Domestic and European Rugby Union

[Flamingo Lane]

Have I understood this correctly then?  in rugby union, the team that finishes first in the Premiership do not necessarily become champions?  The champions could be the team that finishes in second, third or fourth place?

Yes, same in Rugby League as well. Keeps teams playing to the end of the league season knowing that they still have a chance at winning the Premiership,

It may well do that, but it's ridiculous.

[Lsvilla]

Have I understood this correctly then?  in rugby union, the team that finishes first in the Premiership do not necessarily become champions?  The champions could be the team that finishes in second, third or fourth place?

Yes, same in Rugby League as well. Keeps teams playing to the end of the league season knowing that they still have a chance at winning the Premiership,

It may well do that, but it's ridiculous.

Isn't it in part due to the fact that internationals and domestic games can run simultaneously eg: six nations - so the strongest side can be weakest at certain points in the calendar ?

[nordenvillain]

Have I understood this correctly then?  in rugby union, the team that finishes first in the Premiership do not necessarily become champions?  The champions could be the team that finishes in second, third or fourth place?

Yes, same in Rugby League as well. Keeps teams playing to the end of the league season knowing that they still have a chance at winning the Premiership,

It may well do that, but it's ridiculous.

Isn't it in part due to the fact that internationals and domestic games can run simultaneously eg: six nations - so the strongest side can be weakest at certain points in the calendar ?

Is it any more ridiculous than a team finishing 6th or 7th in football are able to win the play offs and get promotion \

[Flamingo Lane]

Play-offs for promotion between teams finishing 3rd-7th are one thing, but play offs to decide who are champions is absurd.  Mind you, I can kind of get some of what LSVilla just said (about players missing league games for internationals).

[Villa Lew]

Play-offs for promotion between teams finishing 3rd-7th are one thing, but play offs to decide who are champions is absurd.  Mind you, I can kind of get some of what LSVilla just said (about players missing league games for internationals).

Agree one of the few things Football get right and Rugby get very wrong.

[Gareth]

Anyone but Saracens!! Well done Leicester

[UK Redsox]

Play-offs for promotion between teams finishing 3rd-7th are one thing, but play offs to decide who are champions is absurd.  Mind you, I can kind of get some of what LSVilla just said (about players missing league games for internationals).

I’ve long been an advocate of the top English club level of Rugby Union having two conferences of 8 teams, with playoffs to decide the winner.

However, the Premiership do everything they can to keep other clubs out, so it’ll never happen.

[UK Redsox]

Anyone but Saracens!! Well done Leicester

Agreed. Saracens should not have been allowed back into the Premiership after the shortened season

[Risso]

Have I understood this correctly then?  in rugby union, the team that finishes first in the Premiership do not necessarily become champions?  The champions could be the team that finishes in second, third or fourth place?

Similar principle in football with the Champions League I guess, or teams getting promoted from the Championship who finished 6th.

[paul_e]

Play-offs for promotion between teams finishing 3rd-7th are one thing, but play offs to decide who are champions is absurd.  Mind you, I can kind of get some of what LSVilla just said (about players missing league games for internationals).

I’ve long been an advocate of the top English club level of Rugby Union having two conferences of 8 teams, with playoffs to decide the winner.

However, the Premiership do everything they can to keep other clubs out, so it’ll never happen.

Bit harsh seeing we're in the middle of them increasing to 14 teams.

On the playoffs, I think it's the right thing for the sport because of the impact of international games, it's a good example of a compromise that stops the club vs country issues that can arise.

[UK Redsox]

They might say that they’re going to increase to 14, but it doesn’t happen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60590815

Shame that London Irish moved in with Brentford, that would have been an ideal ground share for Ealing

[paul_e]

They might say that they’re going to increase to 14, but it doesn’t happen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60590815

Shame that London Irish moved in with Brentford, that would have been an ideal ground share for Ealing

I think Doncaster would've been fine had they won, their application was cloe enough that it would've been possible to resolve it. Ealing's ground just isn't up to standard and there's no way they could've fixed it in time. I don't think it's fair to suggest the rules have been setup to create a closed door in any way, it's more that teams need to be able to, financially, hold their own in the league, as well as having the facilities needed to broadcast, etc.

I suspect what will happen this year is the minimum capacity rule will be changed to a figure that most championship clubs can achieve with temporary faciilities and Ealing will work to sort the other issues. I'd be suprised if they don't come up next season.

[Brazilian Villain]

Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy comes out as gay.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2022/0620/1305939-leinster-scrum-half-nick-mccarthy-comes-out-as-gay/

[cheltenhamlion]

They might say that they’re going to increase to 14, but it doesn’t happen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60590815

Shame that London Irish moved in with Brentford, that would have been an ideal ground share for Ealing

I think Doncaster would've been fine had they won, their application was cloe enough that it would've been possible to resolve it. Ealing's ground just isn't up to standard and there's no way they could've fixed it in time. I don't think it's fair to suggest the rules have been setup to create a closed door in any way, it's more that teams need to be able to, financially, hold their own in the league, as well as having the facilities needed to broadcast, etc.

I suspect what will happen this year is the minimum capacity rule will be changed to a figure that most championship clubs can achieve with temporary faciilities and Ealing will work to sort the other issues. I'd be suprised if they don't come up next season.

That works both ways though Paul. If there is no relegation don't reinvent the wheel just to put Sarries up. Hope you are keeping well by the way.

Stuart - New Assistant Head Coach of the Minis at Stourbridge

[paul_e]

They might say that they’re going to increase to 14, but it doesn’t happen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60590815

Shame that London Irish moved in with Brentford, that would have been an ideal ground share for Ealing

I think Doncaster would've been fine had they won, their application was cloe enough that it would've been possible to resolve it. Ealing's ground just isn't up to standard and there's no way they could've fixed it in time. I don't think it's fair to suggest the rules have been setup to create a closed door in any way, it's more that teams need to be able to, financially, hold their own in the league, as well as having the facilities needed to broadcast, etc.

I suspect what will happen this year is the minimum capacity rule will be changed to a figure that most championship clubs can achieve with temporary faciilities and Ealing will work to sort the other issues. I'd be suprised if they don't come up next season.

That works both ways though Paul. If there is no relegation don't reinvent the wheel just to put Sarries up. Hope you are keeping well by the way.

Stuart - New Assistant Head Coach of the Minis at Stourbridge

You'll never get an argument from me on that, letting sarries come back up in the way they did was pathetic.

On the subject of sarries and ground regulations I thinl there is now enough evidence to make a decision to ban 5g pitches in top flight and european rugby.