Should Welsh pro teams join the English Premiership

[Tooting Carmen]

This article argues so. The problem is that English rugby has plenty of issues of its own, so it cannot be said to be in that much of a position to help Wales. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-must-now-leave-urc-29440807

 

[dullonien]

I think most Welsh people would say yes. Fixtures with Bristol, Bath and Gloucester are comparable to local derbies, and even the London sides are easy for fans to travel between. As a result there would be good away support at a lot of games.

A few years ago I would have said that the English clubs wouldn't want us, but with the financial issues engulfing some English clubs, if ever there was a time, now might be it.

I even think Wales would consider a 3+1 or 2+2 approach here, with the regions split between the Prem/Championship as that would solve some of the immediate financial issues facing the WRU/regions.

I don't have any issues with the quality of the URC, if anything the Welsh regions are the ones holding it back, but Welsh supporters obviously just don't have much appetite for it. Away travelling support is also non existant.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Considering how many English clubs are run by successful businessmen if it made any financial sense to bring the Welsh sides in it would've been seriously touted by now

The only way if should happen is if they join the bottom tier and work their way up, they shouldn't be gifted top flight spots because they failed elsewhere

 

[McTallshort]

What about promotion and relegation? Currently the Premiership is effectively a closed shop due in a large part to ground capacity. If the premiership allows Welsh teams in would they be able to come in without meeting the standards required of English clubs in the championship.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

What about promotion and relegation? Currently the Premiership is effectively a closed shop due in a large part to ground capacity. If the premiership allows Welsh teams in would they be able to come in without meeting the standards required of English clubs in the championship.

All the pro Welsh teams have big enough grounds, which putatively they'd be able to fill more easily in the Premiership than in the URC.

 

[McTallshort]

All the pro Welsh teams have big enough grounds, which putatively they'd be able to fill more easily in the Premiership than in the URC.

They would need to be otherwise there would be legal action from the championship clubs. Personally if the Welsh clubs want to join they need to earn it like championship clubs do but I am somewhat biased towards championship rugby

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I just don't think we need any more cross border competitions. Dilutes the value.

 

[dullonien]

I just don't think we need any more cross border competitions. Dilutes the value.

I can understand this argument against a British and Irish league, because then Europe would only add France and Italy (ignoring the SA sized elephant in the room), which would then be devalued.

I don't necessarily see an Anglo-Welsh league devaluing Europe in the same way, as 3 leagues would still be coming together.

 

[Saintjay]

As with most things sport these days. Value of the competition means very little. Sponsors, tv revenue and money talks.

Look at the rumblings of a euro super league in football still going on.

In business it seems values have a funny way of changing when the cheque book comes out.

 

[Becca]

I think it's a stupid idea.

 

[Crash Hamster]

I'd have no interest in an Anglo-Welsh league whatsoever. I'm already less interested in the "European" competitions now that South African sides are included.

 

[dirty harry]

I'm conflicted as a Cardiff season ticket holder.

One of my biggest gripes with the URC is it's not a real league. Cardiff regularly sell out the Arms park, and averaged 11k this year. That is with 0 away fans for the most part.

Cardiff rugby also offer absolutely nothing in respect to travelling to away games.

So the idea that Bristol, Gloucester and Bath could rock up with 1-3k fans is very desirable. Especially as Cardiff have just purchased land, spending on stadium improvements and are talking redevelopment 2028.

I think a 3+2 model might also work, with Dragons and RGC in the 2nd tier system.

Short term the Welsh clubs wouldnt add to the prem quality wise, maybe Ospreys pack would provide a stubborn opposition. But long term, with only 3 full regions, and a boost from TV revenue and attendance boosts I genuinely think decently run regions might retain home grown talent and recruit better quality player. The regions issues are financial.

I for one hope it happens, the English prem feels closer to Welsh rugby than the URC does, I know most Welsh fans dont give a tosh about it. Infact the most fun day on the calendar is the Cardiff Ponty semi pro game, 6k in the Arms park sounding like double that, and proper enjoyment.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

How realistic is this? Feel like the prem don't need it, they'd want the provinces as well to really move the needle and that obviously wouldn't happen.

It feels like a ploy for leverage to me but one that's not being taken seriously. I don't think the URC desperately need the Welsh clubs, although Zebre might miss them. Irish, Scottish, South African and Italian rugby/ fans all seem very happy with the product.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How realistic is this?

Not in the slightest,
Mentioned it earlier in the thread but if there was even a sniff of this making money then the owners/PRL would've been all over it

It's never been mentioned outside of gossip rags like WOL and Ruck co uk

 

[dirty harry]

Not in the slightest,
Mentioned it earlier in the thread but if there was even a sniff of this making money then the owners/PRL would've been all over it

It's never been mentioned outside of gossip rags like WOL and Ruck co uk

Well the Anglo cup might have been a decent starting point, but that was mismanaged.

I agree though, the probability is next to 0.

 

[Rinkadink]

I think it's a very low probability but I'm not opposed, although it has to be the Welsh CLUBS not the regional franchises.

People wouldn't care about something like B*th v Ospreys but Gloucester v Neath or Bristol v Cardiff? Yes please. Grounds and funding would be an issue to start...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I'm not opposed it would help the establishment of 2 fully pro leagues tbh
4 funded teams into the "Prem 2" would be big and prob force the Champ sides to really think about if they would commit for a pro league. Potentially creating a 12 team league without stretching the depth in England.

But it isn't happening anytime soon.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

This is getting a bit of traction.

Some WRU exec said a combined URC / Prem was discussed (not involving other URC stakeholders) and I imagine approximately zero people want that.

If I was on the prem's side, I wouldn't take them because they're not worth the hassle. I'm not on the prem's side though, so please hate them, they're not worth the hassle.*

Good Scarlets and Ospreys teams used to be fantastic to play but they seem like a distant memory at this stage.

*Not pointed at any Welsh fans here who I find very clued in. The vocal minority (I think) that blame all of Welsh rugby's problems on the IRFU have me very jaded with the regions though.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I can honestly see English clubs wanting it tbh.

Won't be till 2028 or later imo

 

[stus768]

I can honestly see English clubs wanting it tbh.

Won't be till 2028 or later imo

Yeah, I think ten team league will turn out to be too few, already some apathy I've seen online to lack of variety in fixtures and clubs want more gate receipts with declining tv revenues.

This is a way of bumping up numbers without having to share the RFU funding/player pool with more teams.

Plus great for west country teams who will get more travelling fans.

Plus welsh teams not really a threat in terms of playing ability atm and have close enough funding caps to prem teams.