Pro14 season suspended

[Dave Cahill]

Maybe come up with some new trophy like a league leaders shield or something, but being just awarded the title would be a bit meaningless, for me.

We should really have a 'minor premiership' type trophy anyways, based on final, integrated, league positions

[JB1973]

Maybe come up with some new trophy like a league leaders shield or something, but being just awarded the title would be a bit meaningless, for me.

We should really have a 'minor premiership' type trophy anyways, based on final, integrated, league positions

rugby league has a league shield for the winner of the league then the big one is handed out at the end of the grand final

At the end of the day any side can only win 3 trophys (league , grand final and European trophy) so I'd certainly count topping your league at the end of a domestic season worth a trophy of sorts

[paddyor]

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Fergal Bowers
@FergalBowers
·
8m
French rugby authorities and club presidents have reached an agreement to cancel the current domestic season due to the coronavirus pandemic and concentrate on ensuring the 2020-2021 campaign starts in September.

No idea where to put this but doesn't bode well for the P14.

[joooooe]

It's an option, but it can't work in isolation as the teams won't have any competition income for an entire year Some sort of local competition perhaps over what remains of 2020 - an Irish Interpro series played home and away (which would also take care of the problem of players being unavailable due to refixed international games) with a final in the Aviva and a Welsh-Scots series on similar lines

They may not have a choice whether they play again this year. As I said in my post above, professional rugby isn't financially viable without a paying crowd, preferably one that also buys programmes, pints and replica kits. It costs more to host a game than the revenue that would be achieved without paying customers. If a behind-closed-doors policy is enforced I don't think we'll see much pro rugby at all for much of the rest of the year. It's not nice to hear that.

If that is the case and we're only getting back under way towards the end of this year, why not just play out the rest of the season? If it means we start in October and finish in February, then great - there's suddenly a big window until the summer to play lucrative internationals and inter-pros. If it takes until February or March before any play can resume then just stick to the current timetable.

Re the French league being cancelled to start again, I suspect that has a lot to do with media contracts and insurance. If they had insisted on playing out this season they could be sued by broadcasters for not providing contracted content. If they cancel the season due to an insurable "act of God" then the media contract with the broadcaster is terminated based on Force Majeure (all presumed, btw, I have no insight on this). The reason this is relevant for Pro14 is that Martin Anayi was doing the media rounds the past few weeks saying that he was more confident than ever that this season would be concluded - he wouldn't be saying that if the Pro14 contracts had that "get out" option.

I'm trying to connect the dots and best guess is that they will play out the season when they can.

[Dave Cahill]

I think the word 'isolation' was the wrong one to use as it means something else these days! I mean, it can't work on its own - it needs something else along with it. Apologies for the confusion

[neiliog93]

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Fergal Bowers
@FergalBowers
·
8m
French rugby authorities and club presidents have reached an agreement to cancel the current domestic season due to the coronavirus pandemic and concentrate on ensuring the 2020-2021 campaign starts in September.

No idea where to put this but doesn't bode well for the P14.

Not necessarily bad. The abandonment of the 2019-20 Top 14 season might mean that the play-off rounds of the European Cup can be played in September/October, with say a one-off final for the Top 14 2019-20 title being played between Bordeaux and Lyon on the same weekend as the European Cup quarter-finals (behind closed doors, if necessary).

If any French teams make it to the semi-final/final of the European Cup, they could reschedule the resulting missed game or two from the 2020-21 Top 14 season.

[Angelsea Angst]

Maybe come up with some new trophy like a league leaders shield or something, but being just awarded the title would be a bit meaningless, for me.

We should really have a 'minor premiership' type trophy anyways, based on final, integrated, league positions

rugby league has a league shield for the winner of the league then the big one is handed out at the end of the grand final

At the end of the day any side can only win 3 trophys (league , grand final and European trophy) so I'd certainly count topping your league at the end of a domestic season worth a trophy of sorts

Good idea

[mildlyinterested]

the mail reporting pro 14 to be called off with leinster to get title.

[kermischocolate]

I still think the best (aka least bad) option is to combine this season and next. Have 2019-21 season. Whatever games haven't played are null and void.

Alternatively, award Leinster the title. I get the point that winners are decided by the playoffs system but when you have a team that's been utterly dominant they deserve a reward. Be different if the leaders of each conference had a similar record this year. Playing a random one or two off game months after any other games to decide the title just seems too much like pot luck.

[Jonny tight lips]

Maybe come up with some new trophy like a league leaders shield or something, but being just awarded the title would be a bit meaningless, for me.

We should really have a 'minor premiership' type trophy anyways, based on final, integrated, league positions

Playoffs are bullshit for a league anyway, potentially any of the top 6 teams beating a team who went the year unbeaten in a one off match and then being crowned winners?. It’s really just trading sporting integrity for a pay day to sell tickets to the finals.

[MylesNaGapoleen]

Maybe come up with some new trophy like a league leaders shield or something, but being just awarded the title would be a bit meaningless, for me.

We should really have a 'minor premiership' type trophy anyways, based on final, integrated, league positions

Playoffs are bullshit for a league anyway, potentially any of the top 6 teams beating a team who went the year unbeaten in a one off match and then being crowned winners?. It’s really just trading sporting integrity for a pay day to sell tickets to the finals.

couldn't agree more johnny.

[Dexter]

Maybe come up with some new trophy like a league leaders shield or something, but being just awarded the title would be a bit meaningless, for me.

We should really have a 'minor premiership' type trophy anyways, based on final, integrated, league positions

Playoffs are bullshit for a league anyway, potentially any of the top 6 teams beating a team who went the year unbeaten in a one off match and then being crowned winners?. It’s really just trading sporting integrity for a pay day to sell tickets to the finals.

Yes. Some will say "Well them's the rules" but it's still stupid for a league imho.

[joooooe]

From the pov of sporting integrity, I agree, but there were a couple of seasons before they brought in playoffs where nobody had anything to play for for the last couple of weeks. A lot of dead rubbers. With top 3 of 7 qualifying for playoffs and a further Euro playoff place to play for it ensures a lot more competitive matches at this time of year.

[riocard911]

Things are not looking good for professional rugby. From Gerard Meaghar in today's Grauniad:


Six Nations could be forced behind closed doors following World Rugby guidelines

Games to be played without large crowds until vaccine available
Document casts doubt on completion of Premiership season


https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/ ... cine-found

[LeinsterLeader]

Wasn't really sure were to put this but thought its worth a look so suppose here's as good as anywhere

https://twitter.com/i/status/1257619335847251968

[riocard911]

Merkel and the 16 Länderchefs are having a videoconference today - May 6th - to discuss ongoing easing of the anti-covid-19 rules in Germany. According to all reports in the German press they are expected to - among other things - give a green light for the resumption of the Bundesliga on the 15th or 21th of May in the form of Geisterspiele/ghost games i.e. behind closed doors. Permission is conditional on strict hygiene and quarantine measures being taken and maintained by all squads, security and media personnel. And as we know, the Pro 14 is in contact with the Bundesliga and taking advice from them. Light at the end of the tunnel?....

[riocard911]

Don't rule out us getting that fifth star this season yet!!!

Courtesy of Murray Kinsella and the42.ie:

How many people to deliver a game of rugby? World Rugby reckons 167

The governing body has published a list of the minimum number of stakeholders required.

https://www.the42.ie/world-rugby-167-pe ... 2-May2020/

[riocard911]

Fascinating interview by Gervais in today's IT with World Rugby's head quack re Covid-19:

Dr Éanna Falvey: I would be very surprised if competitive rugby isn't played this year

World Rugby’s chief medical officer on what it will take to get the sport back on track


https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... -1.4246781

[MylesNaGapoleen]

the proposed pro14 resumption and completion of the season for august/sept looks nuts to me, lads.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52591345
decamp the pro14 teams to ireland
play behind closed doors

[Xanthippe]

I wonder how they plan to play the ‘inter pro’ games in Wales when the stadiums have been turned into hospitals