It's now time for a one off super match between Super 15 winners and the Heineken Cup

KenSwee

Given the unparalleled success of Leinster over the last few years, surely this is the perfect time to put together a one-off big guns match between the winner of Super15 and Heineken Cup.

I'm sure somewhere like Hong Kong, LA, New York or Dubai would jump at the chance to host the match.

It seems to me that it's a travesty that we don't get to see this happen.

The summer tours conducted by the Super15 in Europe are little more then youth teams and a real comparison would be something like this years Canterbury facing Leinster.

If we can have endless games each year between the national sides, it can't be that difficult to get one game sorted.

I think it has been one of the biggest missed opportunities in professional rugby union as I think it happens in Rugby League.

CatFromHue

What date would you have it on?

Leinster7

There was a few posts about this in the S15 thread last season. All fans would love to see it but it is too tricky because of the timing differences

Conas

I agree totally this would be awesome. The best team in the NH against the best team in the SH. I wouldn't like it to be a one off thing though, it would be great if it was annual. Leinster would give the Aussies, or The All Blacks a hell of a game as it is.

Iron Hide

Only way it would work really is if the S15 champs are one of the South African teams, otherwise the time differences would be a nightmare.

KenSwee

Conas wrote: »

I wouldn't like it to be a one off thing though, it would be great if it was annual.

Sorry, I meant one off as in one match, each year.

MyKeyG

KenSwee wrote: »

Given the unparalleled success of Leinster over the last few years

You do realise what unparalleled means don't you? Toulouse still hold the record with 4 championships two of which were won in three successive final appearances so lets get our facts right straight off the bat. They didn't consider it then they're not going to consider it now just because Leinster have started playing competitive European ball in recent years. I'm not starting a row I'm just pointing out a pertinent fact before we all get carried away.

Back on topic I think the format could include the semi finalists from both competitions in either a league or two group round robin event. The geographical distances are just too far to justify a once off or even two leg match between only two teams. However then you start interfering with various club and country tours. It would be a logistical nightmare.

KenSwee

MyKeyG wrote: »

You do realise what unparalleled means don't you?

Ahh give me a break will you? I meant over the last few years.
Professional rugby is far more commercial today, compared to when Toulouse won it first and even second time round. I take it, that it would have to have the backing of all the major leagues and sponsors for it to work but I think if Sky got behind the idea it could be a runner. I agree it's a shame that the date and time are so difficult but It would be sorted if the right people were in favour of it happening.

Also, if the main sponsors of each tournament were connected it probably would have a better chance of coming together.

I still think it would be an awesome match if both teams fielded a first squad.

For the record, if it was played this year, I think the current Leinster squad would win, no matter which Super 15 Franchise they faced. And I think Canterbury would give the best game to them.

my friend

KenSwee wrote: »

Given the unparalleled success of Leinster over the last few years, surely this is the perfect time to put together a one-off big guns match between the winner of Super15 and Heineken Cup.

I'm sure somewhere like Hong Kong, LA, New York or Dubai would jump at the chance to host the match.

It seems to me that it's a travesty that we don't get to see this happen.

The summer tours conducted by the Super15 in Europe are little more then youth teams and a real comparison would be something like this years Canterbury facing Leinster.

If we can have endless games each year between the national sides, it can't be that difficult to get one game sorted.

I think it has been one of the biggest missed opportunities in professional rugby union as I think it happens in Rugby League.

Sooner The Lions is scrapped sooner this will happen.

its_phil

my friend wrote: »

Sooner The Lions is scrapped sooner this will happen.

You want the Lions scrapped?

WHAT?!

Probably the greatest experience there is for a fan in Great Britain and Ireland as well as the Tri Nations and any player will tell you it is the ultimate honor.

You won't find a single player tell you the Lions should be scrapped and a HC vs SuperXV game come in its place.

I really just feel sorry for you, that you think the Lions is not important in the world of rugby.

Sundy

Ive never understood why people want this. It would prove very little and to get the teams to compete there would have to be massive $$$ involved.

Jimoslimos

its_phil wrote: »

Probably the greatest experience there is for a fan in rugby on both sides of the hemisphere and any player will tell you it is the ultimate honor.

Tell that to the French or Italians (or indeed the Fijians, Samoans, Argentinians, etc.)

I'm not advocating scrapping the Lions BTW, just pointing out there are more countries than the B&I and Tri-Nations.

Would be interesting to see but given the fixture difficulties can't see it happening. Even in the biggest club sport in the world, soccer - there isn't much demand (by fans or players) for the annual World club championship compared to the Champions League. Perhaps one idea might be to set aside a tournament every 4 years for the winners (and runner-up if there is multiple winners) of the respective S15 and HC tournaments.

my friend

its_phil wrote: »

You want the Lions scrapped?

WHAT?!

Probably the greatest experience there is for a fan in rugby on both sides of the hemisphere and any player will tell you it is the ultimate honor.

You won't find a single player tell you the Lions should be scrapped and a HC vs SuperXV game come in its place.

I really just feel sorry for you, that you think the Lions is not important in the world of rugby.

yawn

its_phil

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Tell that to the French or Italians (or indeed the Fijians, Samoans, Argentinians, etc.)

Right I'll edit that.

its_phil

my friend wrote: »

yawn

Good point there.

:rolleyes:

its_phil

Sundy wrote: »

Ive never understood why people want this. It would prove very little and to get the teams to compete there would have to be massive $$$ involved.

You could see the tournament organisers wanting it as it promotes their respective competitions in a different part of the world and opens up to new potential markets.

But the rugby calendar just won't allow it.

my friend

its_phil wrote: »

Good point there.

:rolleyes:

It is 2012

Lets rename the Tour, make it relevant



The Dinosaur Tour



Rugby has moved on, sooner Ireland does too, the better. Lions affects Irelands prep for RWC in the modern era.

its_phil

my friend wrote: »

It is 2012

Lets rename the Tour, make it relevant



The Dinosaur Tour



Rugby has moved on, sooner Ireland does too, the better. Lions affects Irelands prep for RWC in the modern era.

Explain to me how rugby has moved on and how it affects Ireland or any of the other 3 countries preparation for the Rugby World Cup?

It didn't affect England getting to the final in 2003 or 2007? It didn't affect Ireland beating Australia in 2011? It didn't affect Wales narrowly missing out on a final with 14 men in 2011?

Every fan (bar the tiny 1% minority like yourself) in Tri Nations and the Home nations enjoys the tours every time they come around.

JustinDee

KenSwee wrote: »

Given the unparalleled success of Leinster over the last few years, surely this is the perfect time to put together a one-off big guns match between the winner of Super15 and Heineken Cup.

...etc

I think it has been one of the biggest missed opportunities in professional rugby union as I think it happens in Rugby League.

Won't happen. If it ever did, it wouldn't make a squeak of difference to the game bar some short-term cash from limited TV rights.

There's a world cup in rugby union and thats about as united the two hemispheres' seasons will ever get. Rugby League version of what you pluck for is a spark that fizzes by the next day as teams are focussed on more pressing matters like the beginning of the NRL and SL. In rugby league, the northern and southern hemisphere seasons run concurrently anyway.

JustinDee

my friend wrote: »

Sooner The Lions is scrapped sooner this will happen.

Test rugby is the pinnacle of the sport.
Not a superficial tie between two franchises and provinces.

Timothy Bryce

Iron Hide wrote: »

Only way it would work really is if the S15 champs are one of the South African teams, otherwise the time differences would be a nightmare.

Time difference issues can be negated by playing the match on the moon.

its_phil

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

Time difference issues can be negated by playing the match on the moon.

I heard the Arabs are building one of those.

CatFromHue

This happened once a long long time ago now, 1997 I think.

The Auckland Blues, who won the previous Super tournament, were on a pre season tour of Europe and played Brive who had won the HEC 3 weeks earlier. The game was played in Jan/Feb.

Nowadays the Super tournament starts in Feb and goes to August and the HEC starts in Oct and goes to May.

Realistically this game will never happen.

If it were it would have to be in June at the expense of the International game. There is a break in the Super 15 at the moment for International rugby. This will never happen though for many many reasons.

KenSwee

its_phil wrote: »

You want the Lions scrapped?

WHAT?!

Probably the greatest experience there is for a fan in Great Britain and Ireland as well as the Tri Nations and any player will tell you it is the ultimate honor.

You won't find a single player tell you the Lions should be scrapped and a HC vs SuperXV game come in its place.

I really just feel sorry for you, that you think the Lions is not important in the world of rugby.

It's a huge money earner for all involved, especially Sky & Adidas. Wasn't the lions jersey the best selling jersey in 2009?

Better off getting rid of the constant Barbarians match that just clog up the season with ex-pats and imports playing.

KenSwee

Interesting article from 2010.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/apr/02/heineken-cup-super-15-play-off

A lot of good points are made but it is from 2010 so the situation may have changed.

andrewdcs

Being (more than a little) cynical I think this will happen next time a Premiership club wins, SKY would host ( natch) and it'd be in somehwer like Hong Kong as an end of season / pre season jolly (teams often tour like this, stripped of all their internationalls on real tours, I'd say they'd manage to hang on to a few stars greased with enough money.

Leinster / Munster have made enough of a name, but they'd need an english club versus an Aussie one to really make the fuigures stack up, they'd frikken love Reds vs Leicester.



mmmmmmmmmmm red leicester.