6 Nations 2020

[fundy]

Whats worse is how this is happening, basically a % of the tournament is being sold to CVC (private equity firm) who against the wishes of the home unions are then trying to sell the broadcast rights to the highest bidder, what did they expect to happen when they sold them a chunk for 300m lol

the other rumour is that South Africa will be joining the competition!!!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

My pp yesterday mentioned the south African story. I gave him an odd look and then spent 5 minutes telling him how it couldn't and shouldn't happen. I then ended with, however money talks ?.

I hope it doesn't, it would wrong on a number of levels.

 

[sussexhacker]

Purely from a spectator point seeing South Africa against the home nations would prove entertaining though no?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Purely from a spectator point seeing South Africa against the home nations would prove entertaining though no?

That is what the autumn internationals are for.

The tournament is a northern hemisphere one, fans can travel to away games in numbers without huge expense. The tournament is special, don't mess with it.

 

[GB72]

Anyone else think the tournament will be abondoned after the weekend. Ireland v Italy already off, no chance of England playing Italy next week, suspect France v Ireland will go the same way and there is no room in the schedules to replay these games and as they would be outside of agreed windows, I suspect no obligation on clubs to release players

 

[fundy]

the argument from the saffers perspective at least is a time zone one, the 6 nations is far closer in time zone than the southern hemisphere comp

from the likes of CVC there argument is the Saffers are the biggest draw going right now so would be a great addition and would leave a space for Japan in the southern hemisphere comp

cant see it happening but see why theyre exploring the possibility

 

[sussexhacker]

That is what the autumn internationals are for.

The tournament is a northern hemisphere one, fans can travel to away games in numbers without huge expense. The tournament is special, don't mess with it.

I understand that and don’t think it would work well but i would rather watch England vs South Africa than England vs Italy

 

[sussexhacker]

Anyone else think the tournament will be abondoned after the weekend. Ireland v Italy already off, no chance of England playing Italy next week, suspect France v Ireland will go the same way and there is no room in the schedules to replay these games and as they would be outside of agreed windows, I suspect no obligation on clubs to release players

Can’t they go down the Italian football route and play behind closed doors?

 

[fundy]

Anyone else think the tournament will be abondoned after the weekend. Ireland v Italy already off, no chance of England playing Italy next week, suspect France v Ireland will go the same way and there is no room in the schedules to replay these games and as they would be outside of agreed windows, I suspect no obligation on clubs to release players

sure i read that England players are contracted to be released by their English clubs if 6 nations games are rearranged, but probably only them, other nations dont have the same agreements

has to be every chance it gets fully cancelled or some games are played behind closed doors, going to affect a lot of bigger sport events surely. Cobra release tomorrow may give some more clues....

 

[fundy]

Can’t they go down the Italian football route and play behind closed doors?

they have still cancelled some Serie A games this weekend rather than play behind closed doors as originally planned

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I can see the SA argument about time zones but does it detract the six nations, or give the sides to play a top southern hemisphere team more regularly and look to improve. Are SA contracted into their current tournament and if so when does this run out?

 

[fundy]

I can see the SA argument about time zones but does it detract the six nations, or give the sides to play a top southern hemisphere team more regularly and look to improve. Are SA contracted into their current tournament and if so when does this run out?

rumours were they would join after the next world cup, so 2024 i think

 

[HomerJSimpson]

rumours were they would join after the next world cup, so 2024 i think

Is that when the current contract expires or because the WC is seen as a natural break? Would they look to replace SA (in terms of teams playing, not quality) or reduce it to a tri-nation event (Australia, NZ and Argentina?)

 

[fundy]

Is that when the current contract expires or because the WC is seen as a natural break? Would they look to replace SA (in terms of teams playing, not quality) or reduce it to a tri-nation event (Australia, NZ and Argentina?)

assume its probably both, the initial chatter was it would open up a space for Japan, how true that is who knows

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Putting the Six Nations behind a Sky or other paywall I think could severely damage the game in Scotland. It's not (in my experience) a game that has a natural Scottish following - and the interest is only really generated by the Six Nations with casual interested viewers watching the the competition (mostly perhaps the England game... ) and getting enough enthusiasm from doing so to go to Murrayfield to see what the atmosphere is like in the ground - and then a small % of those that 'get it' then start going to Glasgow or Edinburgh matches.

I fear putting the Six Nations behind a paywall will you lose so many of the very casual viewer. After all has not putting The Open behind a paywall been cited as one factor that has led to a drop off in interest in golf in the country.

 

[User62651]

Putting the Six Nations behind a Sky or other paywall I think could severely damage the game in Scotland. It's not (in my experience) a game that has a natural Scottish following - and the interest is only really generated by the Six Nations with casual interested viewers watching the the competition (mostly perhaps the England game... ) and getting enough enthusiasm from doing so to go to Murrayfield to see what the atmosphere is like in the ground - and then a small % of those that 'get it' then start going to Glasgow or Edinburgh matches.

I fear putting the Six Nations behind a paywall will you lose so many of the very casual viewer. After all has not putting The Open behind a paywall been cited as one factor that has led to a drop off in interest in golf in the country.

The 'greater good' doesn't come into anything sports related in 2020, money is all that matters to those that benefit most from it unfortunately.

 

[GB72]

I am in 2 minds about the paywall issue. Yes, there is a harm to the game with less people seeing those England matches but, as with other sports, the BBC does nothing to help the game outside of this tournament. Club matches are barely mentioned on the news, coverage on 5 live is bumped to sports extra for even the lowest of football matches, Rugby Special or any sort of highlights package is long gone and it is getting people to club games that is important, you can fill Twickenham very easily but it is away from international level that coverage is needed. I have always felt that any deal agreed to show the crown jewels should be tied to an agreement to cover the less prestigious areas of the sport.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

People think the next generation of rugby players are inspired by watching BBC1 for their sport? Not even close. They watch via websites around the world, youtube etc. People need to stop thinking along the lines of when they were young, how they watched sport back then. The current generation watch in an entirely different fashion. Most under 20 yr olds will barely touch BBC for their tv viewing.

 

[sussexhacker]

People think the next generation of rugby players are inspired by watching BBC1 for their sport? Not even close. They watch via websites around the world, youtube etc. People need to stop thinking along the lines of when they were young, how they watched sport back then. The current generation watch in an entirely different fashion. Most under 20 yr olds will barely touch BBC for their tv viewing.

But they still won’t be able to see a lot of what’s going on
I’m sure there’ll be 5 minute highlights on YouTube like we get for cricket or golf but that’s it

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I am in 2 minds about the paywall issue. Yes, there is a harm to the game with less people seeing those England matches but, as with other sports, the BBC does nothing to help the game outside of this tournament. Club matches are barely mentioned on the news, coverage on 5 live is bumped to sports extra for even the lowest of football matches, Rugby Special or any sort of highlights package is long gone and it is getting people to club games that is important, you can fill Twickenham very easily but it is away from international level that coverage is needed. I have always felt that any deal agreed to show the crown jewels should be tied to an agreement to cover the less prestigious areas of the sport.

The same can be said about Sky and BT Sport.....none of them are going to encourage you to watch another provider.