basically set up and owned all the clubs, contracted all the players, etc etc and was expecting loads of sponsorship and tv money that didnt materialise. He didn't pay the players on time, if at all, but expected them to be held to the contracts and not go elsewhere. There were stories of restaurants that the teams were using not being paid for players lunches for weeks on end, coaches having to fork out their own pockets to feed the players etc. Its what happens when you try to force through franchises over organically growing the club game (which is actually quite big in the US as is the college rugby programmes), you need deep pockets at the start as it takes time to build, although probably better long term. Interesting. I thought the pro league was going to be separate owners coming together to make a premier league. Didn't realism it was all one guy. The Canadians have an established franchise league would it not be better to bolt onto the Canadian league 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestly united Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 Yeah he is waiting to sue anyone starting a pro rugby team in the US as he has an exclusivity deal for another season or so. Canadian rugby is in a worse state than the US to be fair, they are still amateur club and amateur regions, no pro rugby at all in Canada. They were in talks to set up teams with the US Pro league, and got a huge amount of stick by rugby fans in Canada for not going ahead with it, but seems they did the right thing. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afca32 Posted July 21, 2017 Share Posted July 21, 2017 The Canes seemingly cruised it in the end but worth mentioning Christian Leali'ifano made his first appearance for the Brumbies since being diagnosed with leukaemia 11 months ago. Great to see. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 The Canes seemingly cruised it in the end but worth mentioning Christian Leali'ifano made his first appearance for the Brumbies since being diagnosed with leukaemia 11 months ago. Great to see. Watched the game the hurricanes full back was unbelievable. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
same_ol_g35 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 According to l'equipe. Johnny Grey has been in France visiting the facilities at Toulouse with a view to signing for them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddfg Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Does anyone know when the Pro 12/14 fixtures are announced? I'm looking to book a weekend away but would rather go when there's no game on. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddfg Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 According to l'equipe. Johnny Grey has been in France visiting the facilities at Toulouse with a view to signing for them. I've been in London and had my picture taken at Downing Street that said there's more chance of Jonny signing for Toulouse than me becoming Prime Minister. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
come on shire Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 16 hours ago, ddfg said: Does anyone know when the Pro 12/14 fixtures are announced? I'm looking to book a weekend away but would rather go when there's no game on. At this rate we'll never find out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lambies Doos Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Can't fukin wait till the pro 12/14 starts up again.... but ffs what's happening 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Can't fukin wait till the pro 12/14 starts up again.... but ffs what's happening I'm looking forward to it I actually like the idea of conferences but there are so many questions that need answered. How will European qualifications work? How will fixtures work?Will teams do mini tours for away fixtures? And so many more. come on pull your finger out and tell us what's going on 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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