Pro 14 - General Thread

[simonokeeffe]

Anyone else think the marketing team at Guinness must have been dying for an Italian or Welsh side to go bust after the SA move, instead of the Guinness Pro14 we could have been the Hop House 13.

[BlueBlue]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/kings-b ... ing-ranks/

Southern Kings resign players from Super Rugby campaign and bolster coaching team.

[simonokeeffe]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/kings-b ... ing-ranks/

Southern Kings resign players from Super Rugby campaign and bolster coaching team.

at least 3 of them

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017%E2%8 ... _movements

theyve had quite the turnover

[cormac]

2018 final will be in the Aviva again

[blockhead]

2018 final will be in the Aviva again

Another good decision by the Pro14.

[BlueBlue]

This Pro14 is great, making all sorts of good decisions

[simonokeeffe]

Guinness will be happy

[Dexter]

*

[Dexter]

David Kelly wrote another negative article on the Pro14 yesterday:

With the prospect of 20,000-mile round trips to the new South African franchises within a clunky conference system, much uncertainty attends European rugby's poor relation as it begins its latest attempt to ratchet up credibility and commercial gains.

Uncertainty reigns, too, amidst so many of the leading contenders, not to mention the bottom feeders who have failed to contribute to the league in recent seasons

the greatest intrigue will be in seeing if the South African Cheetahs can justify some optimistic noises that they can bring more than just a few Rand to the table.
The PRO14 needed their input for commercial reasons and they will hope that investment is matched on the field also; the competition is already lopsided enough and an expansion that leads to contraction could be fatally damaging to its image.

league chiefs trumpet their fair play and try-scoring statistics, chiefly due to the absence of relegation

interest in the caviar of European and Six Nations is a far tastier prospect than the often dreary bread and butter of weekly league combat.

The competition is obviously far from perfect but this doesn't really help IMO. I'm sure there are some people who enjoy watching it!

[arsebiscuits1]

David Kelly wrote another negative article on the Pro14 yesterday:

With the prospect of 20,000-mile round trips to the new South African franchises within a clunky conference system, much uncertainty attends European rugby's poor relation as it begins its latest attempt to ratchet up credibility and commercial gains.

Uncertainty reigns, too, amidst so many of the leading contenders, not to mention the bottom feeders who have failed to contribute to the league in recent seasons

the greatest intrigue will be in seeing if the South African Cheetahs can justify some optimistic noises that they can bring more than just a few Rand to the table.
The PRO14 needed their input for commercial reasons and they will hope that investment is matched on the field also; the competition is already lopsided enough and an expansion that leads to contraction could be fatally damaging to its image.

league chiefs trumpet their fair play and try-scoring statistics, chiefly due to the absence of relegation

interest in the caviar of European and Six Nations is a far tastier prospect than the often dreary bread and butter of weekly league combat.

The competition is obviously far from perfect but this doesn't really help IMO. I'm sure there are some people who enjoy watching it!

I hate the approach of criticising something ahead of time. So many journos think they're breaking brand new ground with this because they can either preach that they were right if it goes tits up or just stay silent and move on if it goes wrong. It is tiresome and pretty subpar

[blockhead]

The crazy might return to Glasgow

Fijian scrum-half Niko Matawalu has trained at Scotstoun ahead of a potential return to Glasgow Warriors, BBC Scotland has learned.

Matawalu is a free agent after leaving Exeter Chiefs and spoke with Warriors head coach Dave Rennie on Wednesday.

[kermischocolate]

The crazy might return to Glasgow

Fijian scrum-half Niko Matawalu has trained at Scotstoun ahead of a potential return to Glasgow Warriors, BBC Scotland has learned.

Matawalu is a free agent after leaving Exeter Chiefs and spoke with Warriors head coach Dave Rennie on Wednesday.

Apparently he's signed a 2year contract.

Not entirely sure where he's going to play though....

[Dave Cahill]

The crazy might return to Glasgow

Fijian scrum-half Niko Matawalu has trained at Scotstoun ahead of a potential return to Glasgow Warriors, BBC Scotland has learned.

Matawalu is a free agent after leaving Exeter Chiefs and spoke with Warriors head coach Dave Rennie on Wednesday.

Apparently he's signed a 2year contract.

Not entirely sure where he's going to play though....

Neither is anyone else, including Dave Rennie and Niko Matawalu.

[wixfjord]

I'd love to see Matawalu back in the league, absolute nutter that he is. The worst passing 9 and the best passing 9 ever!

[blockhead]

http://www.pro14rugby.org/2017/08/30/gu ... 18-season/

Refs for the season.
3 Munster refs

[johng]

http://www.pro14rugby.org/2017/08/30/gu ... 18-season/

Refs for the season.
3 Munster refs

4 no? Brace, Lacey, Murphy and Clancy

[blockhead]

Just listened to WNR on newstalk. Munster got their usual 50% minimum, Connacht and Ulster the rest and we got about 15 seconds, I kid you not. We're the new Ulster.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

The other provinces have all had far more interesting summers though, sure we've barely had anything to talk about on here.

[Dave Cahill]

Just listened to WNR on newstalk. Munster got their usual 50% minimum, Connacht and Ulster the rest and we got about 15 seconds, I kid you not. We're the new Ulster.

In fairness though, it has been mental sh!t down south.

[Dexter]

Just listened to WNR on newstalk. Munster got their usual 50% minimum, Connacht and Ulster the rest and we got about 15 seconds, I kid you not. We're the new Ulster.

In fairness though, it has been mental sh!t down south.

Yep, if that's what it takes to get airtime then they're welcome to it!