Pro14 Season 2019-2020

Cookiemunster

Just revert back to Pro 12 for this season. It's looking like Cheetahs and Kings are going to be binned anyway.

Dog Botherer

Burkie1203 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/nkosi_milton/status/1282375153289240577?s=19


https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1282381866968977410?s=19

doubt we’ll see any South African rugby this year

shootermacg

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Just revert back to Pro 12 for this season. It's looking like Cheetahs and Kings are going to be binned anyway.

I think the Cheetahs could feel hard done by if that's the case. They've been worth their spot this season.

connachta

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Just revert back to Pro 12 for this season. It's looking like Cheetahs and Kings are going to be binned anyway.

Yes Pro12 now more likely than Pro16 for now... Home and away games anyway

thomond2006

Sione Kalamafoni signing for Scarlets from Leicester.

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/SARugbymag/status/1283998362719735808?s=19

Burkie1203

Ominous

https://twitter.com/ultimaterugby/status/1285554654592598016?s=19

Dog Botherer

yep, not surprising. probably looking at late spring/early summer 2021 before anything gets going in SA.

Eod100

Fixtures out https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/1285907500173328384?s=19

bilston

Eod100 wrote: »

Fixtures out https://twitter.com/PRO14Official/status/1285907500173328384?s=19

So do we just forget about the Cheetahs and Kings?

Were the Cheetahs not in the running for a play off spot?

Eod100

bilston wrote: »

So do we just forget about the Cheetahs and Kings?

Were the Cheetahs not in the running for a play off spot?

More detail in the link:

''At this point, no dates have been fixed for the Guinness PRO14 derby games between the Toyota Cheetahs and the Isuzu Southern Kings. Due to the current conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa, both teams have only been allowed to return to non-contact training this week. PRO14 Rugby remains in constant dialogue with SA Rugby and the clubs and aim to identify appropriate dates for the two derbies when possible.''

bilston

Well I'll just be grateful for some Irish rugby. The NZ comp has been fine, but when you have little knowledge of most players and no connection to the team's it can be a hard enough watch sometimes.

It will be odd without spectators, even with a few hundred it will be a bit strange.

Cookiemunster

bilston wrote: »

So do we just forget about the Cheetahs and Kings?

Were the Cheetahs not in the running for a play off spot?

The play offs have been reduced to just the two semis and the final so only the top two from each conference goes into the knockouts. They're already out of it as they can't catch Ulster in second.

bilston

Spectators can attend outdoor sporting events in Northern Ireland from tomorrow. Given that North and South have followed a fairly similar path for lockdown easements this might increase the chance of some spectators getting to attend the August Inter Pros.

bilston

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The play offs have been reduced to just the two semis and the final so only the top two from each conference goes into the knockouts. They're already out of it as they can't catch Ulster in second.

Fair point.

salmocab

bilston wrote: »

Spectators can attend outdoor sporting events in Northern Ireland from tomorrow. Given that North and South have followed a fairly similar path for lockdown easements this might increase the chance of some spectators getting to attend the August Inter Pros.

I’d suspect they will leave it behind closed doors regardless to get the playing side of things right first before adding the extra element. Might mean the actual clubs brining a few Extra along though.

bilston

It seems likely that the Edinburgh v Glasgow game at Murrayfield in August could be used as a test event for allowing spectators back into Scottish sports grounds.

Too easy to make jokes about this...but on a serious point it would be great to see fans back...Still think there is a long way to go before we even get to late August though in terms of Covid.

Clegg

https://twitter.com/thepaulwilliams/status/1290302192826699776?s=19

connachta

Clegg wrote: »

https://twitter.com/thepaulwilliams/status/1290302192826699776?s=19

Well Connact beasts Aki, Robb and Daly are not the least afraid by the old Roberts :cool:

thomond2006

Clegg wrote: »

https://twitter.com/thepaulwilliams/status/1290302192826699776?s=19

A good marketing signing but Roberts is years' past his best.

connachta

Do you think Celtic Rugby is re-inforced long-term or not, compared to others?

I think Welsh Rugby is, despite WRU finances, a huge threat

- Scarlets still competive as the most popular and regular team
- Cardiff has had a very decent squad for years, it will work out in the end
- Dragons recruited heavily with WRU takeover
- Ospreys big investor money will be seen later


Edinburgh rise is Glasgow loss, overall a thin reserve in Scottish rugby

In Ireland, strategy in place to move lots of players from Leinster to other provinces is paying off, without weakening them IMO
Munster and Ulster are competitive on the paper, let's see how Connacht develop very young but promising talents

bilston

So sport has been banned for two weeks in Kildare, Laois and Offaly. If that were to be extended to Dublin does that mean the Inter Pros will be cancelled? Or will there will be special dispensation for professional teams who have been tested reasonably regularly?

Could they be moved to Limerick, Belfast or Galway in such a scenario?

The Lost Sheep

bilston wrote: »

So sport has been banned for two weeks in Kildare, Laois and Offaly. If that were to be extended to Dublin does that mean the Inter Pros will be cancelled? Or will there will be special dispensation for professional teams who have been tested reasonably regularly?

Could they be moved to Limerick, Belfast or Galway in such a scenario?

Dispensation would be granted i imagine. Despite the ban in place this weekend there is still racing going ahead in the Curragh on Sunday

Sheep Shagger

bilston wrote: »

So sport has been banned for two weeks in Kildare, Laois and Offaly. If that were to be extended to Dublin does that mean the Inter Pros will be cancelled? Or will there will be special dispensation for professional teams who have been tested reasonably regularly?

Could they be moved to Limerick, Belfast or Galway in such a scenario?

Professional sports teams can still train in the affected counties.

Interpros would still go ahead....they are behind closed doors and for the players and staff is 'work'.

Burkie1203

Some scottish football matches are off this weekend, in Celtics case a player travelled to spain and said nothing about it.

Cookiemunster

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Some scottish football matches are off this weekend, in Celtics case a player travelled to spain and said nothing about it.

Aberdeen and Celtics next two fixtures postponed. It's all about players breaking the rules. 8 Aberdeen players went to a bar drinking and 2 got the virus. Their game last weekend was postponed too.

Not really relevant to the Pro14 TBH, unless Glasgow and Edinburgh players do similar.

EDIT It seems that these postponements aren't for safety reasons (all Celtic players have been tested twice and are clear), they're punishment from Nicola Sturgeon. Deflecting from others issues affecting her government me thinks. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53729449

Burkie1203

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Aberdeen and Celtics next two fixtures postponed. It's all about players breaking the rules. 8 Aberdeen players went to a bar drinking and 2 got the virus. Their game last weekend was postponed too.

Not really relevant to the Pro14 TBH, unless Glasgow and Edinburgh players do similar.

EDIT It seems that these postponements aren't for safety reason, they're punishment from Nicola Sturgeon. Deflecting from others issues affectimg her government me thinks.

It has implications for pro14/HC with cross border travel though. If that's the line they take.

Cookiemunster

Burkie1203 wrote: »

It has implications for pro14/HC with cross border travel though. If that's the line they take.

There is no medical reason to postpone these games as everyone involved from the two clubs has been tested since and is clear. This is a political stunt to deflect from her handling of the school grades scandal. Rugby doesn't have the same profile, so won't get the same treatment.

Burkie1203

Cookiemunster wrote: »

There is no medical reason to postpone these games as everyone involved from the two clubs has been tested since and is clear. This is a political stunt to deflect from her handling of the school grades scandal. Rugby doesn't have the same profile, so won't get the same treatment.

I dont do conspiracy theories.

Some UEFA Europa league games are getting called off too between teams from small nations as a result of a few positive tests.

Cookiemunster

Burkie1203 wrote: »

I dont do conspiracy theories.

Some UEFA Europa league games are getting called off too between teams from small nations as a result of a few positive tests.

There's one game postponed between Linfield and Drita from Kosovo because a player tested positive yesterday. The game had already been moved to Switzerland due to the case numbers in Kosovo. Atletico Madrid had two positive cases, but tested the rest of the squad, got the all clear and traveled to Portugal to play their CL match.

Positive tests are not the reason that the SPL games are off. The First Minister has stated that she wanted them off as punishment for the players actions. That's not a conspiracy theory, it's what she actually said.
From the article I linked above.

At her daily briefing earlier on Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon said that "as a minimum, you should not be expecting to see Aberdeen or Celtic play in the coming week."
She added: "Consider today the yellow card. The next time it will be the red card because you will leave us with absolutely no choice."