"Rabo" replacement???

[Fireworks]

Any news on a likely replacement for Rabo. The league has just got Sky on board which will help with promotion of it but we do need a sponsor.

I would also like them to look at a div2 if possible. Get teams from Russia, Spain etc to play in it and if it grows enough we could bring in promotion relegation in a few years. Just make sure all the teams are union controlled. The way the HC is going we are going to have to grow our league and become more self sufficient.

[Slipper1]

HEC messing can't be helpful in sourcing a strong replacement for Rabodirect.

[Fireworks]

HEC messing can't be helpful in sourcing a strong replacement for Rabodirect.

Probably not. Any thoughts on who you would like to see coming in. Magners were too small, Rabo was a bit funny as they had no rugby history and did not operate in all the markets. Would Heineken be a good one or would it be better to move away from drinks companies.

[blockhead]

Didn't someone say a few months back that a new sponsor was close to being confirmed? E8m/3 year deal?

[Peg Leg]

Didn't someone say a few months back that a new sponsor was close to being confirmed? E8m/3 year deal?

Fock it, lets get onto BT. That'll get them some Euro exposure.
E80m sounds like a good figure!

[blockhead]

That would be sooo funny.

[rooster]

Didn't someone say a few months back that a new sponsor was close to being confirmed? E8m/3 year deal?

Fock it, lets get onto BT. That'll get them some Euro exposure.
E80m sounds like a good figure!

They already sponsor Glasgow and Edinburgh and a bit to Ulster so who knows, feck I would laugh if they paid out the money they are saving on the RCC and it would also get them advertised on Sky !

[mtleinster]

HEC messing can't be helpful in sourcing a strong replacement for Rabodirect.

Probably not. Any thoughts on who you would like to see coming in. Magners were too small, Rabo was a bit funny as they had no rugby history and did not operate in all the markets. Would Heineken be a good one or would it be better to move away from drinks companies.

Rabo do have Rugby History. they have been invovled in S15 for a while

[meinster]

Rabo do have Rugby History. they have been invovled in S15 for a while

Rob Kearney to the Rebels rumours start here.

[simonokeeffe]

Rabo do have Rugby History. they have been invovled in S15 for a while

Rob Kearney to the Rebels rumours start here.

didnt know Rob was that big a drinker?

[dingodublin]

So is there any new on a replacement for Rabo? I am getting concerned now that there won't be a proper headline sponsor of the league next year and if there is there will be significant haircut in the money for the teams in the league which will in turn lead to PRL having their way with us through the back door.

[LastKnight]

PRL having their way with us through the back door.

Unfortunate choice of words.

[johng]

PRL having their way with us through the back door.

Unfortunate deliberate choice of words.

Fixed

[BlueBlue]

Guinness and VW ?

[Oldschool]

The Rabo replacement might initially consist of 8 teams if the Welsh clubs do a runner.
Ergo don't expect any announcements anytime soon until the whole PRL, LNR and the Welsh mess is brought to a head.
The Irish, Scots and Italians should start to consider expanding a welsh depleted league by considering.
a. adding Scots and Italian teams.
or b. adding a rumanian and a portugeuse team.
or a + b
or a combination of a + b.
or variations on the theme - Are Georgia too far away - Are the costs worth it.

Right now the French have too much power in the sense that they don't need the HEC and if it is scrapped the losers will be all the other leagues and unions.
It's only because the FFR want a HEC do we have one and that's been driven by NH unions and IRB.
The only way around this is to broaden the power base so that in the long term we don't need the french but we are a long way away from that.
An Anglo-Welsh league will struggle even more than the Premier league is doing at the moment.
What we have at the moment league wise is the best achievable unless we got a 14 team UK and Ireland and Italian super league.
The make up of this league would guarantee minimum representation for each "union" but would be meritocratic otherwise.
Say 3 English, 2 Irish, 2 Welsh, 1 Scots and i Italian. So the last five places would be up for grabs each year.
Were that to happen then an ideal situation would be a second level league which included some teams from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy augmented with some teams from Georgia, Portugal, Rumania, Spain and perhaps Russia. Call it an expanded UK&I&I league.