thomond2006 wrote: » How so?
Former Former wrote: » It's another nail in the coffin for the Pro14 too.
Tigerandahalf wrote: » I wonder how the Ospreys players will be carved up. Will the top tier players move on block to Scarlets and then the lesser lights moved up north to Colwyn Bay. There had been talk of a 2 + 2 approach where presumably the best players would play with Cardiff and Scarlets/Ospreys and then the other 2 would be development sides. The 2 lesser sides would be Welsh union owned with academy players perhaps pushed there. All you can hope is that the community get behind that Colwyn Bay side and fill out the stadium. It is meant to be a beautiful region with nice beaches, from looking online. So it might be a nice trip. Population of the town is 30,000.
MarinersBlues wrote: » Two teams in Leinster more likely. Dublin and then the rest.
errlloyd wrote: » I wonder if without the benefit of the provinces would Ireland have placed their four professional franchises differently. I think Cork at the time probably had a much stronger claim to a professional franchise than Galway.
Neil3030 wrote: » That actually could work in their favour - think of the Munster fans in counties like Kilkenny or Laois, who felt the team represented them more than a team from Dublin.
Eod100 wrote: » Don't doubt it but point is that boundaries not as clearly defined as provinces. Whole region thing gets diluted even more if they're going to make a hybrid of Scarlets and Ospreys. Along with the cutting of squads and upheaval that will cause. I think from outside looking in and probably ignoring the politics of it, Dragons are very lucky to remain in place. Their Pro14 and European record over the years has been pretty dire. Not sure how they're expected to turn that around.
awec wrote: » That so long as theyre no worse than the worst right now that it’s ok. It’s a very low bar. Like the bar is pretty much laying on the ground. The league has no business admitting another team of that standard.
Neil3030 wrote: » People from North Wales know where they are from!
Neil3030 wrote: » I'm curious - what point do you think I was making there?
awec wrote: » The Kings, Zebre and the Dragons? You’re giving us the hard sell, eh?
Eod100 wrote: » Yeah and provinces have advantage of a clearly defined geographical boundary. The tinkering with the Welsh regions seems a mess. Probably a stupid question, but can they not continue on as is?
Neil3030 wrote: » The WRU have struggled to unify a diverse rugby fanbase beneath hastily constructed identities. Irish rugby fans take for granted how important a unifying provincial identity has been in smoothing over the transition from the club to the provincial game, and it still took time. North Wales just need to be as competitive as Kings, Dragons and Zebre to start off, and since they regularly sell out U20s matches in Colwyn Bae (~6k), there is already a fanbase there to build on.
troyzer wrote: » I think the idea with the RCG team is that it'll get significant private investment and effectively be off the books of the WRU.
Neil3030 wrote: » Why?
awec wrote: » Not sure if you're serious or not.
awec wrote: » IRFU to setup a province on the Aran Islands in solidarity.
Neil3030 wrote: » This could actually be a FANTASTIC move and I've been banging this drum for ages! 1. North Wales actually has an identity that the entire region will get behind. 2. You've immediately created an us v them north/south rivalry that will spice up derbies 3. The N Wales team can also claim to be the "real" Welsh team, with the stronger use of the Welsh language up there 4. Ferry to Holyhead and 45minute train ride = plenty of traveling Irish fans!
awec wrote: » Scarlets and Ospreys, the only regions that have ever actually been anything other than a waste of space in this league.
