Which they did in the 90's when the Exiles played in the interpros wearing an absolutely fantastic shirt I might add!! The Exiles continue to operate at under age level of course.Dave Cahill wrote:The Union has to agree to it - all teams and games must be sanctioned by the union responsible for the area the game is played in and the team operates in. So in this case the RFU would have to agree to a team playing in a league that is in competition to its own league and taking money, support and players out of its control.Flash Gordon wrote:There's already an Exiles team in England. There are no state legal reasons why an Irish Exiles or London Irish couldn't play in the Pro 12 - not sure if there are IRB rules. It's certainly happened in soccer, cricket and rugby League.molloyjh wrote:Teams from other Unions is a pipe dream unless we get the whole Union. We won't get English or French teams in unless they can somehow break from their Union and set up a new one or join one of the existing Pro12 ones. And that isn't going to happen.
The other alternative is that we play in the Premiership or a European League. If was running Leinster and looking at the earnings disparity and the cmmercial reality of that, I'd definitely be looking at that possibility.
Is this rule you're talking about an RFU one? An IRB one or what? AS it stands, it would be illegal to inhibit the establishment of a commercial operation by an Irish operation in England.
Not necessarily sure that an Exiles franchise in England would be all downside. Generally, more people watching, playing and involved with the game is a good thing, after all the principle rival to English club rugby isn't other rugby, its soccer (as the Welsh will tell you!).
The other options are, of course, an Anglo Irish League or an expanded European competition. I said this a few years ago, that's a conversation Leinster and Munster should have been pro-actively approaching before the whole Champions Cup debacle.