Challenge Cup - Round 1

[Tony Manx]

The clubs that don't care at all about it should just be removed and replaced with Romanian, Georgian and Russian clubs who would really benefit from playing in this competition. The top 3 Romanian clubs have a decent standard, as well as the top 2 Russian ones and surely the Georgians could also assemble 1 or 2 competitive teams.

Sure, some of these Eastern clubs could lose heavily initially but I doubt they would perform much worse than Brive for example, who were trashed 0-55 in Gloucester this round.

This is true but from what I can see that means all French and some UK teams being kicked out leaving one Irish and one Scottish, some Welsh and, maybe, the odd English team........and would even these teams then bother to take part?

 

[dragos03]

Well, you could at least remove the newly promoted French and English clubs (they worry about survival in their league anyway) as well as the bottom Pro 12 team (usually an Italian side) in order to free 4 spots.

The prospect of European qualification would greatly improve the Eastern European domestic leagues in time and benefit European rugby as a whole on the long term.

 

[ratsapprentice]

The real problem (and the reason why coaches pull their first team players) is that Euro rugby on top of a full domestic competition is simply too much rugby.
There will only ever be a handful of clubs who can truly compete on two fronts.
If you made SR players play in the CC/ITM/NRC you'd soon see the teams making compromises to one team or the other in order to best fit their priorities.
Fundamentally - NH clubs are trying to spread their playing resources too thinly... 32 regular-season games across 3 competitions for AP sides vs 16 for SH teams.

 

[Tony Manx]

The real problem (and the reason why coaches pull their first team players) is that Euro rugby on top of a full domestic competition is simply too much rugby.
There will only ever be a handful of clubs who can truly compete on two fronts.
If you made SR players play in the CC/ITM/NRC you'd soon see the teams making compromises to one team or the other in order to best fit their priorities.
Fundamentally - NH clubs are trying to spread their playing resources too thinly... 32 regular-season games across 3 competitions for AP sides vs 16 for SH teams.

Correct!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Bayonne putting 30 on a team can only mean that other team wasn't playing seriously. Bayonne are good at home and with their actual squad, but that was far from being their actual squad. I'm guessing Exeter weren't too srs about this.

 

[psychic duck]

The real problem (and the reason why coaches pull their first team players) is that Euro rugby on top of a full domestic competition is simply too much rugby.
There will only ever be a handful of clubs who can truly compete on two fronts.
If you made SR players play in the CC/ITM/NRC you'd soon see the teams making compromises to one team or the other in order to best fit their priorities.
Fundamentally - NH clubs are trying to spread their playing resources too thinly... 32 regular-season games across 3 competitions for AP sides vs 16 for SH teams.

I guess the argument to the Challenge Cup is at least gives the teams something to do plus some gate money and if they're lucky a cup run. Removing the incentive to actually win the thing was a stupid thing to do as well, virtually everybody I have heard seems to agree on that as well a shame politics means it doesn't happen.

 

[Tony Manx]

I guess the argument to the Challenge Cup is at least gives the teams something to do plus some gate money and if they're lucky a cup run. Removing the incentive to actually win the thing was a stupid thing to do as well, virtually everybody I have heard seems to agree on that as well a shame politics means it doesn't happen.

Would argue that the "gate" can be offset by the ground/travel expenses and the risk of injuries is a big worry.......also, why do they need something to do when they have upwards of 25+ games a season in the first place!!

 

[ratsapprentice]

I was referring to the European competition as a whole - not specifically the Challenge Cup.

 

[psychic duck]

Would argue that the "gate" can be offset by the ground/travel expenses and the risk of injuries is a big worry.......also, why do they need something to do when they have upwards of 25+ games a season in the first place!!

A free weekend might as well be used, get a bit of money and the reserves a run out. The tournament probably isn't doing any harm, it's just not at all really worth watching unless you're a hardcore fan of a team who wants to have a look at the out of favour players.

 

[Tony Manx]

Do not think that most clubs around here see it that way as the academy players have regular competitive matches anyway, the pros need the rest, the club would rather keep their players injury free and rested!!

 

[ratsapprentice]

The Rugby side of the clubs would anyway - I'm not exactly sure the owners see it that way!

 

[psychic duck]

Do not think that most clubs around here see it that way as the academy players have regular competitive matches anyway, the pros need the rest, the club would rather keep their players injury free and rested!!

Hence why they rest them. The Challenge Cup is still probably a big step up on any 'A' league game by the way.

 

[goodNumber10]

The real problem (and the reason why coaches pull their first team players) is that Euro rugby on top of a full domestic competition is simply too much rugby.
There will only ever be a handful of clubs who can truly compete on two fronts.
If you made SR players play in the CC/ITM/NRC you'd soon see the teams making compromises to one team or the other in order to best fit their priorities.
Fundamentally - NH clubs are trying to spread their playing resources too thinly... 32 regular-season games across 3 competitions for AP sides vs 16 for SH teams.

Super rugby players do play in those competitions and are expected to if not on international duty. The difference is they run at different times in the year... Whereas ours run alongside each other.

The priorities are competing.

The SH season was until recently structured much better than ours, but expansion is torpedoing that one as well.

****sorry just being a pedant****

 

[ruggabee]

Anyone know if there will be highlights of the Connacht game? Sounds like Leader impressed on attack again. I have high hopes for him.

 

[Tony Manx]

Anyone know if there will be highlights of the Connacht game? Sounds like Leader impressed on attack again. I have high hopes for him.

Both sky and by doing highlight programmes tonight for all games. How long they will be for each.........

 

[ruggabee]

Both sky and by doing highlight programmes tonight for all games. How long they will be for each.........

Bummer, I'm in Malaysia at the moment and they don't seem to be covering any European rugby except the Top 14 now and then. Thanks.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Super rugby players do play in those competitions and are expected to if not on international duty.

Some of the players play in some of the games - even if they played in all of them, they aren't quite as intense physically... the ITM is one of the most, if not the most open proffessional tournament and they'd only play 26 games.