Why not a British-Irish League?

[sigesige00]

Perpignan (Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais)- French club currently in Pro D2, used to be in the Top 14.

In francès Catalunya, like Dragons Catalans. In that area are RU and RL more popular than Football?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

In francès Catalunya, like Dragons Catalans. In that area are RU and RL more popular than Football?

I wouldn't say so, though I don't live there.
My parents do, and whenever I visit there is certainly a lot of rugby support - especially rugby league, but I'd guess that football is still the main sport (especially with Barcelona on the doorstep, and flying the flag for Catalonia).

 

[Tony Manx]

Perpignan (Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais)- French club currently in Pro D2, used to be in the Top 14.

He does get mixed up on names!!!

 

[Jerry Blue]

There is a chance of a B&I league as the price for votes for Ireland for the 2023 world cup. BT sport sponsors both Scottish and Welsh teams and Murrayfield so might use that with it's sponsorship of the English league to push through a B&I league. The English teams need more money to compete with the French and this may be the way to get it.

 

[sigesige00]

There is a chance of a B&I league as the price for votes for Ireland for the 2023 world cup. BT sport sponsors both Scottish and Welsh teams and Murrayfield so might use that with it's sponsorship of the English league to push through a B&I league. The English teams need more money to compete with the French and this may be the way to get it.

Is it possible for Ireland and Scotland to host the 2019 World Cup? The 2019 Japan must be cancelled for many reasons, particularly the danger of radioactivity and racism.

 

[sigesige00]

Are there professional clubs in España and Portugal? How about Benelux?

 

[Jerry Blue]

Semi-pro as far as I know.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Is it possible for Ireland and Scotland to host the 2019 World Cup? The 2019 Japan must be cancelled for many reasons, particularly the danger of radioactivity and racism.

Stay on topic!

 

[Belvedere]

A british and Irish league is the only competition that would get me back into supporting the Blues on a regular basis again.
I just cannot bring myself to care about the pro12, and without the solid financial base that a decent league would provide no Welsh team is going to be able to compete in the European Cup.

It would seem an inevitability logically, but it would need to be pushed through by the powers that be in the face of english clubs and the RFU who have obvious incentive to maintain the status quo.

What sort of format would you guys suggest?

 

[Tony Manx]

A british and Irish league is the only competition that would get me back into supporting the Blues on a regular basis again.
I just cannot bring myself to care about the pro12, and without the solid financial base that a decent league would provide no Welsh team is going to be able to compete in the European Cup.

It would seem an inevitability logically, but it would need to be pushed through by the powers that be in the face of english clubs and the RFU who have obvious incentive to maintain the status quo.

What sort of format would you guys suggest?

Inevitability?

Wishful thinking by some Welsh supporters more like!!

Why on earth would AP clubs vote for this reduction in the number of English clubs having top class rugby competition solely to leave room for, in effect, a merger with Pro 12?

It would reduce the number of top English clubs by at least half with the consequent reduction in English qualified players' opportunity to play consistent top rugby!

Ridiculous!!

 

[valley commando]

OK, it would not be possible.
So the European League structure should be:

1st Division--12 teams from all Europe
2nd Division--12 teams from the Anglo-Celtic Isles, and 12 teams from the Continent
3rd Division--Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France/Benelux, Italia, România, Deutschland/Helvetia/Österreich, Russia etc.

By the way, who are USAP (your red/yellow team)?

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Sorry, I do not understand what you mean. Could you explain in plain English?

The Red and Yellow of USAP Perpignan are the Catalonian region colours in French USAP colours are 'Sang et Or' translates as Blood and Gold.

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In francès Catalunya, like Dragons Catalans. In that area are RU and RL more popular than Football?

Having regular holidays in Collioure south of Perpignan and making at least one trip each holiday to Stade Aimee Generale the home of Perpignan rugby, I can safely say that certainly in Catalonia Rugby is more popular than Soccer.

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Inevitability?

Wishful thinking by some Welsh supporters more like!!

Why on earth would AP clubs vote for this reduction in the number of English clubs having top class rugby competition solely to leave room for, in effect, a merger with Pro 12?

It would reduce the number of top English clubs by at least half with the consequent reduction in English qualified players' opportunity to play consistent top rugby!

Ridiculous!!

It would reduce the number of English qualified players if continued under the present rules, however if you adopted the rules as they are in Wales so that no more than 6 non qualifying players in a matchday 23, and in the domestic leagues in each respective country only 2 non qualified players.
The main problem is that although a European or a British and Irish league would benefit rugby as a whole giving the game a higher profile and attracting more fans and more players at junior level, to most clubs are to backward in thinking and care only about themselves and retaining the power they have rather than developing what is best for Rugby as a whole.

 

[Belvedere]

Inevitability?

Wishful thinking by some Welsh supporters more like!!

Why on earth would AP clubs vote for this reduction in the number of English clubs having top class rugby competition solely to leave room for, in effect, a merger with Pro 12?

It would reduce the number of top English clubs by at least half with the consequent reduction in English qualified players' opportunity to play consistent top rugby!

Ridiculous!!

I did State that the English Premiership clubs have atm no incentive to change the status quo. As you say, reducing the number of english clubs playing top tier rugby is an absolute no-no.

That means a traditional league or system like the football league wouldn't be viable but a conference system similar to the NFL could work well I think.

In a conference system you could even increase the number of English teams in the competition so you'd have the prem teams plus Leeds and Bristol. That would converge with the RFU's interests in locking out the 2nd teir.

I'm sure a british and irish league would present itself as a significantly more valuable asset sponsorship and telly wise, with a showpiece event alla Super Bowl rounding off the season.

It would but the UK and Irish clubs on a level if not higher playing feild to the top14.

But then as you say, I may just be nievely trying to will it into existance.

Lord deliver us from the Prolapse12!