Will there ever be a British league in rugby Union.

[stevenp]

Will there ever be a British league in rugby union.

Never say never, a good idea, but unlikely.

 

[stevenp]

It has it merits but probably not enough to convince the English premiership clubs to make it a reality.

It may well be a way for English premiership to get out of its current financial mess larger TV deals ect although a few clubs that would be in the top flight of English only rugby top tier many a season would be squeezed out by some of the teams from Wales, Scotland, Ireland in a British league top flight.

Wales Scotland Ireland clubs teams would benefit and be up far for it.
The question is will the English clubs teams franchises be up for it and without English involvement it is a none starter.

Ps Some Welsh clubs are baffled that their clubs plays more matches in Bloemfontein in South Africa thousands of miles away than in Bristol in England which is 38 miles from the Welsh border.

Nice idea unlikely to happen.

Your thoughts on this idea if you have any.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Very interested to hear how Irish clubs benefit...

 

[McTallshort]

Very interested to hear how Irish clubs benefit...

Great watching Athy V Carlow on Sunday

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Great watching Athy V Carlow on Sunday

Try playing against them for a college team, you'd want them burned to the ground!

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Very interested to hear how Irish clubs benefit...

eventually the cost of fossil fuels will make URC unsustainable.

 

[dullonien]

Wait, I read the ***le as British and Irish without noticing the lack of Ireland. Is the OP suggesting a British league minus Ireland, or misusing the term British?

I'm personally all for a British and Irish league, but a British league without the Irish would be ridiculous!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Last thing I'd want to see…..the same players playing against each other in league, European Cup (I'm not calling it Champions as most aren't….) and internationals.



There's been a bit of noise - well mainly from Stuart Barnes based on what he enjoyed 30 years ago - about bringing Welsh clubs into the Prem. That does make sense on certain levels, but there has to be space for a purely domestic top level competition within each country, well England anyway, I don't really care about the others.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think the Welsh should go to the prem yeah. They really want to and I don't think they'd be a massive loss to the URC. The rest seem happy.

 

[Becca]

I hope there won't be a British League

 

[Saintjay]

Can see Dragons vs Newcastle being well attended. Sponsorship will be through the roof for that one.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Can see Dragons vs Newcastle being well attended. Sponsorship will be through the roof for that one.

Exeter need a proper rival and it's a chance to get someone in on their level

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Exeter need a proper rival and it's a chance to get someone in on their level

Not allowed to talk **** about Exeter when they've won the champions cup more recently than Leinster

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Not allowed to talk **** about Exeter when they've won the champions cup more recently than Leinster

Nothing counted during Covid

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nothing counted during Covid

I don't accept this (because Sale's last trophy was during COVID)

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Very interested to hear how Irish clubs benefit...

good point. The top URC team can't beat the 7th best premiership team. Might teach them how to win games though.

 

[The Seeker]

I don't accept this (because Sale's last trophy was during COVID)

 

[Rinkadink]

I think it's a better idea for the top English clubs to join the URC, if it came down to that or horrible RFU franchising or similar.

 

[WCRugger]

I think it's a better idea for the top English clubs to join the URC, if it came down to that or horrible RFU franchising or similar.

Which would essentially be the same thing as franchising.

I don't see a merger in the near future but seeing as CVC has stakes in both the Prem and URC a merger of the two might not be too out there. Split into geographic pools much like the URC now. Gloucester, Bath, Bristol and Exeter in a West pool. Newcastle and Sale joining the two Scots in a northern pool and the remaining for in their own pool. Bring in the Black Lions and a Iberian squad for a Euro pool and off we go.