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European Club Rugby

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Sports Talk
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  • HigginsH Offline
    HigginsH Offline
    Higgins
    wrote on last edited by
    #3441

    @MiketheSnow With the new investment from House of Luxury LLC what is the possibility that Scarlets break away and join the English Premiership should the WRU cut the number of processional team to just the two and Llanelli not being the base for one of them?

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • MiketheSnowM Offline
      MiketheSnowM Offline
      MiketheSnow
      wrote on last edited by
      #3442

      Slim

      If there was a merging they’d want it to be Cardiff

      Nobody, including the Welsh, wants or needs to go to Llanelli

      sparkyS 1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • MiketheSnowM MiketheSnow

        Slim

        If there was a merging they’d want it to be Cardiff

        Nobody, including the Welsh, wants or needs to go to Llanelli

        sparkyS Offline
        sparkyS Offline
        sparky
        wrote on last edited by
        #3443

        @MiketheSnow I would have thought three professional teams makes sense: one in Swansea, one in Cardiff, one in Newport.

        MiketheSnowM 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • sparkyS sparky

          @MiketheSnow I would have thought three professional teams makes sense: one in Swansea, one in Cardiff, one in Newport.

          MiketheSnowM Offline
          MiketheSnowM Offline
          MiketheSnow
          wrote on last edited by
          #3444

          @sparky said in European Club Rugby:

          @MiketheSnow I would have thought three professional teams makes sense: one in Swansea, one in Cardiff, one in Newport.

          Except Newport (Dragons) are the worst region with the lowest attendances

          When the WRU say they’re proposing losing two teams that’s not strictly the case

          We’re losing two men’s teams and replacing them with two women’s teams

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • sparkyS Offline
            sparkyS Offline
            sparky
            wrote on last edited by
            #3445

            The Ospreys and the Scarlets have already started legal action against the Welsh Rugby Union. What an absolutely farcical situation.

            1 Reply Last reply
            1
            • MiketheSnowM Offline
              MiketheSnowM Offline
              MiketheSnow
              wrote on last edited by
              #3446

              My twopeneth worth

              The WRU are hoping that the consultation will deliver their preferred solution, namely two men's teams and 2 women's teams

              The WRU are prepared to sacrifice two men's teams to pay for two women's teams

              Theoretically the national campus idea is an excellent one

              Will that mean we have one national style and game plan which is then replicated by the two remaining teams? Reddin says absolutely not.

              If that's the case, will the players and national coach have more formal time with each other than they do at present to practice and perfect the national coach's vision?

              Even though Reddin mentioned NZ as a model to emulate I believe they've been looking at Scotland and want to copy that model.

              They've got Tandy as coach.

              They're proposing two teams.

              But in the 29 years there has been two Scottish regional teams, Glasgow has won the Pro12 once and the URC once. Edinburgh were runners up in the league once, and losing finalists in the European Challenge Cup in 2015.

              The Scotland national team has won one 5N / 6N championship in that time - to Wales' six - and not advanced beyond the QF stage at the RWC - Wales has contested two SF.

              Is this really the best model for us to aspire to?

              BonesB antipodeanA 2 Replies Last reply
              3
              • MiketheSnowM MiketheSnow

                My twopeneth worth

                The WRU are hoping that the consultation will deliver their preferred solution, namely two men's teams and 2 women's teams

                The WRU are prepared to sacrifice two men's teams to pay for two women's teams

                Theoretically the national campus idea is an excellent one

                Will that mean we have one national style and game plan which is then replicated by the two remaining teams? Reddin says absolutely not.

                If that's the case, will the players and national coach have more formal time with each other than they do at present to practice and perfect the national coach's vision?

                Even though Reddin mentioned NZ as a model to emulate I believe they've been looking at Scotland and want to copy that model.

                They've got Tandy as coach.

                They're proposing two teams.

                But in the 29 years there has been two Scottish regional teams, Glasgow has won the Pro12 once and the URC once. Edinburgh were runners up in the league once, and losing finalists in the European Challenge Cup in 2015.

                The Scotland national team has won one 5N / 6N championship in that time - to Wales' six - and not advanced beyond the QF stage at the RWC - Wales has contested two SF.

                Is this really the best model for us to aspire to?

                BonesB Online
                BonesB Online
                Bones
                wrote on last edited by
                #3447

                @MiketheSnow I might have completely missed the point (shock horror). But men's and women's rugby thrive on completely different values and motivations.

                As Wayne said; men have to play good to feel good.... women have to feel good to play good.

                1 Reply Last reply
                2
                • sparkyS Offline
                  sparkyS Offline
                  sparky
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #3448

                  Racing in France want Ardie Savea.

                  https://twitter.com/tightfive_rugby/status/1959161990410055715?s=46

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • MiketheSnowM Offline
                    MiketheSnowM Offline
                    MiketheSnow
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #3449

                    An excellent listen

                    pooler fanP 1 Reply Last reply
                    1
                    • MiketheSnowM MiketheSnow

                      An excellent listen

                      pooler fanP Offline
                      pooler fanP Offline
                      pooler fan
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #3450

                      @MiketheSnow Cheers Mike, interesting but depressing to listen to.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      1
                      • MiketheSnowM Offline
                        MiketheSnowM Offline
                        MiketheSnow
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #3451

                        Another interesting take from a consistently sensible YouTuber who's passionate about Welsh rugby

                        2+1 model allying with the English game.

                        2 teams into the Premiership, 1 in the Championship as a development team

                        Would mean saying bye bye to URC, which could be tough legally

                        sparkyS 1 Reply Last reply
                        1
                        • MiketheSnowM MiketheSnow

                          Another interesting take from a consistently sensible YouTuber who's passionate about Welsh rugby

                          2+1 model allying with the English game.

                          2 teams into the Premiership, 1 in the Championship as a development team

                          Would mean saying bye bye to URC, which could be tough legally

                          sparkyS Offline
                          sparkyS Offline
                          sparky
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #3452

                          @MiketheSnow Welsh club teams in the English league system would mirror what seems to be successful and popular in soccer. Long-term that's the best financial bet, but as you suggest it might be legally tough to get there.

                          MiketheSnowM 1 Reply Last reply
                          2
                          • sparkyS sparky

                            @MiketheSnow Welsh club teams in the English league system would mirror what seems to be successful and popular in soccer. Long-term that's the best financial bet, but as you suggest it might be legally tough to get there.

                            MiketheSnowM Offline
                            MiketheSnowM Offline
                            MiketheSnow
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #3453

                            @sparky said in European Club Rugby:

                            @MiketheSnow Welsh club teams in the English league system would mirror what seems to be successful and popular in soccer. Long-term that's the best financial bet, but as you suggest it might be legally tough to get there.

                            And presumably if that did come to pass, Welsh qualified players playing in the English league for an English club would be eligible to play for Wales regardless of how many caps they have

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            1
                            • DodgeD Offline
                              DodgeD Offline
                              Dodge
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #3454

                              They may be elligible but i suspect there would be issues with releasing players outside of the official test windows as I don't imagine the WRU would have the money to pay off the clubs like the English Union have done.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              2
                              • sparkyS Offline
                                sparkyS Offline
                                sparky
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #3455

                                It looks like Lee Blackett, Bath's back coach and formerly at the Scarlets and Wasps, is going to join the England set-up as backs coach.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                1
                                • DodgeD Offline
                                  DodgeD Offline
                                  Dodge
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #3456

                                  If Blackett can work with Borthwick, and is allowed to coach his own way, this is a great appointment, Bath have played some lovely rugby in the last couple of years.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  2
                                  • sparkyS Offline
                                    sparkyS Offline
                                    sparky
                                    wrote on last edited by sparky
                                    #3457

                                    The annual budgets for the French Top 14 teams which are all up, some significantly so.

                                    https://twitter.com/oval_news/status/1960286384050053201?s=46

                                    With their ticket sales, gate receipts, TV viewership, TV income, sponsorship and prize money all up, it's no surprise to see the top French clubs get wealthier and wealthier

                                    Less financially fortunate unions and clubs can currently only look on with envy with what's going on in France and the huge financial growth of the game there.

                                    With all that money will come power. The power to sign more of the world's best players and coaches. The power to develop their academies and grassroots so they can produce more and more world-class players.

                                    If you follow the money, sooner or later the future of the game will be French.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    1
                                    • M Offline
                                      M Offline
                                      mohikamo
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #3458

                                      Decided to have a look at exactly where French rugby clubs get their money.

                                      The LNR (T14 and PD2 – 30 clubs) is the vehicle of the FFR to administer the pro clubs.
                                      The FFR itself is not in great financial shape; having made a mess of the 2023 WC and lost tens of millions (WR did ok tho).

                                      % average of LNR club revenues

                                      “Partnerships” 44%
                                      Seems to be very grey, but it is huge; sponsorships and benefactors.
                                      Larger than the match day and TV revenue combined; and those revenue streams are large compared to other domestic comps!
                                      Be nice to know the proportions between benefactors and sponsors.
                                      Sometimes benefactor can be sponsor; and a benefactor takes out a lot of losses.
                                      Be hard for any other domestic rugby comp to replicate this part of the business model, and it’s the biggest part.

                                      LNR 20%

                                      1. TV; new deal €130m per year from 2027 to 2032. No other domestic rugby comp comes remotely close to this deal (except the NRL—new deal soon).
                                      2. Euro competitions; European comps are a loss for clubs (except if you win it). Most clubs look at it as a marketing expense. It’s compensation type revenue. No money here.
                                      3. French national team players club indemnity; this is the FFR/LNR national team deal and seems to make national/club relationship reasonably seamless (at least for French players). A bit of an incentive for clubs to have players selected for the national team. Possibly why the French national squad is large.

                                      Match day 15%

                                      Other 21%―merchandise, transfer fees etc.

                                      A comparison with the Brisbane Broncos, an NRL financial powerhouse ($81.5m revenue 2024):
                                      Matchday 35%
                                      NRL 24%
                                      Sponsorship 19%
                                      Reverse model to T14; matchday and TV revenue three times “partnerships.”

                                      Off topic
                                      Incredible to me, but apparently the French national rugby football team significantly outrates the audience for the 2 time world champion French national soccer football team!

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      3
                                      • sparkyS Offline
                                        sparkyS Offline
                                        sparky
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #3459

                                        Jordan Petaia has signed with French Top 14 club Perpignan.

                                        https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/08/27/petaia-signs-with-french-top-14-club-but-the-two-time-world-cup-wallaby-has-left-door-open-for-aussie-return/

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • MiketheSnowM MiketheSnow

                                          My twopeneth worth

                                          The WRU are hoping that the consultation will deliver their preferred solution, namely two men's teams and 2 women's teams

                                          The WRU are prepared to sacrifice two men's teams to pay for two women's teams

                                          Theoretically the national campus idea is an excellent one

                                          Will that mean we have one national style and game plan which is then replicated by the two remaining teams? Reddin says absolutely not.

                                          If that's the case, will the players and national coach have more formal time with each other than they do at present to practice and perfect the national coach's vision?

                                          Even though Reddin mentioned NZ as a model to emulate I believe they've been looking at Scotland and want to copy that model.

                                          They've got Tandy as coach.

                                          They're proposing two teams.

                                          But in the 29 years there has been two Scottish regional teams, Glasgow has won the Pro12 once and the URC once. Edinburgh were runners up in the league once, and losing finalists in the European Challenge Cup in 2015.

                                          The Scotland national team has won one 5N / 6N championship in that time - to Wales' six - and not advanced beyond the QF stage at the RWC - Wales has contested two SF.

                                          Is this really the best model for us to aspire to?

                                          antipodeanA Offline
                                          antipodeanA Offline
                                          antipodean
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #3460

                                          @MiketheSnow said in European Club Rugby:

                                          The WRU are prepared to sacrifice two men's teams to pay for two women's teams

                                          How is that financially viable?

                                          MiketheSnowM 1 Reply Last reply
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