Argentina's Proposed Inclusion to the Tri Nations for 2012

[feicarsinn]

Well the 08 season was different, it was a world cup year after all and the season was late but I do agree with you something needs to be done. A reduction in the amount of games seems the only way forward if the French clubs want to hang onto their Argie players.

 

[DonBilly]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (smartcooky @ Sep 20 2009, 11:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DonBilly @ Sep 21 2009, 08:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (smartcooky @ Sep 18 2009, 09:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They have forged a 60% winning record at home, most often playing with sides that have been crippled by having players not released from their European Clubs. Make no mistake, they will be very, very tough to beat at home when they can put their best team on the park every weekend..[/b]

Well European clubs release their players during the International windows defined by the IRB, did Argentina played so often outside of these windows?
[/b][/quote]

All other club competitions in Europe are done and dusted by the end of May. then the iRB Southern Tour Test Window runs during June into the first week of July.

However, in their arrogance, the organisers of the Top 14 do exactly what they please, not giving a fat rats arse about anyone else, and running their Top 14 into June and sometimes near the end of June!

2005/06 Final 10 June 2006
2006/07 Final 9 June 2007
2007/08 Final 28 June 2008
2008/09 Final 6 June 2009

This is why;

1. In the past, France has sent sent "D" sides on their Southern Tours
2. The 2005 Lions had to begin the NZ tour without the UK players based in France
3. Argentina hardly ever got any top players involved in finals released for June Tour matches


This season, for the first time, the Top 14 Final is in May (Saturday May 29th. 2010)
[/b][/quote]

As far I remember the International windows in June and November are 3 or 4 weeks long, allowing up to 3 Test Matchs in both cases. For example last June the international window included the week-ends of the 13th, 20th and 27th of June. The time span of the Lions Tours is more than the International Window legth which allows up to 3 Test matchs only. Players need to find an arrangement with their clubs, e.g. Nathan Himes with Perpignan.

The only times there were conflict between Top14 final and this window it was due to the hosting of the RWC by France, so in 2007 and 2008. In this latter case for example the Top14 started one week after RWC, so end of October while it usualy start in August.

 

[smartcooky]

Top 14 is 14 teams (obvously) playing home and away.

That is 26 rounds plus Semi-Finals and Finals making 28 rounds altogether

Add to that the 9 rounds required for Heineken Cup (6 Pool rounds then Quarter Finals, Semi Final and finals

So the whole of both competitions (T14 and HC) should be able to be completed in 37 weeks.

This seasons Top 14 dates

Start.... Round 1....14/15 August 2009
Finish....Final..........29 May 2010

That is 41 weeks?

What happened to the other four weeks?

 

[feicarsinn]

Well maybe give the lads a rest for christmas? 6 nations? november internationals? 37 consecutive games is a big ask

 

[DonBilly]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (smartcooky @ Sep 21 2009, 12:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Top 14 is 14 teams (obvously) playing home and away.

That is 26 rounds plus Semi-Finals and Finals making 28 rounds altogether

Add to that the 9 rounds required for Heineken Cup (6 Pool rounds then Quarter Finals, Semi Final and finals

So the whole of both competitions (T14 and HC) should be able to be completed in 37 weeks.

This seasons Top 14 dates

Start.... Round 1....14/15 August 2009
Finish....Final..........29 May 2010

That is 41 weeks?

What happened to the other four weeks?[/b]

There are breaks for Christmas and during some of the November week-ends as well as during the 6 Nations. Three or four rounds are played mid-week. When there's overlap of test and club Rugby the caped players leave their clubs for a while, basically like in NZ or SA when 3N overlaps with the NZPC or the Currie Cup.

A minority of the clubs will qualify for the play-offs of the European cups or of the Top14 this frees many international players. Moreover during the year there are now training periods when the clubs must release their international players. For example some of the English players who are in French clubs were released the week before round 1 because called by the RFU for team training. During the 6 nations players can be kept seven weeks by their national team. During the 6N there will be two rounds of the Top14.