14 team Pro 12 from 2017/2018??

Hastentoadd

I find this whole discussion unlikely, and the reason for that is the fact it has never been fed to the media, nobody I know at the provinces knows anything about it, which makes the whole thing a bit of enormous speculation in my eyes

Dog Botherer

From the official account of the now defunct PRO Rugby league in the US...

https://twitter.com/ProRugbyUSA/status/883142729756274689

LeinsterDub

Podge_irl wrote: »

The number of teams is unfortunate for a conference system - having different numbers of home and away games is really not good.

The pro everyone league has got you covered
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/guinness-pro12/south-african-and-us-franchises-to-join-pro12-1-4491808

thomond2006

Dog Botherer wrote: »

From the official account of the now defunct PRO Rugby league in the US...

https://twitter.com/ProRugbyUSA/status/883142729756274689

PRO Rugby is/was run by a cowboy.

Burkie1203

Neil treacy has retweeted a statement about the cheetahs which says they have accepted an agreement regarding their super rugby status and will look at other international competitions options

Burkie1203

Cheetahs and Kings officially out of super rugby.

193hrs of driving to the Free State Rugby Stadium from Ireland.
That would be some trip

Rocko

Wouldn't the weather n Bloemfontein b crazy hot during d pro 12/14 season as it'll b summer there

Buer

Rocko wrote: »

Wouldn't the weather n Bloemfontein b crazy hot during d pro 12/14 season as it'll b summer there

I would imagine they'll play the bulk of their away games during the height of their summer to reduce travel costs and avoid games in crazy weather.

There will still surely be some matches in some pretty intense conditions though.

Former Former

Statement on SA union website seems to confirm that both the Kings and Cheetahs are going somewhere anyway:
http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/superrugby&id=4060234

The whole thing is mental.

Actually, interestingly, one thing that didn't occur to me but the chances of some altitude and warm weather training mid season would be opened up by having to travel to SA anyway. You really want a couple of weeks to get the full benefit of altitude is the only thing.

Some absolutely outstanding training and performance centres near Bloemfontein and Pretoria.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Actually, interestingly, one thing that didn't occur to me but the chances of some altitude and warm weather training mid season would be opened up by having to travel to SA anyway. You really want a couple of weeks to get the full benefit of altitude is the only thing.

Some absolutely outstanding training and performance centres near Bloemfontein and Pretoria.

That is interesting. It'd also make sense if they did back to back away games for sides where possible, which might make those camps a more realistic possibility.

CIARAN_BOYLE

irishbucsfan wrote: »

That is interesting. It'd also make sense if they did back to back away games for sides where possible, which might make those camps a more realistic possibility.

It has to be back-to-back. Even if only to make flights cheaper.

errlloyd

irishbucsfan wrote: »

That is interesting. It'd also make sense if they did back to back away games for sides where possible, which might make those camps a more realistic possibility.

I think I broke this down earlier, but only 6 teams (in either two conference format) will have away games against both South Africans in a given year. So assume those 6 teams do mini-tours to South Africa. The other 6 teams will only have away games against one of the South African teams. Those 6 fixtures could be done in Allianz Park or alternative.

irishbucsfan

errlloyd wrote: »

I think I broke this down earlier, but only 6 teams (in either two conference format) will have away games against both South Africans in a given year. So assume those 6 teams do mini-tours to South Africa. The other 6 teams will only have away games against one of the South African teams. Those 6 fixtures could be done in Allianz Park or alternative.

Well we have no idea what the format will be yet. We'll see.

typhoony

irish times article confirming 2 groups of 7 with 3 rounds of interpro's, also teams to recieve financial compensation

MarinersBlues

typhoony wrote: »

irish times article confirming 2 groups of 7 with 3 rounds of interpro's, also teams to recieve financial compensation

What about season ticket holders?

How will three rounds of inter-pros work?

Dog Botherer

thomond2006 wrote: »

PRO Rugby is/was run by a cowboy.

Well aware of that, just thought it was interesting.

bilston

MarinersBlues wrote: »

typhoony wrote: »

irish times article confirming 2 groups of 7 with 3 rounds of interpro's, also teams to recieve financial compensation

What about season ticket holders?

How will three rounds of inter-pros work?

Any extra games now will just have to be sold separate to the season ticket. Season ticket holders might get first dibs, but it gives the provinces the opportunity to come up with some decent offers to attract new fans. Kids for a quid or something like that...undoubtedly wishful thinking on my part.

Obviously if there are fewer games than previously advertised then that's a problem that so be hard to overcome.

irishbucsfan

I'm not exactly sure why, but this is seeming more and more like its going to be a disaster

bilston

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I'm not exactly sure why, but this is seeming more and more like its going to be a disaster

We just have to wait and see how it works out. I think they need to have as an uncomplicated format as possible. By the sounds of things that isn't going to happen and that worries me. The Super 12 and subsequently Super 14 worked because it was easy to understand, now it's a complete mish mash and it has suffered as a result. Now for the likes of us who are rugby mad etc we will no doubt get to grips with it but for casual fans it could prove a turn off.

But let's wait and see.

LeinsterDub

typhoony wrote: »

irish times article confirming 2 groups of 7 with 3 rounds of interpro's, also teams to recieve financial compensation

Link?

molloyjh

A 15 game tournament when fans have already paid for a 22 game tournament. Unless there's cross conference games there'll be uproar over that.

LeinsterDub

molloyjh wrote: »

A 15 game tournament when fans have already paid for a 22 game tournament. Unless there's cross conference games there'll be uproar over that.

As a Leinster season ticket holder for many a long year I can tell you that it doesn't bother me at all

molloyjh

LeinsterDub wrote: »

As a Leinster season ticket holder for many a long year I can tell you that it doesn't bother me at all

Paying the same amount for less doesn't bother you? Fair enough. It would bother most people I'd imagine.

LeinsterDub

molloyjh wrote: »

Paying the same amount for less doesn't bother you? Fair enough. It would bother most people I'd imagine.

Sure half the games are pure muck anyway. If the South Africans are competitive then yeah I'd rather see them than Dragons or the Italians

Quin_Dub

Irish Times article

The league would be split into two conferences of seven with the loss of home match revenue covered by three rounds of inter-provincials – the Irish provinces currently play each other twice, home and away – despite the congestion this would cause in an already well stocked fixture list.

The top three sides in each conference would progress to the play-offs in a similar situation to the French league whereby the top two teams would be waiting in the semi-finals.

Not liking the whole Conference thing at all..not at all

Former Former

molloyjh wrote: »

A 15 game tournament when fans have already paid for a 22 game tournament. Unless there's cross conference games there'll be uproar over that.

There must be. The IT article refers to more fixture congestion so I guess it will happen.
- two games against each team in your own conference
- one against each team in the other
- three additional interpros
Is 22 matches.

The obvious problem is that if the extra interpros are basically friendlies, will anyone care?

Burkie1203

Quin_Dub wrote: »

Irish Times article



Not liking the whole Conference thing at all..not at all

Third round of interpros could be double header in aviva potentially

MarinersBlues

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Third round of interpros could be double header in aviva potentially

Too many interpros will see them lose some significance.