Premiership financial issues

[FKAS]

Interesting:

I can believe that. Clubs operating right on the limit so as to try and win big with little to no long term planning. Some magic bullet style long term planning when it actually did transpire as well, which tended to miss.

All seems to be very old school shake of the hand, my word is my bond style stuff with the stuffed shirts running the game. Needs modernising at the top.

[Puja]

I can't comment knowledgeably on the background to the LI demise. Inevitably, I suspect incompetence at best and corruption at worst. Whatever the ramifications I feel sorry for the players and staff thrown out of jobs.

Beyond that basic sympathy and having no special affection for the club (or for Wasps and Worcester, come to that), I'm left clinging to the hope that the RFU and the Prem Clubs grab a one-off chance to put the game on to a sound footing. The rescue from the ridiculous idea of a 14 man league should be seen as heaven-sent.

Simply by ending the club/country clashes there can be an improvement - an average of 6 or 7 journeymen foreigners no longer on the wage bill theoretically, perhaps?? There must be progress towards improving standards at all levels.

Bang on. This is painful and awful and I would much prefer if we could relaunch Irish, Wasps, and Wuss in the Championship (with Wasps preferably being where they belong rather than squatting in the Midlands), but I think the price might be worth paying to realign the club season. A 26 game league season was never going to be viable or fit into the calendar or be anything more than an utter calamity for player welfare.

What we need is a league that doesn't just fit around the internationals, but works in synergy with them. I've said it before - millions watch the 6N each year and then have nowhere to go after that. Clubs should be having their BIG GAME in football stadia the week/fortnight after the 6N, with the England players brought straight back in and with a round on terrestrial television. They should be advertising the shit out of it during the 6N - "If you liked watching Itoje and Martin playing for England, tune in next week to watch them playing against each other - Saracens vs Leicester at Tottenham Stadium, live on ITV". Get even a tenth of the audience to follow on from the 6N and watch the revenue skyrocket.

What is should not be, is what it is now, the league being an afterthought that's still playing during the final round - demonstrably subordinate and inferior, like County Cricket, where young internationals come from and might go back to to build up match fitness, but isn't really an important competition to anyone except wonks.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Its a sorry day for Pro rugby but this was all inevitable due to clubs over reaching and getting into serious debt.

If events over the season dont focus minds at RFU/PRL to come up with a workable framework for a sustainable elite game in England, then i fail to see what will.

A 10 team league gives a good starting point, allowing the chance to devise a fixture schedule that makes a lot more sense.

[Puja]

Also, the 14 team league idea always seemed obscene to me because I remember when Richmond and London Scottish died and it was a "price worth paying to get the league down to 12 clubs because 14 was unsustainable". Seeking to undo that felt like pissing on their graves.

Puja

[Stom]

Interesting:

I can believe that. Clubs operating right on the limit so as to try and win big with little to no long term planning. Some magic bullet style long term planning when it actually did transpire as well, which tended to miss.

All seems to be very old school shake of the hand, my word is my bond style stuff with the stuffed shirts running the game. Needs modernising at the top.

And coming from Mark Evans, who built the foundations for Quins to be financially OK (until Covid, at least) by clear long term planning, I can believe him.

[Which Tyler]

Interesting:

Would be interesting to see the actual statistics, rather than a "compared to 1996 (the first year of professionalism)"
I don't disbelieve that stat at all; but absent of any nuance, I don't think it's particularly helpful

[Banquo]

Interesting:

stuffed shirts running the game

who specifically do you mean here?

[Puja]

BT Sport now demanding a rebate as there will be fewer games than they paid for. Never rains...

Puja

[Mellsblue]

If the talent is more concentrated and the test players are playing in a higher % of games I’m likely to watch more Prem rugby not less…

[Puja]

If the talent is more concentrated and the test players are playing in a higher % of games I’m likely to watch more Prem rugby not less…

I think the issue is that it fills a shorter number of weekends and makes it less valuable as an anchor tenant for a sports service.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

[Mellsblue]

If the talent is more concentrated and the test players are playing in a higher % of games I’m likely to watch more Prem rugby not less…

I think the issue is that it fills a shorter number of weekends and makes it less valuable as an anchor tenant for a sports service.

Puja

I get that. I just think it’s not as simple as more games = more viewers/subscribers.

[FKAS]

If the talent is more concentrated and the test players are playing in a higher % of games I’m likely to watch more Prem rugby not less…

I think the issue is that it fills a shorter number of weekends and makes it less valuable as an anchor tenant for a sports service.

Puja

I get that. I just think it’s not as simple as more games = more viewers/subscribers.

If BT inherit rights to the new cup competition then for no more money they get to pitch to a whole new selection of clubs as well.

It's much more likely that having been bought out by Discovery the new owners are looking to save a few quid straight away especially if they can take that advantage into the contract renewal negotiations, contract expires next summer if I recall correctly.

[Puja]

If the talent is more concentrated and the test players are playing in a higher % of games I’m likely to watch more Prem rugby not less…

I think the issue is that it fills a shorter number of weekends and makes it less valuable as an anchor tenant for a sports service.

Puja

I get that. I just think it’s not as simple as more games = more viewers/subscribers.

But it is a case of them having to find and pay for more content with which to fill the 8 additional weekends, which I suspect will be the argument they're making.

FKAS raises a good suggestion with the cup competition, although I'm sure the Championship clubs were hoping to see money out of that rather than it be chucked out as a sweetener.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

I think the issue is that it fills a shorter number of weekends and makes it less valuable as an anchor tenant for a sports service.

Puja

I get that. I just think it’s not as simple as more games = more viewers/subscribers.

But it is a case of them having to find and pay for more content with which to fill the 8 additional weekends, which I suspect will be the argument they're making.

Puja

As I said, I get that I’m just pointing out that there is a potential upside.

[Puja]

I get that. I just think it’s not as simple as more games = more viewers/subscribers.

But it is a case of them having to find and pay for more content with which to fill the 8 additional weekends, which I suspect will be the argument they're making.

Puja

As I said, I get that I’m just pointing out that there is a potential upside.

Sorry - was half asleep and missed the "I get that"

Puja

[Mellsblue]

But it is a case of them having to find and pay for more content with which to fill the 8 additional weekends, which I suspect will be the argument they're making.

Puja

As I said, I get that I’m just pointing out that there is a potential upside.

was half asleep

Puja

My posts do tend to have that effect on people.

[FKAS]

I think the issue is that it fills a shorter number of weekends and makes it less valuable as an anchor tenant for a sports service.

Puja

I get that. I just think it’s not as simple as more games = more viewers/subscribers.

But it is a case of them having to find and pay for more content with which to fill the 8 additional weekends, which I suspect will be the argument they're making.

FKAS raises a good suggestion with the cup competition, although I'm sure the Championship clubs were hoping to see money out of that rather than it be chucked out as a sweetener.

Puja

Given there's three less mouths to feed on the BT deal I'm sure the Championship clubs could get cut in with something.

[Mikey Brown]

I thought BT were off anyway? Or is TNT still them?

[Puja]

I thought BT were off anyway? Or is TNT still them?

All the same - just a rebrand.

Puja

[FKAS]

I thought BT were off anyway? Or is TNT still them?

All the same - just a rebrand.

Puja

A rebrand because BT have new owners. Now under the same umbrella as ESPN. Which is handy as BT Sport now comes with the Discovery service so I can watch the cycling without adverts.

[Mellsblue]

Chawatama bringing the love and the joy:

[Margin_Walker]

Lovejoy's a fantastic guy. Really did take the scenic route to prem rugby. Introduced to the game when he arrived in England as a 15 year old. Never involved in the academy system. Was a back row playing eventually for London Scottish before converting to prop. Joined London Welsh and was picked up by LI when they collapsed. Gives up a lot of his spare time coaching at Beckenham.

“It’s coaching my friends and I really, really enjoy that,” he enthused. “Without Beckenham I wouldn’t be where I am right now. I’m grateful for what they have done for me. I joined a week after coming to England when I was 15 and the coach used to pick me up at my house every Sunday and take me to train while mum was going to church. The coaches saw something in me and they sacrificed so much, so going back there coaching now is great to be giving back.”

He really should get picked up by someone (rumoured that Bristol were interested). Just a rock solid old school TH that doesn't get folded by anyone.

[Banquo]

I thought BT were off anyway? Or is TNT still them?

All the same - just a rebrand.

Puja

A rebrand because BT have new owners. Now under the same umbrella as ESPN. Which is handy as BT Sport now comes with the Discovery service so I can watch the cycling without adverts.

BT don't have new owners. They have a JV with Warner Brothers Discovery which covers BT Sport.

[FKAS]

All the same - just a rebrand.

Puja

A rebrand because BT have new owners. Now under the same umbrella as ESPN. Which is handy as BT Sport now comes with the Discovery service so I can watch the cycling without adverts.

BT don't have new owners. They have a JV with Warner Brothers Discovery which covers BT Sport.

Yes, apologies I meant BT Sport and not BT.