The oft referenced Offaly fans who mistakenly paid into a Shannon rugby game thinking theyâd entered the Gaelic Grounds would be delighted with such a doubleheader.
Iâve never heard of this. Tell me about it.
No problem with Rugby in France in June.
From the Munster hurling thread last week.
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Cully Tucker? Not sure that hed have all the facets for the top job. But another few seasons under the likes of this signing and he might
Iâm amazed the Top Quatorze final even draws a crowd considering it clashes with the All-Ireland football quarter-finals.
The only fella with a change of role out of this from now is Costello and he said he wasnât interested in applying in first place .so leamy and Prendergast and co are all staying in existing jobsâŚalthough Prendergast is prob disappointed he didnât get main gig alright
They get shit crowds at the GAA there though
I thought prendergast was passed over for some other coach?
He was. But he is remaining in his existing role. Quite common in the private sector
We were told Leinster rugby had staying power?
- Find some big roided up south African forwards
- Find some big roided up south sea islander backs
- Return to number 1
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Would rugby be run like the private sector?
Mad dog explained this on the Indo sport podderâŚdart wasnât running from dub laoighreâŚthe dubs were playingâŚUCD was finished for the yearâŚpeople were getting out of Dublin for long weekend etcâŚ
âŚall bar the communion and the motorway wheeled outâŚ
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Like a very well run private company yeah
Iâm actually surprised the attendance was close to 13,000. It looked a lot less than that to me. I decided to go for our usual seats and there was hardly anyone around us until people started moving back to get out of the rain.
Thatâs three recent games where the DART hasnât been running. I know they have to do improvement works sometime, but itâs a bit of a nuisance lately.
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That explains it so. In any functional sector Cullen would have been managed out long ago.
DORT
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Really?
Irish rugby stars adopting wait-and-see approach as Croke Park is planned as venue for new breakaway R360 league
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Summarise
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Mike Tindall is leading the breakaway league
A number of Irelandâs leading players are adopting a wait-and-see attitude after being approached by a breakaway league led by former England international Mike Tindall.
The Irish Independent understands that none of Andy Farrellâs men have committed to R360 which reportedly plans to offer salaries north of âŹ1m a year for up to 40 of the worldâs top players and has approached World Rugby for approval.
However, a number are believed to be open to the idea if the league gets the go-ahead.
Talks of a breakaway league have long been a feature of the rugby landscape, but industry insiders have indicated that the venture is a serious proposition and that organisers have already been sounding out prospective menâs and womenâs players.
Details of the new venture emerged in England yesterday, with the organisers recently meeting the gameâs governing body and seeking permission to proceed with a competition that could turn the club game upside down.
Tindall is the figurehead of the operation along with former Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper and figures involved in setting up LIV Golf and cricketâs Indian Premier League.
Mike Tindall is leading the breakaway league
Jacques Nienaber says Sharksâ penalty shootout antics are ânormalâ
According to the reports, the proposed tournament would run on a franchise basis and turn professional rugby into a summer sport, with games taking place from April to June and August to September in destination stadia across 16 weekends.
Croke Park is among the venues being proposed to host a leg, as well as London, Barcelona, New York, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo.
Plans appear to be at an advanced stage, with bids for franchises already under way and owners of NFL operations and Formula 1 teams expressing an interest. It is hoped the competition could launch next year with eight menâs teams and four womenâs sides, before expanding to 10 menâs teams in year two and ultimately 12 teams.
The UKâs Daily Telegraph revealed agreements have already been signed with a contingent of players, with the league targeting 360 of the gameâs top players including leading Ireland stars.
The English newspaper reports that Tindall is listed as the co-founder of the operation in a glossy brochure thatâs been circulated to potential investors.
âRugby is feeling the fallout of the last few years with financial mismanagement, declining investment in the club game and a product that is struggling to evolve. Clubs around the world are feeling the strain and are being propped up by the international game,â Tindall is quoted as saying in the brochure.
âRugbyâs lack of innovation and ability to change risks losing its appeal to new audiences and its younger market.â
If it gets World Rugby approval, the new competition will pose a significant challenge to the IRFUâs current structure and the four provinces, which rely on keeping their top talent at home.
The franchise league would target the unionâs centrally-contracted players with salaries way above what they currently command, while there would be fears around the viability of the Champions Cup and the URC if top talent were lured to the R360.
However, the alignment of the club and international seasons in a calendar year could appeal to unions, while there may be some attractiveness in the idea of the top players being off the books while still being fully available for Ireland as the competition has committed to abiding by World Rugbyâs regulation 9 on player release.
The IRFU has been open about the financial headwinds that rugby is experiencing and last month cut the menâs sevens programme, citing the growing expense of running the game.
The move could accelerate talks on a proposed merger between the URC and the Premiership, while EPCR hopes that its plans for a Club World Cup every four years will be a game-changer even if it means the Champions Cup will not have a winner in those years.