NH club rugby
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Toulouse were outstanding away to Exeter:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cwy838xexxwo
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Different level
Straight running, crisp & accurate passing
Joy to watch
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Toulouse are an amazing side, had the privilege this time last year of watching live as they took Quins apart, power, pace, accuracy, glorious.
As for the competition itself, its on life support IMO, no coverage anywhere in England outside of channels that no one has and poor quality highlights on Youtube, that's if you can find the version you're allowed to watch in your region. Have seen no discussion of the games anywhere.
Then add in that the South African experience is horrible for all involved, coming up to the NH for 4 days is not conducive to high level sport, sending weakened teams etc - just undermines the competition. I'm a broken record on this but they shouldn't be in the European Cup competition, the logistics for clubs run on a shoe string are too expensive and too damaging for the players.
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I saw the highlights and was very impressed with Toulouse. It was men against boys. Exeter though, seem to be a downward spiral. The spirit that Baxter had previously fostered seems nowhere to be seen and far from the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, they look rudderless.
£17M in debt, rumored to be up for sale, as good as out of Europe and rooted to the bottom of the Prem.
Things are notoriously awry in the South West.
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@Catogrande Yeah, it sounds as though things have gone utterly tits up at Exeter. A real shame that this keeps happens to English clubs. London Wasps, then Worcester and now Exeterzz
A coach or a director who has run the club well moves on and the whole thing goes horribly wrong and it ends up deep in financial do-do.
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@Dodge I am going to offer a controversial opinion to express on the Fern that I think Toulouse are currently better than any team in Super Rugby.
I am going to offer an even more controversial opinion to express on here that I think this article by Stephen Jones on how to fix the European Champions Cup is pretty much spot on.
My plan to revive the insufferable, diminished Champions Cup
First step to improving Investec Champions Cup is to remove the South African sides, but it also needs to drop to 16 teams, with a new final venue each season
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@sparky said in NH club rugby:
@Catogrande Yeah, it sounds as though things have gone utterly tits up at Exeter. A real shame that this keeps happens to English clubs. London Wasps, then Worcester and now Exeterzz
A coach or a director who has run the club well moves on and the whole thing goes horribly wrong and it ends up deep in financial do-do.
Pre-CV Exeter was the only club in the black too, really sad
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@sparky said in NH club rugby:
@Dodge I am going to offer a controversial opinion to express on the Fern that I think Toulouse are currently better than any team in Super Rugby.
I am going to offer an even more controversial opinion to express on here that I think this article by Stephen Jones on how to fix the European Champions Cup is pretty much spot on.
My plan to revive the insufferable, diminished Champions Cup
First step to improving Investec Champions Cup is to remove the South African sides, but it also needs to drop to 16 teams, with a new final venue each season
I have seen several 'club rankings' that put Toulouse top in the world, I agree - I don't think it is controversial at all. The club championship could answer that, but won't as it will be a totally different parts of the season for SR vs NH sides - and thus moot
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I can’t wait for Jones’ column if/when the SA teams are involved at the pointy end
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@sparky said in NH club rugby:
@Dodge I am going to offer a controversial opinion to express on the Fern that I think Toulouse are currently better than any team in Super Rugby.
I am going to offer an even more controversial opinion to express on here that I think this article by Stephen Jones on how to fix the European Champions Cup is pretty much spot on.
My plan to revive the insufferable, diminished Champions Cup
First step to improving Investec Champions Cup is to remove the South African sides, but it also needs to drop to 16 teams, with a new final venue each season
can I be more controversial, when they're up for it, I think they're arguably the best team in the world, club or international. I said as much 12 months ago further up this thread. They're an absolute joy to watch.
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Also, I entirely agree with Stephen Jones' article, which makes me mildly uncomfortable. The English are largely to blame for breaking the HEC, but the rest of rugby has to put its hands up to the abomination that is the structure as it looks today. There should not be 8 English teams in the Champions Cup full stop.
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@MiketheSnow said in NH club rugby:
I can’t wait for Jones’ column if/when the SA teams are involved at the pointy end
By pointy end do you mean bowing out in the QFs again?
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@Dodge said in NH club rugby:
Also, I entirely agree with Stephen Jones' article, which makes me mildly uncomfortable. The English are largely to blame for breaking the HEC, but the rest of rugby has to put its hands up to the abomination that is the structure as it looks today. There should not be 8 English teams in the Champions Cup full stop.
Well, they won’t be there for long.
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I’ve been mulling over that Walrus article and he does make a lot of sense. To me most of it comes down to the overarching problem in rugby administration all over the world in that there is this rush for more rugby cos more rugby = more money. The problem that no-one seems to either see or care about is dilution of the product. There is not the money available within the game to sustain the huge squads necessary for teams to maintain performance across such a crowded schedule. There is not the dedicated fan base to provide enough money on a sustainable basis either.
The rush to chase sponsorship money at the expense of the traditions that hold much loyalty from the longer term fanbase risks watering down that loyalty. Then what happens when the product diminishes? The new fans are likely to melt away and then where are we.
Exeter are a case in point. They have for a long time, been one of the most expensive places to go and watch Prem Rugby. Their view on this “well we’re close to capacity at all home games”. All very well when you are in the mix for trophies but fast forward to today and those impressive gates are declining. The hard core are still there in the main and the poor bloody debenture holders are stuck with it for another year or two, but if they don’t turn it around on the field they may well be fucked.
A day out there for two with a couple of pints and a pasty is well north of £100 and many are looking elsewhere now. I’ve been to watch my old club 5 times this season and haven’t bothered with Exeter at all. Had a good time, seen some very entertaining rugby and saved myself a ton of cash.
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For Exeter read Cardiff
Moved to Cardiff City football stadium chasing the money
Lost the core membership who wanted to watch the match in the heart of the city then go to the club or to town for a few pints after
Moved back to Cardiff Arms Park
Having healthy attendances despite not winning any trophies
Great atmosphere
Finally realised that having double headers makes sense and brings the crowds in
Women match then Cardiff (URC)
Or
Cardiff (Welsh League) then Cardiff (URC)
£24 to stand with a pint in your hand and a Clark’s pie, peas & gravy at half time
The stuff of dreams
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That's some keen pricing. I had a quick look at Exeter's ticket prices and...
For Prem Rugby, adult ticket, it ranges from £30-£50 for standing and £60-£80 for a seat.
Plus of course the beers and the pasties are bloody expensive. Let's not talk about the queues to get either due to the employment of poorly trained temp staff. Without a word of a lie I've been stood at the bar after queuing for 15 minutes to wait to get served while three of these mongtards argue about how to open a bottle of wine.
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Get yourself down to the Arms Park
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Trouble is the rugby related savings are negated by the fuck off rail costs and the price of warm lager on the train. On the plus side I might actually get to have a beer with this hot polish chick I've met online.
