European Club Rugby
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Premiership: Extended season will be 'more balanced' for players
Premiership Rugby's plans to lengthen the domestic campaign by a month from 2019-2020 have been opposed by players, with strike action not ruled out.Part of the rationale behind lengthening the season is to reduce the overlap between the international and domestic game. But leading players have voiced their concern at the prospect of a longer campaign and a shortened pre-season. Saracens and England number eight Billy Vunipola, who is sidelined by a knee injury, told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast in September that "something had to change" to reduce the burden on players. "As a contact sport, there is no other sport in the world that plays a longer season than we do at the moment, so why would we go longer?" says the Rugby Players Association (RPA) chairman Christian Day. "This is the first time I've seen a proposal with no positives for the players, so why would we agree to it?" However, Rowe says spreading out Premiership fixtures would allow for more frequent rest periods during the season. "The reality is that at the moment a guy could start playing on 1 September, and play right though until May with no breaks," he added. "The idea of the extended season is putting breaks in so you can rest the guys. "If you had a break in November when you could give someone a week or two off, and a break in March when you could give someone a week or two off, it's a bit more balanced out than going right the way through." The RPA have stressed the need for a proper pre-season to allow players time to recover mentally and physically. English rugby's Professional Game Board is now under pressure to seek an urgent resolution, with the new chief executive of the Rugby Football Union Steve Brown expressing his concerns.This article is one of the response to Premiership Rugby’s response to Global Calendar announcement
@stargazer The idea of extending the season seems to have some merit on the face of it but the reality is that while it may give players a break from actually playing it will not give them a break from training. ie no real down time whatsoever and then shorten the break between seasons where they can get down time. Even disregarding that, does anyone really think that an under pressure DOR or coach will not be putting pressure on a guy to play in times of need, mid season break or not?
To my mind it really has little to do with player welfare and more about getting a longer season to bring in more dosh.
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The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
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The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go. Another proposition was not for the clubs to have break weeks just the players, albeit spread out across a longer season.
I don't think either option has real merit.
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@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go. Another proposition was not for the clubs to have break weeks just the players, albeit spread out across a longer season.
I don't think either option has real merit.
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go.
At the moment whenever there is a gap they seem to replay the last time England beat the ABs. It seems to be on whenever I flick through SkySports.
I don't watch the wendyball channels but imagine they still replay the 1966 World Cup endlessly? -
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go.
At the moment whenever there is a gap they seem to replay the last time England beat the ABs. It seems to be on whenever I flick through SkySports.
I don't watch the wendyball channels but imagine they still replay the 1966 World Cup endlessly?@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go.
At the moment whenever there is a gap they seem to replay the last time England beat the ABs. It seems to be on whenever I flick through SkySports.
I don't watch the wendyball channels but imagine they still replay the 1966 World Cup endlessly?It's all to do with big data gathering and then targeting the desired audience. Someone somewhere knows that you are a Kiwi and is showing you what data says you want to see. Count yourself lucky, all I get is lesbian dwarf porn.
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@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go.
At the moment whenever there is a gap they seem to replay the last time England beat the ABs. It seems to be on whenever I flick through SkySports.
I don't watch the wendyball channels but imagine they still replay the 1966 World Cup endlessly?It's all to do with big data gathering and then targeting the desired audience. Someone somewhere knows that you are a Kiwi and is showing you what data says you want to see. Count yourself lucky, all I get is lesbian dwarf porn.
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@crucial said in NH club rugby:
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go.
At the moment whenever there is a gap they seem to replay the last time England beat the ABs. It seems to be on whenever I flick through SkySports.
I don't watch the wendyball channels but imagine they still replay the 1966 World Cup endlessly?It's all to do with big data gathering and then targeting the desired audience. Someone somewhere knows that you are a Kiwi and is showing you what data says you want to see. Count yourself lucky, all I get is lesbian dwarf porn.
They must be ID'ing the wrong person then as I usually switch channel straight away after laughing at the desperation.
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Pretty good try by Glasgow v Leinster. Set up by a brilliant run by Niko Matawalu.
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@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go. Another proposition was not for the clubs to have break weeks just the players, albeit spread out across a longer season.
I don't think either option has real merit.
@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go. Another proposition was not for the clubs to have break weeks just the players, albeit spread out across a longer season.
I don't think either option has real merit.
The barren weeks will get filled by the expanded/renamed version of what’s currently called the Anglo-Welsh Cup. They are looking to bring in two SA teams into this as a ramped up development comp for academy players nd some of the lesser lights from Senior Squad.
The revamped global schedule will see November test window start in first three weeks. There are plans/discussions to change the European Cup pool stages to run in one bloc during Dec and January and possibly the quarter final too, if they can shift/compress the Six Nations.
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I doubt that would satisfy those that pay big money for their names to be associated with rugby be it by way of sponsorship or purchase of advertising spots in telecasts. Unless things are different up north when compared to NZ I doubt the viewing audience for what would essentially be matches between 2nd XVs would be much more than immediate family and club members of the participating teams.
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@catogrande said in NH club rugby:
@higgins said in NH club rugby:
The only way they will be able to do that is to play friendlies (against opposition that will bring in a big gate take) during the break periods! Not sure how the TV rights holders will go given that they will have no championship matches to screen during these break weeks.
The cynic says that they will find a way to fill in these barren weeks if that is the way things go. Another proposition was not for the clubs to have break weeks just the players, albeit spread out across a longer season.
I don't think either option has real merit.
The barren weeks will get filled by the expanded/renamed version of what’s currently called the Anglo-Welsh Cup. They are looking to bring in two SA teams into this as a ramped up development comp for academy players nd some of the lesser lights from Senior Squad.
The revamped global schedule will see November test window start in first three weeks. There are plans/discussions to change the European Cup pool stages to run in one bloc during Dec and January and possibly the quarter final too, if they can shift/compress the Six Nations.
@pot-hale Thanks for the info. I'd really only listened to Tony Rowe talking about it and then a few of the more lurid headlines. Seems like they're trying to squeeze in more rugby which is pretty much what I feared.
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Off to see Toulon vs Racing at the famous Stade Félix Mayol. Nonu & Fekitoa in the centres for Toulon. Hopefully should be good, 18000 seats and the famous Toulon chant Pilou Pilou. It’s a wee trip with my Swiss rugby team.
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Clermont has reached an agreement with Toulon about the release of Luke McAlister, who has now joined Clermont as injury cover for Camille Lopez until the latter has recovered. McAlister started training with Clermont on Thursday.
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Clermont has reached an agreement with Toulon about the release of Luke McAlister, who has now joined Clermont as injury cover for Camille Lopez until the latter has recovered. McAlister started training with Clermont on Thursday.
@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
Clermont has reached an agreement with Toulon about the release of Luke McAlister, who has now joined Clermont as injury cover for Camille Lopez until the latter has recovered. McAlister started training with Clermont on Thursday.
Lukey Luke was with Toulon last weekend anyways. The Toulon team do this thing where they arrive at the stadium, drop of their gear, then get back in the bus and "arrive" again outside the ground, where they do a walk past the fans. The most engaging was Fernandez Lobbe, the NZ players were mostly in "I'm so cool" mode. The Toulon ground is pretty cool, but their fans I could take or leave: they were mostly of the whistling variety whenever a decision went against the home side. Clermont fans I much prefer - you can always be guaranteed that someone will offer you a glass of win, baguette and cheese etc, as they mingle around the ground before the game.
As much as I love NZ rugby, the atmosphere at games in NZ is generally pretty poor compared to Europe.
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@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
Clermont has reached an agreement with Toulon about the release of Luke McAlister, who has now joined Clermont as injury cover for Camille Lopez until the latter has recovered. McAlister started training with Clermont on Thursday.
Lukey Luke was with Toulon last weekend anyways. The Toulon team do this thing where they arrive at the stadium, drop of their gear, then get back in the bus and "arrive" again outside the ground, where they do a walk past the fans. The most engaging was Fernandez Lobbe, the NZ players were mostly in "I'm so cool" mode. The Toulon ground is pretty cool, but their fans I could take or leave: they were mostly of the whistling variety whenever a decision went against the home side. Clermont fans I much prefer - you can always be guaranteed that someone will offer you a glass of win, baguette and cheese etc, as they mingle around the ground before the game.
As much as I love NZ rugby, the atmosphere at games in NZ is generally pretty poor compared to Europe.
@billy-tell When I lived in France, I adopted Clermont as my French team after going to one of their games. That wasn't in Clermont-Ferrand, so I haven't experienced the atmosphere at their stadium. It's one of the (few) European teams I sometimes get up for to watch a game via a dodgy stream and it looks (and sounds) awesome at their home games. Would love to go there one day!
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Kieron Fonotia will move from Ospreys to Scarlets next season.
@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
Kieron Fonotia will move from Ospreys to Scarlets next season.
...shuffling deckchairs...
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@stargazer said in NH club rugby:
Kieron Fonotia will move from Ospreys to Scarlets next season.
...shuffling deckchairs...
@billy-tell Apparently a straight swap for Scott Williams.
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Leinster have named a strongish looking side for their PRO14 away game with Benetton at the weekend. Getting his first start is former Chiefs winger, James Lowe. He’ll partner with Leinster’s latest wunderkind, academy player Jordan Larmour at full-back, who’s been impressing of late.
Another player plucked from the sub-academy is the TH replacement with the wonderful Irish name, Vakhtang Abdaladze, who played for the U20’s last year. Moved to Dublin when he was 10, his father, Nika, is a former Georgian test prop who got a couple of caps.
1 Jack McGrath, 2 James Tracy, 3 Andrew Porter, 4 Ian Nagle, 5 Scott Fardy, 6 Jordi Murphy, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Jack Conan 9 Luke McGrath (capt); 10 Ross Byrne, 11 James Lowe; 12 Noel Reid, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Dave Kearney, 15 Jordan Larmour;
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Vakh Abdaladze, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Fergus McFadden, 23 Rory O'Loughlin. -
