Draw for Six Nations 2011?

athtrasna

Anyone know when this takes place? It's usually soon enough after the 6N finishes but I can't see the date of the draw anywhere?

Want to make sure we book our flight and hotel asap for our regular pilgrimage to Murrayfield!

An Tarbh

should be any day now, was the end of March in 07, middle of April the following year and the start of April last year.

corny

Just on future 6N's. Will it always be the case its France and England home every couple of years or will they ever rearrange the fixtures?

GiftofGab

Posting to subscribe.

I want book flights to Murrayfield before Ryanair realise there's a sportinig occasion going on.

thomond2006

corny wrote: »

Just on future 6N's. Will it always be the case its France and England home every couple of years or will they ever rearrange the fixtures?

They can't rearrange the fixtures because one team might get three home games two years in a row.

It's repetitive but fair.

ScrubsfanChris

Its always going ot be "France, England at home and Wales, Scotland, Italy away." or vice versa.

davidpfitz

athtrasna wrote: »

Anyone know when this takes place? It's usually soon enough after the 6N finishes but I can't see the date of the draw anywhere?

Want to make sure we book our flight and hotel asap for our regular pilgrimage to Murrayfield!

'tisn't really a 'draw' just a scheduling of dates. It'll be England and France at home for 2011.

athtrasna

davidpfitz wrote: »

'tisn't really a 'draw' just a scheduling of dates. It'll be England and France at home for 2011.

Yes I know this...hence the talk of the Murrayfield trip. But media coverage of the schedule announcement in the past has always referred to the draw for dates (though France away has been on Valentines weekend for at least two of the three last games).

Again I ask if anyone knows when the dates will be announced?

Clareman

GiftofGab wrote: »

Posting to subscribe.

I want book flights to Murrayfield before Ryanair realise there's a sportinig occasion going on.

Be careful with that, they are known to cancel flights, refund your money and then put up other flights later

Crash

athtrasna wrote: »

(though France away has been on Valentines weekend for at least two of the three last games).

Paris, Rome, Paris for the last three years afaik. Maybe the Irish travel well for Valentines day?

PhatPiggins

Clareman wrote: »

Be careful with that, they are known to cancel flights, refund your money and then put up other flights later

Can they legally do that?

almighty1

Im hoping to go to Rome for next years game. Planning to do the same as some people here, booking flights and hotel the day the fixtures are announced (before they can up their prices).

Heres hopign that the Italy match isnt gonna be Valentines weekend as everything will me massively expensive beforehand.

Anybody in the past have problems getting tickets for the Italy away game?

Aidric

athtrasna wrote: »

Want to make sure we book our flight and hotel asap for our regular pilgrimage to Murrayfield!

Ah here, it's a year away. I doubt there is going to be an almighty surge when the fixtures come out.

niceoneted

I have booked Edinburgh up to 2 weeks in advance and got great deals on accommodation and flights. I was able to be flexible with both - as in stayed on an extra day. Worth it though. great place to see the game.

athtrasna

I'm a creature of habit when it comes to hotels so want to be sure we get the Radisson again. Flights aren't as big a deal for Edinburgh as other cities. Last time we flew into Newcastle and drove up as that was the best deal available, but we booked the flights late...long story!

davidpfitz

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Can they legally do that?

Yep. No problem since it'll be ages away. The rescheduled one will be at a slightly different time.

showboat

they should re-do the draw outright. change the cycle (for ireland at least) of having england and france at home in the odd years. what are the chances to this happening?

Clareman

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Can they legally do that?

Yup, and they often do, I think the most recent case was for the soccer play offs, they refunded all the flights and changed them by 5 minutes or something. Ryanair don't care about customer service, they care about making money

Clareman

showboat wrote: »

they should re-do the draw outright. change the cycle (for ireland at least) of having england and france at home in the odd years. what are the chances to this happening?

The last time they did this was when Italy joined the Championship, the championship works now as it is, so why break it?

davidpfitz

showboat wrote: »

they should re-do the draw outright. change the cycle (for ireland at least) of having england and france at home in the odd years. what are the chances to this happening?

It has its ups and downs. Playing England and France at home in the same year, when both those teams are strong is helpful in terms of trying for a Grand Slam. Obviously playing those fixtures away when they're strong is hard, but you take the rough with the smooth.

In the last few years, it hasn't panned out like that - with us having a great run against England. The current system works well, and everyone knows where they stand. Especially some of us who do a 'home and away' fixture with a friend in an opposing country every year.

Digifriendly

Latest Rugby World magazine very critical of Sunday matches - no atmosphere, difficult for supporters etc and suggests 5 super Saturdays with 1.30/4.00/7.00pm KO.

athtrasna

Digifriendly wrote: »

Latest Rugby World magazine very critical of Sunday matches - no atmosphere, difficult for supporters etc and suggests 5 super Saturdays with 1.30/4.00/7.00pm KO.

I would be up for that! As long as the late kick offs were shared around!

Podge_irl

I'm not sure the BBC would be thrilled to have to give over 5 complete Saturdays to rugby though.

davidpfitz

Podge_irl wrote: »

I'm not sure the BBC would be thrilled to have to give over 5 complete Saturdays to rugby though.

But in these days of multi-channel digital television, that argument doesn't hold much water. Press the red button, or whatever ...

It would cost much more for the broadcaster as they would need 3 separate crews rather than being able to move one across overnight.

Podge_irl

davidpfitz wrote: »

But in these days of multi-channel digital television, that argument doesn't hold much water. Press the red button, or whatever ...

The vast majority of people still only have basic channels.

Monetarily speaking, television audiences are just becoming more important than the actual attendees and TV audiences like Friday night and Sunday afternoon games.

andrewdcs

Fri night and Sunday games are a pain to get to, personally I do enjoy the pub after a Friday night match (abuse the chance of a night out!) but as previous posters mention, its about the TV and the sponsorship money "market channels" being worth more than bums on seats. Pity though.


As for home / away 6 nations schedule, I'd be in the "mix it all up" camp. We should have france home england away every now and again. It would mean being away to one team two years running, (and entertaining twice in a row) but a "fairer" pattern could be developed that means that over 20 years we all play different teams home and away in every combination.

i.e Wales Italy should have France and England at home every now and again and visa versa. Wales HAVE to play one or the other away each year, making their "slams" slightly different to ours (hard to say whether its easier or harder, as team qualities change), considering how big and advantage a home fixture has been down the years.

Aidric

Digifriendly wrote: »

Latest Rugby World magazine very critical of Sunday matches - no atmosphere, difficult for supporters etc and suggests 5 super Saturdays with 1.30/4.00/7.00pm KO.

I've always been of the view that this would work best.

Eoin

At least we've moved on from the days when some of the fixtures overlapped by an hour, so you couldn't watch them all live.

Digifriendly

Podge_irl wrote: »

The vast majority of people still only have basic channels.

Not correct for UK - vast majority have Digital Television - whether DTT, satellite or cable. Remember Wales is already Digital only having completed DSO and NW England also and by next years 6 Nations much of Scotland will be Digital only.

Podge_irl

Digifriendly wrote: »

Not correct for UK - vast majority have Digital Television - whether DTT, satellite or cable. Remember Wales is already Digital only having completed DSO and NW England also and by next years 6 Nations much of Scotland will be Digital only.

I was unaware of that (I don't have a TV). Is having digital TV the same as having access to all the red button services and what not?

Regardless of that, the 6N games are some of the BBC's biggest draws and they like having them spread over two days.

Digifriendly

Podge_irl wrote: »

I was unaware of that (I don't have a TV). Is having digital TV the same as having access to all the red button services and what not?

Regardless of that, the 6N games are some of the BBC's biggest draws and they like having them spread over two days.

Red button is available on all 3 digital platforms - DTT/Satellite/Cable but severely limited on DTT with only one interactive stream. However this stream was used to show rolling highlights of the recent 6 nations. If BBC hadn't enough space for interactive streaming of the rugby due to other events taking place at the same time they could for example put a Saturday evening kick off on BBC3 or BBC4 which are available on all digital platforms.
You're absolutely right about BBC liking the games being spread over 2 days but spectators tend to prefer Saturday games and probably viewers prefer 'Super Saturday' format too.

Podge_irl

Digifriendly wrote: »

You're absolutely right about BBC liking the games being spread over 2 days but spectators tend to prefer Saturday games and probably viewers prefer 'Super Saturday' format too.

I like Super Saturday, but only as a one-off. I wouldn't like it being like that throughout the 6N. I'm part of the problem here - I don't attend international games and I like having the games spread over two days, I find it's a more enjoyable weekend and I don't have to spend an entire day watching the rugby.

Digifriendly

Podge_irl wrote: »

I like Super Saturday, but only as a one-off. I wouldn't like it being like that throughout the 6N. I'm part of the problem here - I don't attend international games and I like having the games spread over two days, I find it's a more enjoyable weekend and I don't have to spend an entire day watching the rugby.

Can see your point and since there are many times more rugby fans like yourself and myself viewing than actually attending then present situation suits broadcasters as well as viewers and is probably one of reasons why broadcasters like the present set up with matches over 2 days. However Sunday matches in particular e.g. Scotland vs France as a prime example seem to lack atmosphere of games on a Saturday. Have to say I enjoyed the 'Super Saturday' with no complaints about spending most of the day watching rugby - that is apart from Dan Parks' winning kick!

sarah_lennon

Kicks off with Wales V England on a Friday

rest of the fixtures announced at midday

toomevara

Friday night kick off...heresy, don't like it at all.

thomond2006

The Welsh seem to get stuck with the Friday home games since their introduction, I doubt they're pleased.

Personally, I prefer Friday games over Sunday. I bet they get a higher TV audience too.

toomevara

thomond2006 wrote: »

Personally, I prefer Friday games over Sunday. I bet they get a higher TV audience too.

Bugger for travelling though, work etc....

hardCopy

Sunday games are an abomination. Can't beat a full Saturday of rugby imo; 3, 5, 7pm

Deadly Delta

From rbs6nations.com

RBS Six Nations Fixture Schedule 2011
All UK time – Add 1 hour for France and Italy

Friday 4th February - Wales v England - 7.45pm
Saturday 5th February - Italy v Ireland - 2.30pm
Saturday 5th February - France v Scotland - 5pm

Saturday 12th February - England v Italy - 2.30pm
Saturday 12th February - Scotland v Wales - 5pm
Sunday 13th February - Ireland v France - 3pm

19/20 February Free

Saturday 26th February - Italy v Wales - 2.30pm
Saturday 26th February - England v France - 5pm
Sunday 27th February - Scotland v Ireland - 3pm

5/6 March Free

Saturday 12th March - Italy v France - 2.30pm
Saturday 12th March - Wales v Ireland - 5pm
Sunday 13th March - England v Scotland - 3pm

Saturday 19th March - Scotland v Italy - 2.30pm
Saturday 19th March - Ireland v England - 5pm
Saturday 19th March - France v Wales - 7.45pm

Ciaran-Irl

Has the makings of a great final day.

Eoin

Does anyone know where the Italy game will be played? I heard that Stadio Flaminio is being renovated.

RuggieBear

two sunday games? pah!

toomevara

eoin wrote: »

Does anyone know where the Italy game will be played? I heard that Stadio Flaminio is being renovated.

According to the FIR site the games will be played in Flaminio. No mention of renovation.

http://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1399:rbs-6-nazioni-2011-varato-il-calendario&catid=109:italia&Itemid=415

rockman15

defo targetting the welsh for an away game.

hitting italy for the magners league fixtures.

athtrasna

Hotel booked!! Almost twice the price for the Saturday night as the Sunday

athtrasna

It's done!! 2 Sunday games including Edi

toomevara

athtrasna wrote: »

It's done!! 2 Sunday games including Edi

Blo0dy Scotland game on a Sunday. my favourite away fixture ruined...bugger.

athtrasna

I know!! Booked the hotel and they're really making the most of it, Friday is bad and Saturday night they want a lot of money Still, have the room now, won't worry about the flights just yet.

andrewdcs

toomevara wrote: »

Blo0dy Scotland game on a Sunday. my favourite away fixture ruined...bugger.

Have to swap it out for a long overdue trip to Rome....

Eoin

Rome is brilliant for the 6 nations.

BoarHunter

France will come to christen the new lansdowne Road. Hope this will be the same result than when we came to play the first rugby match in Crocker 3 years ago