Suggestions for the Rabbo Pro 12 going forward.

First topic message reminder :

There was an interesting discussion at lunch yesterday over a proposed but yet un-announced concept of generating more money for lower positioned clubs in the Rabbo Pro 12.

It has been suggested that within the Championship, for the benefit of competition and profit, that a championship within the league be organised for the future. That national teams playing derbies would be fighting for a different, seperately sponsored prize as well as the overall championship, added to this also seperately sponsored inter-national trophies for most wins over certain rival nations, including trophies/prize money for Welsh/Irish, scots/Italian etc etc etc...!

The reason being that it gives other battles and other opportunities to mid table teams hopefully further improving the competition, the audience (at the ticket office and tv company) the profit to be made and to decrease the margins of difference between top teams and bottom.

I can see many benefits and was quite sold on the idea, keen to hear your thoughts.

Notch wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:By what metrics do you believe that the Pro 12 is getting better every season? Do you believe that Cardiff gave their all in the league this season? Scarlets? Even Connacht who had HC distractions (well they probably did given their parlous state). Did Aironi? One does have to wonder that if you had told the clubs in the Pro 12 in January that only the top 7 were going to qualify for HC , what difference that might have made to performances? Or that there was an incremental placing bonus rising from €250k starting at 7th in the league? Or that only the top 6 get into the Heineken Cup, the remainder into the Amlin? They'd still be playing European rugby, just not at the premium level.

I think that pretty much is then case, except for every position on the table.

I thought that any money from any competitions went straight to the unions and then they divided it up accordingly. So in Wales the Ospreys didn't really see in financial gain from winning the league last season. I could be wrong though (it does occationally happen).

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Notch wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:By what metrics do you believe that the Pro 12 is getting better every season? Do you believe that Cardiff gave their all in the league this season? Scarlets? Even Connacht who had HC distractions (well they probably did given their parlous state). Did Aironi? One does have to wonder that if you had told the clubs in the Pro 12 in January that only the top 7 were going to qualify for HC , what difference that might have made to performances? Or that there was an incremental placing bonus rising from €250k starting at 7th in the league? Or that only the top 6 get into the Heineken Cup, the remainder into the Amlin? They'd still be playing European rugby, just not at the premium level.

I think that pretty much is then case, except for every position on the table.

I thought that any money from any competitions went straight to the unions and then they divided it up accordingly. So in Wales the Ospreys didn't really see in financial gain from winning the league last season. I could be wrong though (it does occationally happen).

I would say that I agree the Rabbo improves year on year as the nature of the design of the sides encourages the academies of the teams involved to do more, it also gives more gametime to those young players than other leagues.

This maybe weakened the quality a few years ago but now those players are decent performers and have raised the bar. Nearly all teams in the Rabbo can put out very strong first and second teams, they can focus on both HEC and Rabbo.

I would though maybe enjoy seeing the HEC and Amlin Qualification allocated by Rabbo league position rather than by appointment of that teams national union. As mentioned above. THough i am aware that that has its upsides and downsides.

Maes - I do get what you mean about HEC/Amlin Qualification being on the league placings, however looking at the League as it stands now, the only difference it would make is that the Dragons and Connacht would automatically qualify instead of Edinburgh and Aironi. But then with the extra HEC slot that would be gainned by Ulster winning the HEC (or Leinster), then Edinburgh would also be qualified for next season. This would leave mean the only change would be Dragons for Aironi.

True..

Thats why the idea of creating more from within what we already have may be a better option?