The Pro12 is(was) certainly more financially secure and sustainable than either the Top14 or Aviva Premiership. All, bar one club, teams are owned either entirely or, at worst, jointly by the Unions, none of whom are in any particular financial difficulty (and often the opposite is the case). Many of the Top14 and Aviva Premiership clubs are in massive debt - Wasps are GBP43million in the hole and Saracens a further 2 million deeper. Stade Francais were going to be relegated for being e6 million in debt after Guazzini pulled out only for Savare to pour in a further 20 million and they had to be bailed out again this spring. Hans Peter Wild eats some bad shellfish and they're donezo. Same for Wasps, another loss making year or two and the clubs debt is greater than the value of the stadium and hotel complex its set off against and its already pretty certain that they won't be able to repay the bondholder loan on the Ricoh Arenaartaneboy wrote: Was the Pro 12 financially sustainable? That's what the argument is about. No playing standards.
I've defended the quality of the Pro 12 often enough relative to the Aviva or T14. Honestly I'd say that the Pro 12 standard at the top third is on a par with both, the middle third is weaker abs the bottom third is similarly deficient. But it doesn't really matter, as the income the French and English have from their TV deals and the savings on costs (travel, etc) from their 'one territory' structure means we are always disadvantaged without making a quantum jump in the strategic reach of our appeal.
The inclusion of the two Saffers teams offers the start of an opportunity to develop that reach. If the new Pro 14 is successful in both sporting and financial terms, other SA clubs may look to join. That combined with a second division of North American, emerging European and the weaker members of the current league will provide the critical mass to compete and grow the game in the Celtic League countries.
The whining and pedantry in what is understandably, an emerging deal is dreary. Wait until we see the details. Yo my mind; so far- so good!
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Now debt isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it needs to be manageable.
Some costs may be lower in 'one country' leagues, but not all. ASMs budget last year was 30.5 million. In 15-16 the IRFU spent e37.6 millon on the entire professional game in Ireland. They might have better TV deals etc, but they need them because so much of that money just leaves the game - poof - gone.
