J4 Rugby Metro League

[Darce]

Fixtures out tomorrow.

They are introducing a super 6 format a la JP Fanangan 20's

Belvo dropping out of the league too

[Tallback]

League Fixtures for J4 out now and some interesting matches ahead.

Also the friendly season is well under way with most teams getting a couple of games. Looking forward to a great season.

[Donny B.]

Does anyone know how the J4 league is actually meant to work this season?

I see the leagues have been split into smaller pools with only home or away fixtures. Is this some sort of qualifier for another league?

[waterboy]

Does anyone know how the J4 league is actually meant to work this season?

I see the leagues have been split into smaller pools with only home or away fixtures. Is this some sort of qualifier for another league?

Make Up of J4 League

Following the circulation of the provisional entry list for the J4 League last Monday we have established that 35 teams will be participating. Navan were not on Monday’s list and they replace last year’s winners Old Belvedere. The Anglesea Road side has dropped out as their team has broken up from last season and they would be unable to scrummage this season.

The extra numbers have caused a problem – last year there were 32 teams when the fixtures were issued, allowing four Sections of eight teams to be accommodated quite easily.

Another problem this year is that three of the November internationals are on Saturdays as are Leinster’s first two home games in the Heineken Cup – as the J4 League is a Saturday League it would make expansion to nine teams per section practically unworkable.

We have decided instead to introduce three Super Six Sections, two consisting of 12 teams and the other 11. The Sections are largely merit-based but also include geographic considerations.

The Super Six operates in two phases as follows:

1. Each Section will initially be divided into two groups of six with each team playing every other team once.

2. The top three teams in both groups will then advance into a 6-team pool, with their results against the teams advancing with them being carried forward into Phase 2. They will then play a complete home and away league with the other five teams (including the games carried forward). The bottom three teams in both groups will enter a similar pool and carry on likewise.

This Super Six system works really well in the JP Fanagan Premier League and hopefully it will be as successful here.

The proposed Sections are attached for your perusal and it is intended to issue the fixture lists on Friday.

[Darce]

Does anyone know how the J4 league is actually meant to work this season?

I see the leagues have been split into smaller pools with only home or away fixtures. Is this some sort of qualifier for another league?

Pretty much as below.

1st stage you play 5 games either home or away (Round Robin).

Then the top 3 from both pools then play each other home and away, with the bottom 3 teams playing each other home and away.

But if you've played a team in the 1st stage, you only play them once in the second stage.

[Donny B.]

Cheers Waterboy and Darce!

[Donny B.]

Fixtures out tomorrow.

They are introducing a super 6 format a la JP Fanangan 20's

Belvo dropping out of the league too

Looked like they just went down to the J5 league where they beat Bective 85-3

[Darce]

85-3...good lord.

In a calamitous piece of organising by the branch, they forgot to assign a ref to the Rock - 'Tarf fixture...

[Donny B.]

85-3...good lord.

In a calamitous piece of organising by the branch, they forgot to assign a ref to the Rock - 'Tarf fixture...

FFS!

As for J5, it looks like they'll follow Terenure's example and put an experienced team into a league with development teams and win every match by a landslide.

[tones]

In Section C this year. What are the teams like? I see Warriors and CYM were relegated last year.

[Darce]

Aparently Belvo and nure meeting the branch RE: J5 situation tonight/this week.

Will be interesting. Perhaps a redrawing of J4 with a Nure J4b and Belvo included? Would be shambolic given the league has commenced

[combatlogo]

That Gick J5 team last season had players who should have been J1/J2. Not so sure they were experienced Donny, a lot of them were fairly young with pace to burn and that makes a huge difference at that level. But scorlines in the 80's do nobody any favours.

[Darce]

It should be noted that this years Gick J5 team is a different set of players compared to last season's 'All Stars'

[bgmusic]

Where have these All Stars gone ?

[Darce]

I believe some have gone up to J3 and some to J4

[toffblue]

Any news on the LB's meeting with OB?

I heard that OB turned up in the J5 game against Bective and scrummaged. Thought the reason they went down to J5 was coz they couldn't. Not only that they screwed Bective in the process.

I'm open to correction on this as I have heard this second hand.

IF and a big IF this is the case it should be a straight red for OB imo - No J5 or J4.

[Darce]

Any news on the LB's meeting with OB?

Think I got my facts incorrect and its actually tonight/wednesday

I heard that OB turned up in the J5 game against Bective and scrummaged. Thought the reason they went down to J5 was coz they couldn't. Not only that they screwed Bective in the process.

I'm open to correction on this as I have heard this second hand.

That is true. Dirty buggers

IF and a big IF this is the case it should be a straight red for OB imo - No J5 or J4.

Agreed

[uncle fester]

Any news on the LB's meeting with OB?

I heard that OB turned up in the J5 game against Bective and scrummaged. Thought the reason they went down to J5 was coz they couldn't. Not only that they screwed Bective in the process.

I'm open to correction on this as I have heard this second hand.

IF and a big IF this is the case it should be a straight red for OB imo - No J5 or J4.

If what I heard at training is right, Belvo are no longer in the J5 league.

[Leinsterman]

Old Belvo have been put into J4 Section A, according to a Branch email I just received.

[Darce]

Old Belvo have been put into J4 Section A, according to a Branch email I just received.

Gang of c**ts