Pro14 Season 2019-2020

connachta wrote: »

So again any team but Connacht favored

Give it a rest. International travel and cross border competitions are pretty much a no go right now.

Whats your solution?

thelad95 wrote: »

Surely a more equitable way would be to just fast forward to the inevitable Leinster v Edinburgh final anyway? Ravenhill being a fair neutral ground

I reckon holding some derbies would be to placate TV companies possibly

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Philip Browne says the CVC deal is worth £30m to Irish rugby paid over 3 years. £5m paid up front. He also confirms behind closed doors interpros at the Aviva on August 22/23.

The 5m is just a drop in the ocean really. Leinster missing 2 paydays in the Aviva is approx €1.5m on top of over €3m in lost STH sales

Below are some of the comments from Browne last Friday. The games in August going ahead followed by a new season beginning in September is fairly critical. The CVC money is only going to cover some of the losses going by what Browne said. Browne was also quoted by one of the Journos saying players wages could be at risk along with wider squad budgets also getting squeezed. If I can find the exact quote I will post.


_______________________________________________

As things stand, the IRFU have incurred losses amounting to €7-10 million in the current financial year, which ends in April, according to Browne. “The loss of the Italian game to us directly was probably €3.5 to €4 million. In revenues from the Six Nations you could be talking another million or so for that particular match. Then the French match is a loss again of more revenue out of the central Six Nations pot. Certainly we’re looking at anything between €7 and €10 million.” Nor, he confirmed, are these losses covered by insurance.

The IRFU is deemed bigger than a small or medium business enterprise. “The big issue is cash, and we’re ‘the bank of last resort’ if you like for the provinces. We have a cash problem but equally the four provinces are going to have cash problems, some more substantial than others. So we have to think of them and we have to think of the clubs as well.”

So when does the Union’s cash flow problem become critical? “If this runs into next season then we’ve a real problem, and not only us but every other rugby Union has a real problem, along with the clubs in England and France.” “We need a clear line of sight as to when this can be resolved, and we need it quickly to be honest,” says Browne. “If it was going to start in September, well that’s fine, we’ve a clear line of sight and we can manage that. If we get to September and there’s still no clear line of sight well then we’ve got a problem.”

connachta wrote: »

You can imagine

4 Irish
3 SA
2 Ita


4 Welsh
3 SA
2 Sco

And the other way round the year after
that's a possibility


Any home and away fixtures would be fairer to what we have anyway

Can't see the unions giving up the derbies.

There is too much money being lost at the moment and in a year from now when crowds are back at games they will want home and away derbies.

No way the Welsh will agree to 2 Italians in a group with the Irish while they have the 2 Scottish teams. Or vice versa

Digifriendly wrote: »

How many fans travel to S. Africa for games and vice versa as Pro 14 stands? We should be looking to a British Isles League instead, Also who knows how long this pandemic will last and Wales Online article even hints that Super Rugby matches next year may not take place due to travel restrictions.

Aus and NZ teams will only be allowed play each other as it currently stands hence the potential push for SA teams to move north and Jaguares allowing all players leave.

Starting a Pro18 in mid/late January to run until september with 6n pushed back slightly makes sense. However we don't know how travel restrictions may impact teams from Italy and South Africa yet either.



The pro14 season 19/20 seems set to be ended quite quickly in any circumstance in August and early September. My guess is derby matches would be easier to get the go ahead from local authorities. Philip Browne said last week IRFU have submitted plans to Irish health authorities for inter pros in August and are awaiting feedback. Also the world rugby list for reducing contact is an effort to speed up the games return to action



This would be followed by ending the champions cup in October.

Then a host of international rugby games until the end of November, last season's 6n and either SH teams get to travel north or else more 6n teams


That seems to be The plan for now. It also takes 6 weeks based on medical advice to get players back upto speed so they need to be in full training in early July if August 22nd is a realistic target.