Pro 14 - General Thread

[simonokeeffe]

The Pro12 teams were/are integral to the success of the European Cup.
The inclusion of the SA teams could be a stalking horse.
Let the Pro12/14 test the waters, establish the viability of SA team involvement in NH rugby.
Then when the time is ripe Aviva 12 becomes Aviva 14.
That for me is a serious risk for the Pro12/14.

An Aviva 14 would be the 14 clubs who are PR shareholders current AP 12 Bristol and Yorkshire Carnegie. A closed AP is only a matter of time.

Theyve been after a closed 14 team prem for years and RFU didnt do enough to stop it and its now inevitable. Most of the championship are borderline broke

Would be funny if PRL did north south conferences

[Ruckedtobits]

Hughly frustrated to get to another weekend without any announcement of Pro14 format or signed agreement. This is not smart by Celtic League who are losing credibility with their fans in 5/6 countries.

[CiaranIrl]

I would be fine if these two teams didn't force the conference concept. Look at this year's Super 15 league table: http://www.superxv.com/table/

How many people are out there in the rugby universe that can explain how the Brumbies on 38 points finished ahead of the Hurricanes, who were on 58 points?

And if you think nonsense like this won't happen here, how do you think we'll manage to keep the derbies of 4 Irish & Welsh teams, when only 2 teams from the other countries participate?

[johng]

How many people are out there in the rugby universe that can explain how the Brumbies on 38 points finished ahead of the Hurricanes, who were on 58 points?

I can do it in 4 words.

They topped their conference.

Like the Stormers topped theirs on 43 points.

18 teams were the issue and the 4 conference model.

You can have a single table or keep the 2 conferences separate in the proposed system.

From the scraps we have seen so far it looks like there will be 2 tables

[CiaranIrl]

How many people are out there in the rugby universe that can explain how the Brumbies on 38 points finished ahead of the Hurricanes, who were on 58 points?

I can do it in 4 words.

They topped their conference.

Like the Stormers topped theirs on 43 points.

18 teams were the issue and the 4 conference model.

You can have a single table or keep the 2 conferences separate in the proposed system.

From the scraps we have seen so far it looks like there will be 2 tables

I'm not talking about you or anyone else that goes to rugby forms to read or post. I'm talking about the average person.

[kermischocolate]

How many people are out there in the rugby universe that can explain how the Brumbies on 38 points finished ahead of the Hurricanes, who were on 58 points?

I can do it in 4 words.

They topped their conference.

Like the Stormers topped theirs on 43 points.

18 teams were the issue and the 4 conference model.

You can have a single table or keep the 2 conferences separate in the proposed system.

From the scraps we have seen so far it looks like there will be 2 tables

I'm not talking about you or anyone else that goes to rugby forms to read or post. I'm talking about the average person.

Is the problem for the average punter language?

Call it "group stages" rather than "conferences" with the winners getting a bye to the semi finals (aka play offs), next two from each group pay off for the other 2 semi final places (a la Top14) to lead to the Cup (league) Winners?

If you change the thinking from a league to a season long cup competition it makes it a bit less confusing.

[CiaranIrl]

How can national derbies be retained I wonder? If they even the number of games by giving Scottish teams extra games against Italian or Saffer teams, that's hardly fair, is it?

[simonokeeffe]

Reports that Halfpenny is joining Scarlets until RWC. Different player to Williams but a big signing for them nonetheless

[Dave Cahill]

Reports that Halfpenny is joining Scarlets until RWC. Different player to Williams but a big signing for them nonetheless

Big boost off the pitch as well for them

[rooster]

Under the old Pro 12, some of the derbies involved sides nowhere near full strength especially around Christmas/New Year. This was due to the tight turnaround and player management etc.


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I really doubt that will change

[rooster]

Allegedly an official announcement on the format of the PRO14 tomorrow

[Ruckedtobits]

So, another 'deadline' looms. Too late to change anything now. IRFU won't decide / release UBAIL fixtures until Pro12 /14 is announced. This delay is causing mayhem in planning NH and Club rugby. Doesn't augur well for actual competition.

[Peg Leg]

Bradley taking up the reins in Parma

[limecat]

The Pro 14 is here: https://twitter.com/PRO12rugby/status/8 ... 16/video/1

[mildlyinterested]

Two conferences.

Leinster, Scarlets, Ulster, Kings, Dragons, Edinburgh, Treviso.
Munster, Ospreys, Connacht, Blues, Glasgow, Cheetahs, Zebre.

Conferences will change each year based on season results.

12 h/a fixtures from your conference, 7 h/a from other comference, 2 derbies

6 team make playoffs, with winners of each conference getting but to semi's.

[Dave Cahill]

let the close harmony male voice whinging begin!

[Dave Cahill]

If only there were another thread where we've been discussing this for weeks...

[offshorerules]

Another explanation of how it will work.

http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/ne ... join-pro14

I predict new heights of interprovincial bitching.

[wixfjord]

We got the easier of the two draws I think.

Would take Scarlets, Dragons, Ulster, Embra and Kings over Ospreys, Cardiff, Connacht, Glasgow and Cheetahs any day.

Hadn't realised there was a QF involved too.

[mildlyinterested]

My bad.