Number of teams

[Fernando Perla]

Why do the Celtic nations have so much few rugby union franchises? It can't be population because New Zealand has 14 teams in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Thank you.

 

[McTallshort]

Sorry why do the Celtic nations have so much few?

 

[Fernando Perla]

Ireland has 4.
Wales has 4.
Scotland has 2.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Well before the famine Ireland had enough potatoes for 8 professional teams but they never recovered and can only afford 3 plus Connacht.

Before the invention of synthetic fibers wales had 9 professional teams. Now that wool demand has decreased (in addition to sheep shagging ban of 2004) they can only afford 3 professional teams and dragons.

 

[McTallshort]

So there is 10. Is that too few or too much?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Actually pretty simple really.

The Celtic league countries is full of simpletons who can only count using their fingers, due to a long line of questionably close marriages the majoirty of people in the Celtic league countries have 12 fingers to count with.

Hence the 12 teams.

Also known as the Glouscester complex.

 

[Fernando Perla]

What the f...?

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So there is 10. Is that too few or too much?

Per country, it is too few.

 

[Groundhog]

It's so we don't have our players spread thin playing for what become laughing stock pub league teams like the Newcastles, Harlequins or Tigers (who speaking of not being able to count insisted on using letters instead of numbers for years) of this world.
At least that's the reason for the Irish. You'd have to ask the Welsh what on earth it is they think they're doing.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

What the f...?

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Per country, it is too few.

The sport is more popular in NZ and NZ has a far bigger land area. Leinster's ground is a 2hrs drive away from from the other three grounds and the only places in the country that are further than that from any ground are Kerry and Donegal where rugby is hardly played at all.

Scotland don't have the interest.

Wales is even smaller than Ireland and don't follow clib rugby.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I wouldn't trust the Irish posters, not even the Irish trusts the Irish.


You can trust me I have the 3rd highest reputation on this forum.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I wouldn't trust the Irish posters, not even the Irish trusts the Irish.


You can trust me I have the 3rd highest reputation on this forum.

And I'm ahead of Peat... The system is flawed! (Thanks Feic for repping me so much. *spills beer for fallen comrade*)

 

[McTallshort]

What the f...?

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Per country, it is too few.

Why too few?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I think geography is a good answer I hadnt thought of. There is simply not the need to have more teams in Wales and Ireland because they are quite small countries and in the case of Ireland they have a simple four provences on the Island which makes it easy for people to identify with their regional team I guess.

Scotland is special because the part of the country where rugby was most popular was the rural south. There is no town there remotely big enough to support a professional club. Plus the union is too poor and badly managed to support a third team, in part due to a lack of any suitable stadia. Finally it is also because most of the cities outside Edinburgh and Glasgow are also too small or don't have a rugby supporting heritage.

The aim is that with less teams you have all your best players playing side by side each week and the standard of matches is higher than if only one or two international players were in each side. This is one reason why Russia recently cut the number of their professional teams and why there is discussion that South Africa and Australia should maybe have less sides in Super Rugby. Countries with more clubs, like Romania, may instead be focussing on having professional teams in each of their cities to try and spread enthusiasm for the sport.

Which way is better? Who can say.

 

[Peat]

And I'm ahead of Peat... The system is flawed! (Thanks Feic for repping me so much. *spills beer for fallen comrade*)

a) Where is that pile of crap? You Irish are very careless about keeping hold of your best posters.
b) A lowly rep fits my preferred profile of a dour miserable ******* anyway.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Peat makes up for his lower rep with 2 medals from rigged polls.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

a) Where is that pile of crap? You Irish are very careless about keeping hold of your best posters.
b) A lowly rep fits my preferred profile of a dour miserable ******* anyway.

I don't know, Feic has too much grit about him to be bullied back on her like BG8 was anyway. LN7 spends his days shirtless in Canada as far as I can tell from his FB.

Peat makes up for his lower rep with 2 medals from rigged polls.

To be fair, thats just good parenting from forum Dad, if he let us win our egos would quickly get in the way of our greatness... We struggle with this despite holding no honours! (I was best fat ki... ehh most improved in 2012... WHERE IS MY MEDAL)

 

[Peat]

I earn a lot with my rigged poll :mellow:


Anyway, I'd forgotten LN7, doubt he's ever owned a shirt except for school in his entire life. We'll clearly have to flatter Feic back here - you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar anyway.

And I doubt you've ever been fatter than a marathon runner your entire life.

 

[corny]

Why do the Celtic nations have so much few rugby union franchises? It can't be population because New Zealand has 14 teams in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Thank you.

A better comparison would be Super Rugby franchises and Celtic League teams. NZ have 5, Ireland have 4.

You can compare Mitre Cup with the All Ireland League. Standard is better in Mitre Cup but its not a dissimilar set up in both countries.