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PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 10:51 am
by Eggs
So two new SA teams to join from 19/20, with another the following year. Guess this is good news??
Effectively means all of SA club rugby will be with the PRO14/16/whatever, which should mean good quality opposition, and more games again.
Does raise a few questions tho. What will the new format be? How does a third team join and work with then an odd number of teams? And are they then going to be allowed to qualify for the champions cup?
The logistics are going to become very tricky for teams travelling etc.
(Know this is mentioned elsewhere but thought it deserves its own thread)
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 10:58 am
by Dave
The plan has always been to entice the other SA rugby franchises. It may create an imbalance for a while but once more join it will create a fantastic league. Imagine the likes of the Sharks and the Bulls rocking up to Ravenhill!
Plus it will put an end to that super basketball nonsense down under.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 11:11 am
by TopPoster
Wonder if this is SA Rugby’s move to integrate fully into Europe (6N, CC and Pro NN) and our NH season as cannot see how they will play a full NH season in Pro whatever and then the Rugby Championship in the summer months too.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 11:11 am
by UlsterNo9
This report in New Zealand Herald would contradict this.....
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12046657
South Africa's increasing European focus is nothing new but the prospect of them walking away from Super Rugby altogether seems far-fetched, for now at least.
Sanzaar has been quick to shutdown suggestions from the north that three more South African teams will join the Pro14 from 2020. According to reports, the Sharks, Stormers and Lions will follow the Cheetahs' and Southern Kings' lead after becoming "disillusioned" with Super Rugby.
The validity of these reports must be questioned, though. Within the Sanzaar alliance, the belief is South Africa remains committed to retaining their four teams in Super Rugby beyond the next broadcasting deal which expires in 2020.
With the Cheetahs and Kings finding a home in the expanded Pro14, South Africa always intended to double its presence in Europe. That is, however, more likely to come from the promotion of the semi-professional Pumas, a South African team based in South Eastern Transvaal, and Griquas, who play in Kimberley.
After a tender process both teams were granted status as South Africa's seventh and eighth franchises late last year.
Furthermore, in an interview with the Herald last September, South African chief executive Jurie Roux clearly outlined the long-term vision for rugby in the Republic, stressing a continued focus on Super Rugby.
The plan was for South Africa to eventually have four teams in each hemisphere.
"We have four teams in Sanzaar; we have two in Pro14 and the other two will start to develop to play somewhere. Hopefully something like the Anglo-Welsh as a development tournament. At the right time in 2020 we can then make a decision on where our bases are," Roux told the Herald last year.
"We believe we are as strong as we are because we play Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. We measure ourselves by those teams even though the north is getting better. We are committed to Sanzaar beyond 2020."
Super Rugby cannot be considered in isolation, either. The Sanzaar alliance also includes the Rugby Championship.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 2:13 pm
by solidarity
So a couple more saffer teams looks on, just not the big ones?
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 2:30 pm
by Eggs
solidarity wrote:So a couple more saffer teams looks on, just not the big ones?
That would be a huge mistake. If they aren’t an improvement on the southern kings then they have no place in the league
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 2:42 pm
by Liz Fraser
Cooke thirds would be an improvement on the southern kings
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 5:05 pm
by Snipe Watson
Liz Fraser wrote:Cooke thirds would be an improvement on the southern kings
Kings pulled together a scratch squad of players at extremely short notice. They had meagre pickings to chose from and had lost most of their own decent players. Expect them to be more competitive next season and the season after.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 5:39 pm
by Liz Fraser
They can play like the All Blacks sniper but I will not be paying a Pavarotti to watch any of it.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 5:44 pm
by UlsterNo9
Snipe Watson wrote:Liz Fraser wrote:Cooke thirds would be an improvement on the southern kings
Kings pulled together a scratch squad of players at extremely short notice. They had meagre pickings to chose from and had lost most of their own decent players. Expect them to be more competitive next season and the season after.
Agree Snipe but what would concern me is that neither the Kings nor Cheetahs seem to have recruited or made any signing announcements. The only player movement I have heard is the two Cheetahs lads moving to Scarlets.
Hopefully a rest and a proper preseason which they were not afforded last year will help.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 5:49 pm
by Snipe Watson
UlsterNo9 wrote:Snipe Watson wrote:Liz Fraser wrote:Cooke thirds would be an improvement on the southern kings
Kings pulled together a scratch squad of players at extremely short notice. They had meagre pickings to chose from and had lost most of their own decent players. Expect them to be more competitive next season and the season after.
Agree Snipe but what would concern me is that neither the Kings nor Cheetahs seem to have recruited or made any signing announcements. The only player movement I have heard is the two Cheetahs lads moving to Scarlets.
Hopefully a rest and a proper preseason which they were not afforded last year will help.
We'll see if they are serious about the Pro14.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 10:08 pm
by Tender
Read an article about the poor state of Saffer Rugby recently. Admission prices too high, attendances are down and the product nowhere near the standard it was in the past.
They’re pretty hacked off at being also rans in the Super Rugby and many supporters are calling for a revamp.
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 10:30 pm
by Dave
Tender wrote:Read an article about the poor state of Saffer Rugby recently. Admission prices too high, attendances are down and the product nowhere near the standard it was in the past.
They’re pretty hacked off at being also rans in the Super Rugby and many supporters are calling for a revamp.
Bit like Ulster
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 10:48 pm
by Polly Cotton
Tender wrote:Read an article about the poor state of Saffer Rugby recently. Admission prices too high, attendances are down and the product nowhere near the standard it was in the past.
They’re pretty hacked off at being also rans in the Super Rugby and many supporters are calling for a revamp.
Match ticket for Sharks this weekend, 50- 150 RAND.... how is that expensive? 20Rand to the £ ?
Re: PRO14 to expand further
Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 11:05 pm
by UlsterNo9
Polly Cotton wrote:Tender wrote:Read an article about the poor state of Saffer Rugby recently. Admission prices too high, attendances are down and the product nowhere near the standard it was in the past.
They’re pretty hacked off at being also rans in the Super Rugby and many supporters are calling for a revamp.
Match ticket for Sharks this weekend, 50- 150 RAND.... how is that expensive? 20Rand to the £ ?
I always thought the stadiums in South Africa looking empty was a hangover from building big stadiums for the World Cup? Durban similar in size to Dublin yet Kings Park twice the size of the RDS which Leinster cannot fill.
Remember reading somewhere that the Currie Cup has a higher average attendance than Pro14.