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<blockquote data-quote="snoopy snoopy dog dog" data-source="post: 157965"><p>A British and Irish League would have huge financial clout but would decrease the importance of the Heineken Cup. I'd advocate going one step forward and the creation of a European Super League. There'd be something in it for all 6 participating countries and potentially other nations too. </p><p></p><p>Say we have a 36 team league, a 22 game season, followed by 12 team playoffs and a split like this:</p><p></p><p>France - 13 teams</p><p>England - 12 teams</p><p>Wales - 4 teams</p><p>Ireland - 3 teams</p><p>Scotland - 2 teams</p><p>Italy - 2 teams</p><p></p><p>Here are the gains (and losses) for each founder nation:</p><p></p><p><strong>France</strong></p><p>At the expense of one Top 14 team, the other French clubs gain by adding crowd pullers like Leicester, Munster and Cardiff to their ranks. Clubs like Biarritz, Toulouse, Bourgoin and Stade Francais have all shown a willingness to move games to bigger stadia in Europe which would add additional sources of revenue. Biarritz have played in Spain while Bourgoin travelled to Switzerland which could help expand the rugby gospel to other nations. The Top 14 in it's current guise is only about 2 years old so changing an old structure isn't an issue.</p><p></p><p><strong>England</strong></p><p><strong></strong>It is possible for top Premiership players to play about 45 games per season (between the GP, Playoffs, HCup, EDF Cup and internationals). The new format would reduce that number by about a quarter while each team in still guaranteed 11, if not more, home games. The value of TV rights and sponsorship should more than make up the shortfall of, perhaps, three lost home games per year, while guaranteed inclusion in the League year upon year will banish relegation and secure the clubs' future.</p><p></p><p><strong>Wales</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Wales currently play disinterested Irish teams in the ML and equally disinterested English teams in the EDF Cup. Their only source of consistently meaningful games in the Heikeken Cup. The new league would significantly boost the amount of meaningful games for the regions, and thus would help win over those sceptical about the regionalisation of Welsh rugby ie meaningful games = a reason to show up. Wales lose nothing in this plan.</p><p></p><p><strong>Ireland</strong></p><p><strong></strong>A by-product of the IRFU accepting an invitation to such a league is that Connacht will be axed. It's a small price to pay (unless you're a Connacht fan). Existing Connacht players could be dispersed among the other provinces. A uniformal European leagus would mean that it's of no additional benefit for players to remain in Ireland, thus players could make the move abroad and expand the playing base, despite Connacht's disappearance. Leinster and Munster would have no problem filling their stadia on a weekly basis. That would increase revenue for the IRFU to put into growing the game at grassroots level and funding a new 8 to 10 team All Ireland League (along the lines of the ARC or Air New Zealand Cup) as a genuine pathway to the pro game.</p><p></p><p><strong>Scotland</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Scotland is much the same as Ireland in that fans will show up (relatively speaking) for the bigger games. It provides their two regions with regular meaningful action and can spur greater growth in the game at home.</p><p></p><p><strong>Italy</strong></p><p>Italy have the most reorganising to do. Ireland, Wales and Scotland have condensed their representative scene and Italy should be obliged to follow suit. Two teams (be it existing teams or new sides based in Milan, Rome, Bologna or Parma) should enter the league. It could open up a can of worms for authorities but if Wales could manage it, anyone can! By condensing their player base into two sides, Italian rugby should benefit through regularly playing at a higher standard. It may also result in the current exodus of Italian talent to France and England being reversed.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Having 36 teams would by no means be set in stone. Much like the NFL (upon which this model is loosely based), there is the possibility of expansion into the "disenfranchised" areas (like Connacht, regions of France and Italy) or newer territories like a full time team in Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Bucharest, Tblisi, Moscow, Geneva, Berlin, Prague etc. Relocation could be an option for uncompetitive franchises (which is horrible for those fans who lose a team but, looking at the bigger picture, would be the right move. At present it's unlikely that a Georgian or Romanian club team will ever become a European superpower - this proposal could change that in one fell swoop.</p><p></p><p>Along with expanding the 6 Nations into a European international league, a revamped and greatly empowered Heineken Cup (or ERC or whatever you want to call it) would have the clout to enter the consciousness of new rugby followers in previously impenetrable territories such as Germany. It would also speed up the progress of tier 2 and 3 nations like Portugal, Georgia and Romania (assuming they're allocated franchises in the initial expansion phase). Should somebody show the foresight to propose such a competition, rugby would never look back.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="snoopy snoopy dog dog, post: 157965"] A British and Irish League would have huge financial clout but would decrease the importance of the Heineken Cup. I'd advocate going one step forward and the creation of a European Super League. There'd be something in it for all 6 participating countries and potentially other nations too. Say we have a 36 team league, a 22 game season, followed by 12 team playoffs and a split like this: France - 13 teams England - 12 teams Wales - 4 teams Ireland - 3 teams Scotland - 2 teams Italy - 2 teams Here are the gains (and losses) for each founder nation: [b]France[/b] At the expense of one Top 14 team, the other French clubs gain by adding crowd pullers like Leicester, Munster and Cardiff to their ranks. Clubs like Biarritz, Toulouse, Bourgoin and Stade Francais have all shown a willingness to move games to bigger stadia in Europe which would add additional sources of revenue. Biarritz have played in Spain while Bourgoin travelled to Switzerland which could help expand the rugby gospel to other nations. The Top 14 in it's current guise is only about 2 years old so changing an old structure isn't an issue. [b]England [/b]It is possible for top Premiership players to play about 45 games per season (between the GP, Playoffs, HCup, EDF Cup and internationals). The new format would reduce that number by about a quarter while each team in still guaranteed 11, if not more, home games. The value of TV rights and sponsorship should more than make up the shortfall of, perhaps, three lost home games per year, while guaranteed inclusion in the League year upon year will banish relegation and secure the clubs' future. [b]Wales [/b]Wales currently play disinterested Irish teams in the ML and equally disinterested English teams in the EDF Cup. Their only source of consistently meaningful games in the Heikeken Cup. The new league would significantly boost the amount of meaningful games for the regions, and thus would help win over those sceptical about the regionalisation of Welsh rugby ie meaningful games = a reason to show up. Wales lose nothing in this plan. [b]Ireland [/b]A by-product of the IRFU accepting an invitation to such a league is that Connacht will be axed. It's a small price to pay (unless you're a Connacht fan). Existing Connacht players could be dispersed among the other provinces. A uniformal European leagus would mean that it's of no additional benefit for players to remain in Ireland, thus players could make the move abroad and expand the playing base, despite Connacht's disappearance. Leinster and Munster would have no problem filling their stadia on a weekly basis. That would increase revenue for the IRFU to put into growing the game at grassroots level and funding a new 8 to 10 team All Ireland League (along the lines of the ARC or Air New Zealand Cup) as a genuine pathway to the pro game. [b]Scotland [/b]Scotland is much the same as Ireland in that fans will show up (relatively speaking) for the bigger games. It provides their two regions with regular meaningful action and can spur greater growth in the game at home. [b]Italy[/b] Italy have the most reorganising to do. Ireland, Wales and Scotland have condensed their representative scene and Italy should be obliged to follow suit. Two teams (be it existing teams or new sides based in Milan, Rome, Bologna or Parma) should enter the league. It could open up a can of worms for authorities but if Wales could manage it, anyone can! By condensing their player base into two sides, Italian rugby should benefit through regularly playing at a higher standard. It may also result in the current exodus of Italian talent to France and England being reversed. Having 36 teams would by no means be set in stone. Much like the NFL (upon which this model is loosely based), there is the possibility of expansion into the "disenfranchised" areas (like Connacht, regions of France and Italy) or newer territories like a full time team in Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Bucharest, Tblisi, Moscow, Geneva, Berlin, Prague etc. Relocation could be an option for uncompetitive franchises (which is horrible for those fans who lose a team but, looking at the bigger picture, would be the right move. At present it's unlikely that a Georgian or Romanian club team will ever become a European superpower - this proposal could change that in one fell swoop. Along with expanding the 6 Nations into a European international league, a revamped and greatly empowered Heineken Cup (or ERC or whatever you want to call it) would have the clout to enter the consciousness of new rugby followers in previously impenetrable territories such as Germany. It would also speed up the progress of tier 2 and 3 nations like Portugal, Georgia and Romania (assuming they're allocated franchises in the initial expansion phase). Should somebody show the foresight to propose such a competition, rugby would never look back. [/QUOTE]
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