Pro14 Season 2019-2020

thomond2006

Conference B:

Munster 24
Scarlets 21
Edinburgh 19
Connacht 19
Benetton 12
Cardiff 10
Kings 6

A much closer conference. Munster will be very pleased with their season to date, their only loss coming away to Cheetahs. The Christmas period will be tough for them as they visit Galway and Ulster with Leinster coming to Thomond Park in between.
Benetton probably suffered from losing their internationals more than anyone so it's not a surprise to see them seven points from the top 3.

MarinersBlues

There will be a good battle for top 3 in pool B.

Cookiemunster

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ospreys have been the big disappointment but their schedule to date has included trips to Ulster, Munster and Leinster.

They just lost at home to the Kings. It doesn't matter what their schedule was, they're awful this season.

thomond2006

Cookiemunster wrote: »

They just lost at home to the Kings. It doesn't matter what their schedule was, they're awful this season.

True!

guapos

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/steyn-to-return-to-bloemfontein/

Hopefully he signs for the Cheetahs

MarinersBlues

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/50453217
Pro14: League agrees £120m CVC investment deal in principle

Erm, what's all this about.
What will CVC bring to the table apart from "knocking heads together"

Dave_The_Sheep

MarinersBlues wrote: »

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/50453217
Pro14: League agrees £120m CVC investment deal in principle

Erm, what's all this about.
What will CVC bring to the table apart from "knocking heads together"

£120m and some dubious motives.

molloyjh

Possibly the ability to package all games involving English and P14 sides into a single tv rights package, maximising the revenue from the rights and ensuring just 1 single broadcaster?

irishbucsfan

First time it’s been likely that we can see all European club and international rugby in the one rights package alright

thomond2006

I think an external partner taking over the marketing is a good opportunity.

awec

The league could do with bring given a good shake anyway, and this CVC lot surely can’t do any worse than the unions at making the competition something worth taking seriously.

But they can feck off with this North America crap, the league is already overflowing with dross. No more tin pot clubs please.

Neil3030

In before the inevitable announcement of a mid season, multigame supercup tournament to be held in Qatar or Saudi Arabia.

Growth. Or something.

jacothelad

I wonder are they looking to the medium term with the WRC being possibly held in the USA in 2027 /31

irishbucsfan

awec wrote: »

The league could do with bring given a good shake anyway, and this CVC lot surely can’t do any worse than the unions at making the competition something worth taking seriously.

But they can feck off with this North America crap, the league is already overflowing with dross. No more tin pot clubs please.

They could merge Connacht/Ulster and then add a yank team, that way there'd be the same number of minnows

Burkie1203

irishbucsfan wrote: »

They could merge Connacht/Ulster and then add a yank team, that way there'd be the same number of minnows

Remove the Kings and replace them with Munster as the SA entrant

bilston

irishbucsfan wrote: »

They could merge Connacht/Ulster and then add a yank team, that way there'd be the same number of minnows

Feisty

Former Former

Pro14 in its current guise is not a sustainable competition.

These dudes will make a better go of making it attractive and if they don't, at least they've paid the cash up front.

From that perspective, it's a good deal. The devil is in the detail though, what the actual arrangement is, who knows?

MarinersBlues

The fact the pro14 has 60% of the valuation of the Aviva Premiership is interesting.

From listening to people on here I would have thought we weren't any where near half the value.

awec

Former Former wrote: »

Pro14 in its current guise is not a sustainable competition.

These dudes will make a better go of making it attractive and if they don't, at least they've paid the cash up front.

From that perspective, it's a good deal. The devil is in the detail though, what the actual arrangement is, who knows?

The statement says the unions will still make rugby decisions, but given these lads have been happy to buy 30% of the league you would hope they have been given some sort of assurance that changes will be made.

They'll want to make a profit, and it's hard to see how that will be possible if the unions keep going the way they're going.

thomond2006

This money is something Welsh rugby desperately needs. Whether it's used correctly / responsibility is another question.

The Welsh are the big drain on the competition. If 2-3 regions could become playoff contenders it would make a big difference.

PMC83

thomond2006 wrote: »

This money is something Welsh rugby desperately needs. Whether it's used correctly / responsibility is another question.

The Welsh are the big drain on the competition. If 2-3 regions could become playoff contenders it would make a big difference.

Unfortunately Welsh fans are just more interested in the club scene then the regions.Ospreys had what looked like dismal turn out this weekend.

Maybe a bit of success will help fix that but who knows. From talking a a lot of them, they follow their local club and wales, and pretty much skip by whatever region.

awec

PMC83 wrote: »

Unfortunately Welsh fans are just more interested in the club scene then the regions.Ospreys had what looked like dismal turn out this weekend.

Maybe a bit of success will help fix that but who knows. From talking a a lot of them, they follow their local club and wales, and pretty much skip by whatever region.

The Pro14 is a poor, convoluted mess that people in Wales just don't care about. And Ospreys just played a european game with no internationals.

Not hard to see why interest is low.

Squidgy Black

With a windfall sum to each club and the possibility of increased TV revenue if there is say a joint league TV deal etc, does the league need to start looking at a salary cap?

awec

Squidgy Black wrote: »

With a windfall sum to each club and the possibility of increased TV revenue if there is say a joint league TV deal etc, does the league need to start looking at a salary cap?

There is no way the unions would ever agree to a salary cap. It would make things very awkward for them, especially the IRFU.

PMC83

awec wrote: »

The Pro14 is a poor, convoluted mess that people in Wales just don't care about. And Ospreys just played a european game with no internationals.

Not hard to see why interest is low.

Connacht fielded pretty much a second team (Bundee aside) and it was a sell out. I never really bought this business of 'no internationals, no interest'. Follow the team, not the individuals.

Theres no internationals playing for Neath or Ponty Bridge or these clubs, yet a good derby still gets a massive crowd, which is part of the issue I guess.

As you say, the PRO14 is a bit of a mess, and it seems that average welsh rugby fan would rather attend a domestic league game rather then a Pro14 one. Maybe an injection of cash will help this, but I doubt it.

salmocab

Squidgy Black wrote: »

With a windfall sum to each club and the possibility of increased TV revenue if there is say a joint league TV deal etc, does the league need to start looking at a salary cap?

Be a very difficult thing to implement across 5 countries 2 continents and 3 currencies along with at least 2 countries having national deals for players.

thomond2006

Squidgy Black wrote: »

With a windfall sum to each club and the possibility of increased TV revenue if there is say a joint league TV deal etc, does the league need to start looking at a salary cap?

A salary cap would be difficult to create and enforce with central contracts.

OldRio

PMC83 wrote: »

Connacht fielded pretty much a second team (Bundee aside) and it was a sell out. I never really bought this business of 'no internationals, no interest'. Follow the team, not the individuals.

Theres no internationals playing for Neath or Ponty Bridge or these clubs, yet a good derby still gets a massive crowd, which is part of the issue I guess.

As you say, the PRO14 is a bit of a mess, and it seems that average welsh rugby fan would rather attend a domestic league game rather then a Pro14 one. Maybe an injection of cash will help this, but I doubt it.

IMHO. This idea that club rugby gets massive crowds in Wales is a myth. Have a look on S4C or BBC Wales at some of the club games. 10 men and a dog would sum the crowd up.

PMC83

OldRio wrote: »

IMHO. This idea that club rugby gets massive crowds in Wales is a myth. Have a look on S4C or BBC Wales at some of the club games. 10 men and a dog would sum the crowd up.

Ok -probably not 'massive crowds' on every occasion, but from talking to welsh fans they seem to have a better following and are would almost certainly effect crowd sizes at regional games. Seems like the fanbase is some what split

OldRio

PMC83 wrote: »

Don't know about massive crowds, but from talking to welsh fans they seem to have a better following and are would almost certainly effect crowd sizes at regional games.

I think it's just an excuse to be honest. Have a watch on TV.