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An Tarbh
Guest
so you'll accept it's competitive but not exciting, what's that about? and what's with your Thurmond park as well?
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Prestwick
Guest
An, its just a damn round robin competition with nothing, nothing to play for other than bragging rights. What exactly is there to be excited about?
For leagues to be relevent, they need to have something to which Fans can look forward to, something which can stir interest, something which can really make fans think "christ, I'll be biting my nails come the last few games of the season!" What in the Magners League generates the tension, drama and sheer excitement that a league like the Guinness Premiership, the French or Italian leagues generate? Nothing. There is no league cup as an interesting side show, no reward for the winner of the league, only bragging rights and mutterings from fans that "well, we care more about the HEC anyway."
There is nothing to draw me towards watching a Magners League match in the middle of January. The quality of the rugby may be good, but does it actually mean anything in the long run? No, because nobody really gives a toss where you come so long as you get HEC qualification!
The Magners League needs a league cup competition to run alongside it, it needs something to tell fans that they need not wait till HEC weekend to watch their team play for something that truly matters, that they can turn up to any Magners League fixture knowing that winning this will actually mean something and not just mean that they'll go to 3rd in a competition that has absolutely no relevence to anything outside of the Home Nations.
And Thurmond Park is what Google came up with XD
For leagues to be relevent, they need to have something to which Fans can look forward to, something which can stir interest, something which can really make fans think "christ, I'll be biting my nails come the last few games of the season!" What in the Magners League generates the tension, drama and sheer excitement that a league like the Guinness Premiership, the French or Italian leagues generate? Nothing. There is no league cup as an interesting side show, no reward for the winner of the league, only bragging rights and mutterings from fans that "well, we care more about the HEC anyway."
There is nothing to draw me towards watching a Magners League match in the middle of January. The quality of the rugby may be good, but does it actually mean anything in the long run? No, because nobody really gives a toss where you come so long as you get HEC qualification!
The Magners League needs a league cup competition to run alongside it, it needs something to tell fans that they need not wait till HEC weekend to watch their team play for something that truly matters, that they can turn up to any Magners League fixture knowing that winning this will actually mean something and not just mean that they'll go to 3rd in a competition that has absolutely no relevence to anything outside of the Home Nations.
And Thurmond Park is what Google came up with XD
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ecks tartan army
Guest
an easy group?
not if we get our way!
not if we get our way!
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Prestwick
Guest
Ignore the bigger kids Ecks! That is just a jibe to try and make us look less like Giant Killers! Glasgow is going down against Sarries though, I'm so confident, I'll hire the BBC Orchestra to play Flight of the Valkaries every time Saracens score a try! And then, when we win, I'll get them to play a modified version of Handel's Hallejujah, with the choir singing "you are gay" instead of "Hallejujah."
Glasgow is going down against Sarries though, I'm so confident, I'll hire the BBC Orchestra to play Flight of the Valkaries every time Saracens score a try! And then, when we win, I'll get them to play a modified version of Handel's Hallejujah, with the choir singing "you are gay" instead of "Hallejujah."
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ecks tartan army
Guest
your confident?
what was it last time? 22-19? could have gone either way?
oh, and 6-6 last time in glasgow?
TBH though, i'll be happy if we beat viadana and get 2 close games.
what was it last time? 22-19? could have gone either way?
oh, and 6-6 last time in glasgow?
TBH though, i'll be happy if we beat viadana and get 2 close games.
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Prestwick
Guest
Glasgow and Saracens: The REAL HEC grudge match! :lol:
It'll be a good game come what may, its not as if either of us are going to win the HEC or beat Biarittz...
It'll be a good game come what may, its not as if either of us are going to win the HEC or beat Biarittz...
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Thingimubob
Guest
I can tell you. Seeing at one point Leinster, Ulster, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and (at least in theory) Llanelli Scarlets all in contention for the ***le towards the end of the season, and having the majority of them playing each other during the last few games. For example as a Blues fan, I was jumping for joy as Nick MacLeod slotted a winning drop goal againts Ulster, which meant we'd lifted ourselves onto a platform from which we could win the ***le from, and it shattered Ulsters hope of defending their ***le. And then in our last game of the season, many of us were downcast after the shattering defeat at Stradey, we managed to win a bonus point victory over Leinster in the Arms Park, which if it had been the other way round, and Leinster had won with the bonus point, it would definatley have been Leinster lifting the trophy and not the Ospreys. Oddly enough, that was the second time we'd beaten Leinster to deny them the ***le, in the 05/06 season, we beat them in a high scoring last match of the league in the Millenium Stadium, which gave the ***le to Ulster. Now I was more than biting my nails as I anxiously waited for news from the Borders, but unfortunaly for us, the Ospreys won there, and were the deserved winners of the ***le.
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màiri
Guest
Don't you think that if there were semi finals and a final just like in the Guinness Premiership and French Top14 or even the Super 14, it could bring some more excitment at the Magners League?
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Thingimubob
Guest
I guess it would give teams like Munster a second chance at the ***le, if they can work their way up to fourth +, but I like the way it is now, and last years tournament had more than enough exitement, with so many teams capable of winning in the last couple of rounds.
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scuubasteve
Guest
I think the fact that a good few teams haven't been competitive over the past few years must be of detriment to the competitions credibility.
Once the Scotish club rugby ship is righted, and these teams become genuine contenders, then hopefully their crowds will expand (with the help of some better marketing) to give the competition more spead in interest / fan fare.
There seems to be some differing ideals of who should be considered the league champions between NH and SH supporters.
Down here (SANZAR) we are subjected to a finals series for every competition (Club Rugby), with the winner being the champion. Others appear to disagree and see the team at the top of the table, after the season finishes, as the champion.
As some of you have stated above, having something to play for is of great importance in maintaining interest in the competition right to the final game, and having numerous teams in contention at the end adds to the excitement (as can promotion/relegation).
Obviously promotion/relegation would not work with the current setup, but I believe that a play-offs series would add interest and focus to the season, as well as increased revenues.
A top 4 playoffs would be a good line to draw from a pool of 10 teams.
1 plays 4, 2 plays 3. With all games being played at the home of the top ranked team. So if you're the top team at the close of the season, well done to you, but you are not yet the champions. You will be rewarded by having home advantage for your semi-final (and final if you win the semi) giving you the best chance to take out the ***le. It also means, if you win, that you were the best team in both an extended basis (round-robin / Heineken Cup juggling play) and in 2 presure fuelled / knockout games (semis and final), thus becoming the undesputed Celtic champs.
The biggest incentive to be top of the table though, would be in the massive revenue generated from having two extra (hopefully sold out) home games.
Alternatively, if the fan support warranted it, the final could be moved to a national stadium (Murrayfield, Millenium, Croke/Landsdowne) to generate more revenue and help fill the national body's (IRFU, WRU, SRU) coffers and provide more money to plough back into the grass roots that drive the game forward.
Once the Scotish club rugby ship is righted, and these teams become genuine contenders, then hopefully their crowds will expand (with the help of some better marketing) to give the competition more spead in interest / fan fare.
There seems to be some differing ideals of who should be considered the league champions between NH and SH supporters.
Down here (SANZAR) we are subjected to a finals series for every competition (Club Rugby), with the winner being the champion. Others appear to disagree and see the team at the top of the table, after the season finishes, as the champion.
As some of you have stated above, having something to play for is of great importance in maintaining interest in the competition right to the final game, and having numerous teams in contention at the end adds to the excitement (as can promotion/relegation).
Obviously promotion/relegation would not work with the current setup, but I believe that a play-offs series would add interest and focus to the season, as well as increased revenues.
A top 4 playoffs would be a good line to draw from a pool of 10 teams.
1 plays 4, 2 plays 3. With all games being played at the home of the top ranked team. So if you're the top team at the close of the season, well done to you, but you are not yet the champions. You will be rewarded by having home advantage for your semi-final (and final if you win the semi) giving you the best chance to take out the ***le. It also means, if you win, that you were the best team in both an extended basis (round-robin / Heineken Cup juggling play) and in 2 presure fuelled / knockout games (semis and final), thus becoming the undesputed Celtic champs.
The biggest incentive to be top of the table though, would be in the massive revenue generated from having two extra (hopefully sold out) home games.
Alternatively, if the fan support warranted it, the final could be moved to a national stadium (Murrayfield, Millenium, Croke/Landsdowne) to generate more revenue and help fill the national body's (IRFU, WRU, SRU) coffers and provide more money to plough back into the grass roots that drive the game forward.
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Thingimubob
Guest
@Scuuba
That's a pretty good idea, but I wouldn't like seeing to see for at least the two more seasons, but I'd like something similar in place by 09/10 season or the 10/11 season, since eventually supporters will get bored of the existing set up.
That's a pretty good idea, but I wouldn't like seeing to see for at least the two more seasons, but I'd like something similar in place by 09/10 season or the 10/11 season, since eventually supporters will get bored of the existing set up.
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scuubasteve
Guest
Also, hopefully the IRB and the chosen representatives can make a decent fist of an international playing calander, when they meet in November.
If they can sort out a couple of fixed windows for international rugby (and not have any club games impede on this) then we can ensure that the club vs country tug-of-war for talent can end. If this happens then the magners league fans might see a bit more gametime from its Celtic stars. Now that would definitely increase interest and make people take the competition more seriously.
If they can sort out a couple of fixed windows for international rugby (and not have any club games impede on this) then we can ensure that the club vs country tug-of-war for talent can end. If this happens then the magners league fans might see a bit more gametime from its Celtic stars. Now that would definitely increase interest and make people take the competition more seriously.
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stormmaster1
Guest
Be careful what you wish for. Most English fans hate the play-off system (although 11 of 12 clubs supported it).
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Thingimubob
Guest
what I meant was it'd be nice to (eventually) have a change in the system, since the Celtic League has changed a few times, and used to be something like the top 8 played each other in quarters, semi's and a final. So teh winner of the League would get one trophy (The Celtic League) and the winner of teh final would get another (The Celtic Cup). Decent enough set up, but back then Wales had 9 clubs, so it wouldn't work now because those 9 clubs are now 4 regions.
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ecks tartan army
Guest
last season, although Glasgow were well out of the running, we also added to the excitment of where the leauge was going by notching up home wins against Leinster and Ospreys - and even an away win against Ulster (although they were out of it by then)
was at the Glasgow game last night - Glasgow looked like a promising side, every time they got the ball they looked dangerous. espc. the wings - and Lome hasnt even started playing for us yet!
I'm hopefull this Glasgow team can start to compete - if not for the ***le at least to start picking up more away wins and to be in contention. this, combined with better marketing, would be a great platform from which to increase attendances and raise the profile of the game in scotland.
was at the Glasgow game last night - Glasgow looked like a promising side, every time they got the ball they looked dangerous. espc. the wings - and Lome hasnt even started playing for us yet!
I'm hopefull this Glasgow team can start to compete - if not for the ***le at least to start picking up more away wins and to be in contention. this, combined with better marketing, would be a great platform from which to increase attendances and raise the profile of the game in scotland.
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Warriors#1
Guest
Glasgow will hopefully make this season more exciting for me (not that last season was exciting) but aswell as the good wing play some of the defense in the last 5-10 minutes was pretty good (except when they got near the try-line), how many phases did newcastle go on for and only make it from the half way line to just between the 10 and 22!
Well played Glasgow and defiently the way we want to play in the Magners League!
And when all the internationalists come back we should have an even more formidable force.
So bring it on Saracens!!!
Well played Glasgow and defiently the way we want to play in the Magners League!
And when all the internationalists come back we should have an even more formidable force.
So bring it on Saracens!!!
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Thingimubob
Guest
I hope Glasgow do well this year, as I think they're great, and the fact that they have the balls to get hammered one time at home, then go on to claim the heads fo teams like Cardiff, Leinster and the Ospreys (to name a few). Damn good for a place that see's football as it's main sport (at least that's what I heard)
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ecks tartan army
Guest
TBH, the most popular sport in glasgow (espc. maryhill, where we play) is getting pished and fighting people.
but yeah, most popular pro sport is football by a mile, and then club rugby is actually more popular than the pro-teams. (although the SRU are trying to convince people that there is room for both with the pro-teams playing on friday night and the clubs on saturdays.)
btw, anyone coming up to glasgow (to watch your team get hammered ), Firhill is a real B****** to get to unless you have a car. (apparently)
but yeah, most popular pro sport is football by a mile, and then club rugby is actually more popular than the pro-teams. (although the SRU are trying to convince people that there is room for both with the pro-teams playing on friday night and the clubs on saturdays.)
btw, anyone coming up to glasgow (to watch your team get hammered
), Firhill is a real B****** to get to unless you have a car. (apparently)
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feicarsinn
Guest
personaly i think a strong or at least competitive connacht team is needed. we all saw last year munster sending out their second xv week in week out because they knew as long as they were the third irish team theyd be fine. personally i think it should be run like a real league with the top 7 going into the HEC
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Thingimubob
Guest
Apparently the IRFU see Connacht as a 'development team', not sure if that's true, but it's a rumor I've heard. On their day they can surprise anyone if you ask me, they gave the Blues a scare at the Arms Park with an early try last season, but a bit of luck and 5 Ben Blair penalty kicks just about won it 15 - 13. Gotta say, for me that was one of the lowest points of last season for me, mostly because it was a game we really didn't deserve to win, but it's only beaten by the 34 - 0 hammering at Welford Road to the Tigers, and the 38 - 10 hammering to the Scarlets at Stradey Park. Drawing with Connacht away cost us dear as well Connacht fought their way back from being something like 13 - 3 down to 16 - 13 up, and a last minute penalty just about secured a draw. Which is annoying, because if we'd won that, we'd be Magners League Champions.
