"LIV Rugby"?
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So it's based in Dubai, but no one's prepared or able to say yet if it's ultimately Qatari or Saudi Royal Family money that's bankrolling it all.
If I was a player or coach being to asked to sign any sort of contract with this outfit, however big the sums of money mentioned, one of the first questions I'd have is who is financially underwriting you.
If they can't answer that, you'd be a fool to sign with them.
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To the league fans, even Jye Grey (Rabbitohs utility) who is in and out of the side and only played 28 first grade games at Souths I saw there were rumours of him being offered just under a million.
It gona be a fasciating development should it go ahead whether people like it or not.
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@booboo said in "LIV Rugby"?:
I just don't get who their audience will be?
How do they create fans?
I'm not certain they're planning on playing games in the Middle East? That Roar article was a little ambiguous and what I've previously heard suggested games would move around.
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@Mr-Fish said in "LIV Rugby"?:
@booboo said in "LIV Rugby"?:
I just don't get who their audience will be?
How do they create fans?
I'm not certain they're planning on playing games in the Middle East? That Roar article was a little ambiguous and what I've previously heard suggested games would move around.
I'm talking us? Who of us, the rugby fan, is going to buy into it?
At this stage I cannot see how I could buy into this. How am I, and people like me (youse fellas... seriously) are going to be engaged enough to buy into it?
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@booboo said in "LIV Rugby"?:
@Mr-Fish said in "LIV Rugby"?:
@booboo said in "LIV Rugby"?:
I just don't get who their audience will be?
How do they create fans?
I'm not certain they're planning on playing games in the Middle East? That Roar article was a little ambiguous and what I've previously heard suggested games would move around.
I'm talking us? Who of us, the rugby fan, is going to buy into it?
At this stage I cannot see how I could buy into this. How am I, and people like me (youse fellas... seriously) are going to be engaged enough to buy into it?
Ah fair.
I do think there's something appealing about seeing the best players in the world, regardless of nationality, all playing in the same team. But that's dependant on getting the best players in the world...
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I'll watch it
But if it turns into the Japanese and American league I'll turn off pretty quickly
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I’ve had this discussion many times in relation to basketball, which has the same rumours floating around atm
I think it’s a gimmick that fans won’t want to watch. Golf is unique in that you can watch great play from guys motivated only by money and having some fun on the course, with the added benefit of fans now being able to get a beer. The ultimate product quality doesn’t change much, other than the player stress levels going down a few notches
On the other hand, rugby and basketball are both horrible sports to watch if the players are not completely invested. That won’t be the case unless the remuneration is massively skewed to winning games. And even then.
On top of that, even if the product becomes decent, fans are tribal. They support teams because of where they grew up, where they now live. Sure there is a new breed of international fan that supports a player wherever he plays, but I don’t think that’s the masses.
It all seems like a glorified All Star Game to me, only played on repeat in a new continent ever werkend. And I haven’t watched one of those in a decade.
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All Blacks: Mo’unga’s return, R360 and what it all means
Analysis: Does the return of the prodigal son mean NZ Rugby is winning the war against offshore contracts?
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Behind a paywall but the Daily Telegraph is reporting that "four leading Springboks" and "ten players who have represented England" have signed up to Rugby 360.
Henry Slade, Jamie George, Owen Farrell and George Ford are England names mentioned.
September 2026 is the alleged start date.
Fenway Sports Group who own the Boston Red Soxs and Liverpool FC are apparently involved somehow.
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Is any rugby competition hugely profitable? English clubs are disappearing, I don't know about Top 14, I doubt Super Rugby is a goldmine.
So if you are going to pay players more, how are you going to get more income than the established competitions to make it profitable? -
Let's presume their recruitment as reported is correct, my question remains; who is the audience?
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@antipodean said in "LIV Rugby"?:
Let's presume their recruitment as reported is correct, my question remains; who is the audience?
Well looks like they'll be playing in the vets league and if they make a final they'll play on the same day as the other finals so there could be up to several hundred fans from actual clubs.
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@antipodean said in "LIV Rugby"?:
Let's presume their recruitment as reported is correct, my question remains; who is the audience?
Initially tax exiles in Dubai and compulsive gamblers.
But if it makes the international Rugby established order no longer financially viable and causes cultural disruption, then it will be mission accomplished for its backers (whoever they may be).
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@sparky said in "LIV Rugby"?:
Behind a paywall but the Daily Telegraph is reporting that "four leading Springboks" and "ten players who have represented England" have signed up to Rugby 360.
Henry Slade, Jamie George, Owen Farrell and George Ford are England names mentioned.
September 2026 is the alleged start date.
Fenway Sports Group who own the Boston Red Soxs and Liverpool FC are apparently involved somehow.
It seems that FSG are starting to working/investing in Saudi Arabia league so they may be adding some expertise to the venture/some type of partnership.
I just cant see how this will attract bradcasting/eyeballs as they are playing at the same time as the normal rugby season.
I think the funding is agreed in principle if they hit certain targets relating to player contracts.
I can see it being very attractive to older players initially but i am not sure if the quality of the sides will match club rugby across the globe
