Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Todd Blackadder calls for play-offs to be expanded to Top 6.
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="RedruthRFC" data-source="post: 905327" data-attributes="member: 58362"><p>I don't think it's reasonable to write off the idea based on Super League in the same way that the success of other ring fenced leagues can't be taken in isolation to prove that ring fencing is the way forward. I take your point about keeping the competition alive, but how much worse would it be than the current status quo? Last season, the top 8 teams were all within a shout for a playoff spot as the end of the season approached, in a ten team league, this would have been 80%, not half. In theory, the reduction to 10 sides would result in greater strength across the board, so an even more competitive league overall. As it was, the threat of relegation did little to keep the competition alive at the bottom of the table as Irish were so far in the mire.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>As a member of the board with no particular allegiance to any side (although I will admit to keeping an eye on Exeter as that's where all the Cornish talent ends up these days) and no particular malice against any side, I like to think I'm pretty objective. That being the case, I can't comprehend the difficulty in understanding why Worcester being in line from exclusion from a ten team league is hard to comprehend! My way of looking at the question would be to ask which two teams would make better candidates. The disparity in crowds among the bottom sides (Newcastle averaged more than Worcester but this may have been skewed by their trip to the football) isn't so huge as to serve as a massive bargaining chip to my mind, meaning that geographical distribution is a much more important factor. I think you underestimate the importance of the development pathway that a Premiership side in a region provides - would we be talking about the Curry brothers now is Sale weren't in the Premiership? Where as any Worcester talent could be easily absorbed by near by academies.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RedruthRFC, post: 905327, member: 58362"] I don't think it's reasonable to write off the idea based on Super League in the same way that the success of other ring fenced leagues can't be taken in isolation to prove that ring fencing is the way forward. I take your point about keeping the competition alive, but how much worse would it be than the current status quo? Last season, the top 8 teams were all within a shout for a playoff spot as the end of the season approached, in a ten team league, this would have been 80%, not half. In theory, the reduction to 10 sides would result in greater strength across the board, so an even more competitive league overall. As it was, the threat of relegation did little to keep the competition alive at the bottom of the table as Irish were so far in the mire. As a member of the board with no particular allegiance to any side (although I will admit to keeping an eye on Exeter as that's where all the Cornish talent ends up these days) and no particular malice against any side, I like to think I'm pretty objective. That being the case, I can't comprehend the difficulty in understanding why Worcester being in line from exclusion from a ten team league is hard to comprehend! My way of looking at the question would be to ask which two teams would make better candidates. The disparity in crowds among the bottom sides (Newcastle averaged more than Worcester but this may have been skewed by their trip to the football) isn't so huge as to serve as a massive bargaining chip to my mind, meaning that geographical distribution is a much more important factor. I think you underestimate the importance of the development pathway that a Premiership side in a region provides - would we be talking about the Curry brothers now is Sale weren't in the Premiership? Where as any Worcester talent could be easily absorbed by near by academies. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Todd Blackadder calls for play-offs to be expanded to Top 6.
Top