6 Nations 2020

[GB72]

I hope that this South Africa idea is wrong. Do they come in at the expense of Italy or are they a seventh team. if so, how do you firth that in with players needing more time away from clubs and more mandatory rest periods. Time will come when clubs stop wanting England players as they are not available enough and the RFU cannot afford central contracts. What about developing the game in Europe. What does that say to emerging nations like Georgia etc who we should be encouraging.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

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

My point is that not being on BBC is not going to stop them watching rugby, it will not impact on rugby going forward, as very few kids watch BBC anyway. It is not a channel they turn to in a way that I, probably we, would have done or do now. If my kids, 20 and 17, want to watch tv they go Netflix, Amazon, Sky as the first 3 options. 4th will be Youtube, will actually be higher to be fair. They don't think to look at BBC, never BBC 2. It will bother older people but not kids.

Ironically, rugby highlights may come up on their Youtube feed and bring it to their attention more than being on regular tv. As I said, we have to stop thinking the u20's watch tv in the same way we do because that is plain wrong.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

My point is that not being on BBC is not going to stop them watching rugby, it will not impact on rugby going forward, as very few kids watch BBC anyway. It is not a channel they turn to in a way that I, probably we, would have done or do now. If my kids, 20 and 17, want to watch tv they go Netflix, Amazon, Sky as the first 3 options. 4th will be Youtube, will actually be higher to be fair. They don't think to look at BBC, never BBC 2. It will bother older people but not kids.

Ironically, rugby highlights may come up on their Youtube feed and bring it to their attention more than being on regular tv. As I said, we have to stop thinking the u20's watch tv in the same way we do because that is plain wrong.

However there is a greater chance more people will see the advertising for the covereage because they are being shown on terrestrial TV.
I personally think that any sport that has a national team playing should be available to everyone who pays a tv license.

 

[fundy]

I hope that this South Africa idea is wrong. Do they come in at the expense of Italy or are they a seventh team. if so, how do you firth that in with players needing more time away from clubs and more mandatory rest periods. Time will come when clubs stop wanting England players as they are not available enough and the RFU cannot afford central contracts. What about developing the game in Europe. What does that say to emerging nations like Georgia etc who we should be encouraging.

the plans mooted were definitely as a 7th team not at italys expense, so potentially making an overcrowded calendar even more so

 

[Lord Tyrion]

However there is a greater chance more people will see the advertising for the covereage because they are being shown on terrestrial TV.
I personally think that any sport that has a national team playing should be available to everyone who pays a tv license.

That assumes they are watching terrestrial tv in the first place. That swings back to my original point, youngsters don't on the whole. One of the reasons ITV has gone nuts for Love Island is because it delivers 15-24 yr olds (approx), a group they often don't reach but advertisers love.

As to your second point that would leave the terrestrial channels only offering a token amount for rights and that then harms that particular sport. Rugby, like cricket, relies on the money gained from tv rights for internationals. If you restrict that it impacts throughout that sport.

Incidentally, I think it would be sad it went from free to air tv but I don't blame the rugby authorities for wanting the money. Why should they be different to other sports?

 

[MegaSteve]

The rumour I heard/read was that the Springboks would play their 'home' games in Europe... France iirc ???

Also be a bloomin' shame to lose Italy...
Absolute great week-end away taking in the match as well as the sights ...

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I have to say, I'm not totally with SA joining the 6 Nations, but I think Georgia joining would be better for the long term growth and betterment of the game.

 

[GB72]

the plans mooted were definitely as a 7th team not at italys expense, so potentially making an overcrowded calendar even more so

That makes it a non starter for me. With breaks etc it would mean clubs losing their internationals at the end of the January and not seeing them before April. Once you take out the weeks lost for the Autumn internationals, rest periods etc you would be lucky to get half a dozen matches from an England international. You then have the salary cap meaning that you cannot have strength and depth in the squad and so sub standard teams go out for most of the season which harms the club's brand and may lose supporters etc.

Almost laughable how the RFU goes on about player welfare then looks to pack more international fixtures in. Basically player welfare is fine so long as the RFU get all the players they need for England at the expense of the clubs who have to deal with the rest periods or the times when England sends them back broken.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

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.

I myself wasn't thinking about players - folk start playing for very different reasons - often wanting to get fit and going along for a go with a friend already playing the game. I'm thinking about spectators. It was not that long ago that Murrayfield was rarely being filled. It is these days - but I don't see that as a given in Scotland going forward if the game goes behind a Sky, BT, Amazon or whatever paywall.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I myself wasn't thinking about players - folk start playing for very different reasons - often wanting to get fit and going along for a go with a friend already playing the game. I'm thinking about spectators. It was not that long ago that Murrayfield was rarely being filled. It is these days - but I don't see that as a given in Scotland going forward if the game goes behind a Sky, BT, Amazon or whatever paywall.

I suspect whether murrayfield gets filled or not is more to do with the success, or not, of the Scottish team rather than free to air TV.

 

[MegaSteve]

Feeling the RFU are now stretching out their lead over the FA in inept management...

 

[fundy]

Feeling the RFU are now stretching out their lead over the FA in inept management...

ECB says hold my beer!!!!!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

ECB says hold my beer!!!!!

LTA says hold my Pimms ??

 

[GB72]

So no t safe for Italy to come to Ireland but ok for England and thousands of fans to go to Italy. Got to love that logic

 

[fundy]

So no t safe for Italy to come to Ireland but ok for England and thousands of fans to go to Italy. Got to love that logic

be amazed if that game goes ahead, think theyre trying to keep the semblance of a championship but expect they cancel it early next week personally

 

[GB72]

be amazed if that game goes ahead, think theyre trying to keep the semblance of a championship but expect they cancel it early next week personally

I agree, guessing they want this week's matches to appear normal before postponing the final round

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to say, I'm not totally with SA joining the 6 Nations, but I think Georgia joining would be better for the long term growth and betterment of the game.

I like the idea of England getting tested by another strong side but can see the arguments put up against it. As for long term growth, why not have some sort of two legged relegation play off and give the likes of Georgia and emerging European sides a chance to get up and mixing with the big boys.

 

[GB72]

I like the idea of England getting tested by another strong side but can see the arguments put up against it. As for long term growth, why not have some sort of two legged relegation play off and give the likes of Georgia and emerging European sides a chance to get up and mixing with the big boys.

Because there are too many vested interests. Ok whilst Italy are the whipping boys but have one of the founding nations relegated and all hell would break loose. Ironic those who support keeping the 6 nations as it is are often against ring fencing the premiership.

South Africa have no place in a European tournament with such history anyway. Should we let Brazil etc into the football Euros. We play 2 or 3 of the southern hemisphere teams in autumn so one more match makes no difference. Rugby support is way down in South Africa and Australia and they are clutching at straws

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Because there are too many vested interests. Ok whilst Italy are the whipping boys but have one of the founding nations relegated and all hell would break loose. Ironic those who support keeping the 6 nations as it is are often against ring fencing the premiership.

South Africa have no place in a European tournament with such history anyway. Should we let Brazil etc into the football Euros. We play 2 or 3 of the southern hemisphere teams in autumn so one more match makes no difference. Rugby support is way down in South Africa and Australia and they are clutching at straws

I take your point about Italy and relegation, but surely if rugby wants to grow the game as it said during the world cup, the little sides have to get more exposure, learn and develop. We've seen it in cricket especially one day games with the arrival of Bangladesh (also starting to grow as a test side) and Afghanistan. Yes they were both whipping boys for a long time but they learned. Similarly Italy have managed to produce the odd quality performance and win so they have got it in there.

 

[Old Skier]

Where's this rubbish about wanting to grow the game, it's about money. If it's about growing the game why is funding at grassroots being reduced.