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English rugby plots revolutionary changes to expand new ‘franchise-style’ Premiership

Jimbo said:
See I'd agree completely before last weekend, I bumped into the brother of one of my best child hood friends (and club captain), due to injury he stopped playing recently and is now coaching the seniors he played for, from what he said the grass roots setup locally is actually very popular potentially more popular than when we grew up, since we both stopped playing we both agreed we had a far greater interest in the domestic game than we ever did growing up, I just wonder if a huge part of that is not having a particularly close team geographically, I'm in the south East Quins being my closest club, actually pretty close to where Joe Marler lives, I feel like if there was a local club to get behind it would generate a lot more interest.
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I think this is kind of my point though, you and your mate are already into rugby and the fact he is a coach at grass roots level means there is already somewhat of a rugby following in the area. I honestly dont think putting a team in an area that is a football town/city and no history of rugby would not pull the numbers needed to make it viable, you would have people like yourself and even myself who is short a nearby club after worcester went under, but there arent enough rugby curious or rugby fans in general.

Worcester is a good example, a city with no competing football team, basketball team went bust and a cricket team thats ground is constantly under water, hovered between 5k to 8k atendance despite a good ground, decent history and an excelent academy with home grown stars.

Franchising or expansion wont solve this, the premiership now is for all purposes a franchise model, their is a salary cap, private owners and no actual risk of relegation and there is no ivestment. You need to make it an attractive product first by increasing participation and interest. Personally there should be a big outreach to youth clubs and schools to get it more prominence, and I truly believe one game on free to air TV would do wonders, there is literally no rugby exposure for potential fans who didnt play or arent from a local area outside autum internationals, 6N and WC. Football has such a worldwide profile and extensive grassroots, it can support completly cutting of people from viewing outside subscriptions, rugby just cant, it needs to try and increase the fan base.
 
Booboobang said:
I think this is kind of my point though, you and your mate are already into rugby and the fact he is a coach at grass roots level means there is already somewhat of a rugby following in the area. I honestly dont think putting a team in an area that is a football town/city and no history of rugby would not pull the numbers needed to make it viable, you would have people like yourself and even myself who is short a nearby club after worcester went under, but there arent enough rugby curious or rugby fans in general.

Worcester is a good example, a city with no competing football team, basketball team went bust and a cricket team thats ground is constantly under water, hovered between 5k to 8k atendance despite a good ground, decent history and an excelent academy with home grown stars.

Franchising or expansion wont solve this, the premiership now is for all purposes a franchise model, their is a salary cap, private owners and no actual risk of relegation and there is no ivestment. You need to make it an attractive product first by increasing participation and interest. Personally there should be a big outreach to youth clubs and schools to get it more prominence, and I truly believe one game on free to air TV would do wonders, there is literally no rugby exposure for potential fans who didnt play or arent from a local area outside autum internationals, 6N and WC. Football has such a worldwide profile and extensive grassroots, it can support completly cutting of people from viewing outside subscriptions, rugby just cant, it needs to try and increase the fan base.
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The schedule doesn't help. Having the recognisable England names having to miss rounds for safety reasons is justified but doesn't help build interest.
 
Not necessarily a comment on the English system only, but the schedule really needs to be sorted, it feels more stop-start than ever. I've said it for years, but the domestic season should be played through to completion first, then move onto Europe, then internationals. Maybe keep another international window between domestic/Europe.

The URC is a great example this season with how tight the table is. Interest had really grown, then with only 2 regular season games left there's another break for Europe. It's so back and forth and must be a nightmare for casual fans to keep a track of and maintain interest in either the domestic leagues, or in Europe!
 
Booboobang said:
I think this is kind of my point though, you and your mate are already into rugby and the fact he is a coach at grass roots level means there is already somewhat of a rugby following in the area. I honestly dont think putting a team in an area that is a football town/city and no history of rugby would not pull the numbers needed to make it viable, you would have people like yourself and even myself who is short a nearby club after worcester went under, but there arent enough rugby curious or rugby fans in general.

Worcester is a good example, a city with no competing football team, basketball team went bust and a cricket team thats ground is constantly under water, hovered between 5k to 8k atendance despite a good ground, decent history and an excelent academy with home grown stars.

Franchising or expansion wont solve this, the premiership now is for all purposes a franchise model, their is a salary cap, private owners and no actual risk of relegation and there is no ivestment. You need to make it an attractive product first by increasing participation and interest. Personally there should be a big outreach to youth clubs and schools to get it more prominence, and I truly believe one game on free to air TV would do wonders, there is literally no rugby exposure for potential fans who didnt play or arent from a local area outside autum internationals, 6N and WC. Football has such a worldwide profile and extensive grassroots, it can support completly cutting of people from viewing outside subscriptions, rugby just cant, it needs to try and increase the fan base.
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Yeah what's needed is a multi fasciated plan the FTA exposure is a good one, I wasn't using Brighton as an example of where to place a team, just they have a descent ground and opportunity to drum up some interest and see how that goes, it has pretty good train links with a pretty wide catchment area of people without too much competing sport.
 
Jimbo said:
Yeah what's needed is a multi fasciated plan the FTA exposure is a good one, I wasn't using Brighton as an example of where to place a team, just they have a descent ground and opportunity to drum up some interest and see how that goes, it has pretty good train links with a pretty wide catchment area of people without too much competing sport.
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Is there a rail company other than Thameslink that services Brighton? If not, then your concept of "pretty good train links" falls on its face.
 
BrokenWing said:
Is there a rail company other than Thameslink that services Brighton? If not, then your concept of "pretty good train links" falls on its face.
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Southeastern

Edit: Southwestern derp
 
Last edited:
BrokenWing said:
Is there a rail company other than Thameslink that services Brighton? If not, then your concept of "pretty good train links" falls on its face.
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There all pretty much of a much IMO, if I was to travel there (I know atleast 20 season ticket holders who regularly do) it would be using southern, my point was more that the stations is sensibly situation with only a very short walk, I mean you can find flaws in anything if you look hard enough or you can accept that travel isn't always perfect for an afternoon/day out but make the most of it and realise it could be a lot worse.
 
dullonien said:
Not necessarily a comment on the English system only, but the schedule really needs to be sorted, it feels more stop-start than ever. I've said it for years, but the domestic season should be played through to completion first, then move onto Europe, then internationals. Maybe keep another international window between domestic/Europe.

The URC is a great example this season with how tight the table is. Interest had really grown, then with only 2 regular season games left there's another break for Europe. It's so back and forth and must be a nightmare for casual fans to keep a track of and maintain interest in either the domestic leagues, or in Europe!
Click to expand...
Lot of truth in this. I currently at Coventry waiting for the game to kick off and there have been weeks when there hasn't been any championship games yet Coventry are playing 3 times in May. Absolutely daft.
 
dullonien said:
Not necessarily a comment on the English system only, but the schedule really needs to be sorted, it feels more stop-start than ever. I've said it for years, but the domestic season should be played through to completion first, then move onto Europe, then internationals. Maybe keep another international window between domestic/Europe.

The URC is a great example this season with how tight the table is. Interest had really grown, then with only 2 regular season games left there's another break for Europe. It's so back and forth and must be a nightmare for casual fans to keep a track of and maintain interest in either the domestic leagues, or in Europe!
Click to expand...
Definitely needs sorting.
I sent a suggestion a few years ago.

Aug-end Oct International window including 6N, (6 weeks), 2 week break then RWC window or tours etc, (7 weeks) TOTAL 15 weeks with players max 12 matches.

Domestically
Sept-end Oct Premiership Cup or likewise, (development competition for squad players and academy, effectively playing for squad place, or back to development team)
Nov- end April Premiership (18 matches plus play offs)
May-mid June Euro Club rugby (18 teams 7 matches max)
 
If Coventry play like they are today I absolutely wouldn't want them in some premier franchise 🤣🤣🤣
 
Northampton and Leicester merging makes no sense. These are two of the most popular teams in England. And as others have said, merging them would lose more fans than it gains.
 
Could be some cross pollinating confusion from that weird thread about merging union and league
 
Flankers' paradise said:
reports that Red Bull might be looking to buy newcastle... after what they did for Leipzig everyone had best beware the RB Falcons
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What happened with Leipzig?

On the surface of it that would be great, but I only know redbull from the extreme sports side of their sponsorship where they're more than happy to chuck a ton of money at stuff as long as they can get some cool social media clips or YouTube videos out of it
 

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