Champions Cup 2024

AdamD

The average Irish international isn't making 500k, I also doubt rugby salaries have gone up in the last few years. JIFF rules in France and the Premiership falling apart hasn't exactly applied upward pressure on Irish clubs to pay more.

Do you think Jimmy O'Brien, Joe McCarthy, Ronan Kelleher, Jack Conan, Cian Healy, Ross Byrne etc. are on 500k?

For the record I'm sure Leinster have a large wage bill, in line with the biggest in Europe.

sydthebeat

Donal Lenihan mentioned a few months ago that the player budget for Ulster, Munster and leinster were all in around 10M and Connacht were 6M

now, ive no idea where he got this info from, im just passing on what he said.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122008794#Comment_122008794

ruck.co.uk report that the URC Clubs in Ireland have an estimated player salary cap of €7.7 (similar to the English Premiership)

That figure must be excluding the Central Contracts and even then is seems to be massively understated. But anyone trying to compare squad budgets and not including Central Contacts is trying to a but of smoke and mirrors accounting.

An Irish Province must be touching on 40+ players in their squads, €8m/40 = €200k, I'm not buy it at all that Irish provinces are running their squad on €8m

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122008794#Comment_122008794

If you get a 50% budget increase for getting promoted, but get battered into oblivion every game, what becomes of your budget when you get relegated again? I can't find any specifics on if the ProD2 salary cap is any different or if the 10.7 million max applies to all pro clubs. You have to honour your staff's contracts, in any case.

Clegg

Definitely not the strongest side the Bulls could have selected.

https://twitter.com/BlueBullsRugby/status/1778742795693404173?t=OrtvvfO3meC0udv5hhqrtg&s=09

sydthebeat

What a shame

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122008794#Comment_122008794

Where are you getting 11.3? I've seen a few different ones from 10 to 10.7.

7.7 is low even for Ulster i'd say. Its ludicrous for Leinster.

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122009017#Comment_122009017

When you look at the rosters of Leinster, Ulster, and Munster that would mean that a lot of players on leinster who are pretty much universally considered to be equivalent or better players than their counterparts in other rosters are getting well well underpaid. Seems unlikely to me.

Unless that doesn't include central deals in which case, leinster would be at 14-15m total.

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122008590#Comment_122008590

I'd guess 12-14 but its just a guess. No figures are public.

pickarooney

It's all falling nicely for Northampton.

Ribs1234

is it because SA sides don’t get any prize money in semi finals / final or share of the profits? No point competing if that’s true but they need to play this weekend's match. Law of unintended consequences

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122011126#Comment_122011126

Should make a potential semi final easier at least...

Burkie1203

THat Ospreys jersey yikes

OldRio

It has been reported that the EPCR are going to investigate the Bulls team selection v Northampton. If this is true the hypocrisy is off the charts.

Clegg

Bit premature.

What if the Bulls actually win?

Exclamation Marc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122013328#Comment_122013328

Can't see the EPCR being able to do anything about it.

It's common for so many teams to send second or third string teams out in the pool stages that you'd have to punish every team that does it if you're going to do it once.

OldRio

I agree. Utter madness.

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122013328#Comment_122013328

Depends what they are investigating and what the grounds are; is there suggestion of corruption or a payoff, or is there a breach of contract if teams entering have signed up and committed to not throwing playoff matches?

Pool matches should be treated as a separate type of match.

If any team in the playoffs put out a second string side could there be a public reprimand, or potentially even a points deduction in the following campaign?

Exclamation Marc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122013892#Comment_122013892

But why? A team are free to select who they want. And how on earth do you police that?

If anything it's more egregious in the pool stage as its an uninvolved team that suffers when a team puts a weak selection out.

Burkie1203

Quins flying so far

Podge_irl

That's a crazy start in Bordeaux. 0-14 and a YC for the next 10 minutes. Bordeaux have it in them to come back from this, but can't imagine anyone saw this coming.

Quins making ground in midfield for fun.

fitz

Bad call in the Quins v Bordeaux match. The camera angle from the sidelines showed the ball went through both his hands… I think he was in a realistic position to intercept the ball, he just made a mess of it. Penalty try/YC is harsh imo.

ulsteru20s

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122013892#Comment_122013892

Did Lyon send a full strength team to them last week? I don't think they did but not sure.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122014311#Comment_122014311

Ah I don't think he ever had a hope of getting that ball. Whether he was in a reasonable position is one thing, but he was never going to be able to catch it with his hand positioning. I think a PT is fair.

Burkie1203

Ben KAY wanting that given as a penalty lol

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122013923#Comment_122013923

it depends on the amount of money the Bulls stand to gain by playing in a quarter final versus playing in a pool match, and what is stipulated in their contract with the EPCR for a playoff match.

The Champions Cup is a product sold for tickets, advertising and TV deals. If a contracted team doesn’t take the playoffs seriously it affects the value of the product. Playoffs are far more valuable matches than pool matches. The question is, are there terms and conditions when teams participate in the competition? If a team selects an entirely second string team in a quarter final there has to be something up. It might be that they are investigating what the reasons are for doing that with a view to corruption. Has a dodgy decision been made by someone and they want to find out who is responsible?

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122014328#Comment_122014328

I thought so too until that sideline angle, where it looked like he just mistimed it. It's not the worst call, but I still think it's a harsh one.

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122014353#Comment_122014353

The commentary is insufferable. A trip and they describe it as the player "tumbling over".

This is it

Did amazing to stop that if it's not a try

fitz

That should be a try.