General Rugby Discussion II

sydthebeat wrote: »

French rugby clubs taking a case to the European commission in regards to world rugby and regulation 9

The legal document received in Brussels is hundreds of pages long. LNR has been working with the American law firm, Jones Day. Its case is that Regulation 9 is anti-competitive. The document contains an extensive catalogue of alleged abuses of competition law by World Rugby.

From:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/disgruntled-french-clubs-mount-legal-challenge-to-world-rugbys-authority-tm50856g6?t=ie

What is regulation 9?

Luther Burrell was released from his Warrington (RL) contract. Would be a good signing for a Pro14 team.

Champions Cup semi-final details out:


2019/20 semi-finals – dates and kick-off times
Wednesday 16th September 2020


12:00 pm (GMT)

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2019/20 semi-finals – dates and kick-off times
Last season's semi-final at the Aviva Stadium between Leinster Rugby and Toulouse

Ahead of the much-anticipated Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup knockout stages, EPCR is pleased to announce the dates, kick-off times and TV coverage for the semi-final matches in both tournaments.

The winners of the Leinster Rugby v Saracens and the ASM Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92 Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals will meet in the semi-final on Saturday, 26 September live on BT Sport with additional free-to-air coverage on Channel 4 and Virgin Media.

The second semi-final, also on Saturday, 26 September and also live on BT Sport, will feature the winners of the Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints and Toulouse v Ulster Rugby quarter-finals.

On an exceptional basis to facilitate the conclusion of the season, EPCR can confirm that the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage in the semi-finals. (See permutations below).

In the Challenge Cup, the winners of the Bristol Bears v Dragons and Bordeaux-Bègles v Edinburgh Rugby quarter-finals will play one another on Friday, 25 September while the winners of the RC Toulon v Scarlets and Leicester Tigers v Castres Olympique quarter-finals will meet on Saturday, 26 September.

The highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage as per the traditional Challenge Cup format.

Non-rights media (print, radio, online and photographic) should note that accreditation requests for this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-final matches will be managed by the home clubs.



HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINALS – Saturday 26 September

SF 1: Winner Leinster Rugby/Saracens v winner ASM Clermont Auvergne/Racing 92
Kick-off: 13.00 UK-Irish time or 14.00 French time
TV: BT Sport/Channel 4/Virgin Media/beIN SPORTS/FR 2

SF 2: Winner Exeter Chiefs/Northampton Saints v winner Toulouse/Ulster Rugby
Kick-off: 15.30 UK-Irish time or 16.30 French time
TV: BT Sport/FR 2/beIN SPORTS

Semi-final 1
If Leinster Rugby (ranked No 1) and ASM Clermont Auvergne (ranked No 4) win their quarter-finals, Leinster will have home venue advantage

If Leinster (ranked No 1) and Racing 92 (ranked No 5) win their quarter-finals, Leinster will have home venue advantage

If ASM Clermont Auvergne (ranked No 4) and Saracens (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Clermont will have home venue advantage

If Racing 92 (ranked No 5) and Saracens (ranked No 8) win their quarter-finals, Racing will have home venue advantage

Semi-final 2
If Exeter Chiefs (ranked No 2) and Toulouse (ranked No 3) win their quarter-finals, Exeter will have home venue advantage

If Exeter Chiefs (ranked No 2) and Ulster Rugby (ranked No 6) win their quarter-finals, Exeter will have home venue advantage

If Toulouse (ranked No 3) and Northampton Saints (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Toulouse will have home venue advantage

If Ulster Rugby (ranked No 6) and Northampton Saints (ranked No 7) win their quarter-finals, Ulster will have home venue advantage


https://www.epcrugby.com/2020/09/16/2019-20-semi-finals-dates-and-times/

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Just noticed "Baz and Andrew's house of rugby" podcast is back as "Potholes and Penguins". What's the story with the penguin stuff? It's a bit cringe

Was what they used to call their followers in their Facebook page or something, agree it's way too much at times.

Also the parent company for Joe are sueing James Haskell and Mike Tindall for breaking away and creating their own version of the UK House of Rugby Podcast interestingly enough.

Think Haskell gets a hard time personally. Lad has a personality and speaks his mind unlike 99% of other rugby players who are boring, media-trained animals.

Find his podcast a hell of a lot better then that Baz and Andrew crap. Although Alex Payne’s fawning over every guest is getting a bit too much.

Philip Brown on the future of professional rugby in Ireland. He's not optimistic.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne has warned that the professional game here could cease to exist by next year if supporters continue to be locked out of stadiums due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0918/1165992-browne-pro-rugby-in-ireland-could-be-gone-by-next-year/

The sports going to become unwatchable with these penalty counts

Why is the IRFU's budget such a point of bitterness for Welsh rugby fans and journalists? Seen some comments in twitter talking about how bad Leinster's loss was when you consider their budget is higher than a lot of sides.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

IRFU's budget? That same budget that has to use Irish qualification to keep players at home?

What I mean is, they believe any Irish success is down to the money spent and any failure is leapt upon because so much money was spent for nothing. It's definitely odd when you consider that 80-90% of the players at the provinces are home grown. Maybe they think they shouldn't be spending so much to keep them?

I'm trying to lock down what they actually mean, but so far I've not come close.

Clegg wrote: »

Why is the IRFU's budget such a point of bitterness for Welsh rugby fans and journalists? Seen some comments in twitter talking about how bad Leinster's loss was when you consider their budget is higher than a lot of sides.

Simon Thomas?

The UK government has advised that the current batch of Covid restrictions will likely last for 6 months which means that the planned return of spectators to rugby grounds is 'indefinitely on hold'.

Premiership rugby is in big trouble given how most clubs were already in the red with fans attending.

With the stark warnings coming out from the IRFU and the perilous financial position of most EPL clubs I fear the worst. TV money can only cover so much.

A reduction in the number of professional clubs in these islands could happen. Other clubs going semi pro or reverting back to amateur status.

An Irish/British league might happen by default. But who will be left to play in it. I know this is a bit of a doomsday scenario but we may be left with no choice.