RugbyRebels

Shiny wrote: I keep getting a panicked feeling that I’ve not done my squad.

Vicious rumours doing the rounds that you’ll score more points this weekend than you averaged last season.

Mellsblue wrote:

Shiny wrote: I keep getting a panicked feeling that I’ve not done my squad.

Vicious rumours doing the rounds that you’ll score more points this weekend than you averaged last season.

That’s not a rumour, it’s a hard fact.

Scrumhead wrote:I’m genuinely sad seeing the lineups for this weekend and not being able to pick a squad

I keep thinking about players earning points, and who would be a good deal, then catch myself. But also I honestly have a less of an interest in the rugby than I did when I was playing the game

Yeah … definitely feels like something is really missing without it.

That team I picked would have got a LOT of points this week.

Puja wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:I am actually planning on writing an open letter to Prem Rugby on this so if anyone wants to add their comments, I’ll share it here.

Excellent shout. It seems madness that Premiership Rugby aren't interested in something that proven to increase fan retention and engagement and which is already set up and pretty much ready-to-go.

Puja

I’ve written the letter:

While I enjoyed the return of Premiership Rugby this weekend the lack of a Premiership fantasy competition meant that a really important element of the fan experience was missing. At a time when rugby is facing huge financial challenges and the game is shrinking, this feels like a real oversight. This might not be perceived as a ‘problem’, but it is most definitely a missed opportunity. To have a season where England’s flagship competition has no fantasy offering is hugely disappointing and also seems to directly contradict Premiership Rugby’s aim of engaging with existing fans and growing the game by winning new fans. It also puts Premiership Rugby behind the URC which is not where it should be.

Fantasy football is a huge part of Premier League football fans’ weekends and for the past few years, The Rugby Magazine had been offering a brilliant experience to fans of our sport without any support or endorsement from Premiership Rugby. The game has now been paused indefinitely as it is no longer sustainable for it’s creator to run. This is a crying shame and shows a real lack of vision, not to mention a disappointing lack of rugby values in supporting ‘one of our own’.

The Rugby Magazine’s fantasy game was by far and away the best of its kind. An asset that should have been supported and nurtured. It was streets ahead of any fantasy game I have ever played, significantly better than SuperBru who currently support the URC for example. Best of all, I think it perfectly captured the essence of our game. Unlike most fantasy games that only give credit for scoring tries, assists or goal kicking, The Rugby Magazine’s game rewarded players across a far broader range of stats so a flanker who put in 25 tackles in a heavily beaten team could score more points than his opposite number on the winning team. This is unique an way more representative of our sport and its complexity.

At its peak, The Rugby Magazine’s game was attracting 6,000+ subscribers. To add some perspective, that’s more than Sale or Newcastle’s average attendance figures. Most of these will still engage with Premiership Rugby, it would be naïve to think otherwise. However, that’s 6,000+ fans with a lesser experience which I don’t imagine will help to grow the game.

I am a lifelong rugby fan but I can honestly say that The Rugby Magazine’s fantasy game quite literally changed the way I watch rugby. Having players in my squad from all 13 clubs gave me a different level of interest in ALL of the fixtures, not simply those involving my team. Previously, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to watch a game between Worcester and Newcastle for example, but having ‘skin in the game’ from a fantasy point of view, made me far more interested. Furthermore, seeing the stats in detail helped me to really see what players were doing to earn their points and made me value their contributions in an entirely different way. As an active participant on various rugby forums and social media, I know I am far from alone in this.

This type of game also creates talking points. Commentators and pundits like Lawrence Dallaglio or David Flatman would frequently mention the ‘fantasy game’ during games and fans created their own leagues, talking about rugby long after the final whistle. Surely that is what you want?

Simply put - fantasy games increase engagement for existing fans while encouraging casual fans to watch more games and giving new fans the opportunity to develop a quicker understanding of the sport. These are all valuable opportunities that shouldn’t be missed. Rugby’s financial difficulties are well known and I firmly believe that a fantasy offering can help to bring more interest and money in to the sport at a very low level of investment.

As far as I am aware, Premiership Rugby has never shown any interest in developing its own fantasy offering. That’s fine as you have an excellent, ready made solution in The Rugby Magazine platform that could surely be licensed and supported. This seems like such an easy way to bring increased interest and potential revenue. Please do the right thing and get behind the Rugby Magazine’s fantasy game – the Premiership needs it!

No idea where to publish it though? Any feedback/suggestions?

Scrumhead wrote:

Puja wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:I am actually planning on writing an open letter to Prem Rugby on this so if anyone wants to add their comments, I’ll share it here.

Excellent shout. It seems madness that Premiership Rugby aren't interested in something that proven to increase fan retention and engagement and which is already set up and pretty much ready-to-go.

Puja

I’ve written the letter:

No idea where to publish it though? Any feedback/suggestions?

Great letter. Depressingly, my first suggestion for getting it out there is twitter, although that requires getting someone famous's attention to boost it. Maybe Flatman?

Maybe worth seeing if a newspaper is willing to publish it as well?

Puja

Very good. I haven’t played the game but agree with what you say.
Perhaps write it as an open letter to Rugby World. As Puja suggests, post on twatter and tag in rugby journos, commentators, administrators and analysts.?????

Puja wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:

Puja wrote:
Excellent shout. It seems madness that Premiership Rugby aren't interested in something that proven to increase fan retention and engagement and which is already set up and pretty much ready-to-go.

Puja

I’ve written the letter:

No idea where to publish it though? Any feedback/suggestions?

Great letter. Depressingly, my first suggestion for getting it out there is twitter, although that requires getting someone famous's attention to boost it. Maybe Flatman?

Maybe worth seeing if a newspaper is willing to publish it as well?

Puja

Thanks. I took some time writing it as I wanted to focus on highlighting the missed opportunity rather than simply being critical.

I’m on Twitter but I’ve never written a ‘tweet’ or commented. Flatman never got behind it that much. Neither did Ugo Monye.

A couple of players/ex players played the game so I might see if I can tap one of them up?

Might be worth contacting some of the stattos that have a decent number of followers. @rpetty80 and @SamLStandsUp are two I follow.

Good shout. I’ll take a look at them.

Thought some of you geeks might be interested in this:

https://www.turing.ac.uk/events/norther ... nce-sports

Gods damn you Mells. I got all excited that maybe the game had been rescued and was coming back for next season when I saw a new post.

Puja

Me too.

You are both very welcome.

I know that it's not as good but is anyone thinking of playing the Superbru fantasy game this season? Doesn't seem that dissimilar to the old fantasy rugby game, and I've enjoyed doing the RWC version.

https://www.superbru.com/premiershiprugbyfantasy/

Yeah I've got a team on it. I'll probably do the usual of picking a squad and then completely forgetting about it.

switchskier wrote: ↑Thu Oct 12, 2023 1:23 pm I know that it's not as good but is anyone thinking of playing the Superbru fantasy game this season? Doesn't seem that dissimilar to the old fantasy rugby game, and I've enjoyed doing the RWC version.

https://www.superbru.com/premiershiprugbyfantasy/

I’ve signed up. Something is better than nothing.