IRB lays down law...

Ok, now the IRB have come out and stated that no club may join a competition without their Unions approval, all the talk about the Welsh Regions leaving the Pro12 and joining the Aviva has been shot down...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25654799

But does this not throw a spanner in the works for the new proposed "English/BT" tournament, as I don't think that has RFU backing does it ?

And if that isn't the case, and the RFU has backed the new "English/BT" tournament, is there anything stopping the Welsh Regions splitting altogether from the WRU and signing with the RFU and hence being allowed to play in the Aviva. They could still play home games where they are, but have nothing at all to do with the WRU. The same way Cardiff City and Swansea are part of the FA and hence play in the FA Cup, Premiership and other tournaments run through the English FA.

So has the IRB stepping in and stating the governance rules, cleared up the problem or made it far worse...


... and just seen on the BBC site, that the Muppet (aka Moffett), who's inept implementation of Regions into Wales in the first place is now looking to be elected in order to resolve the problem... Only in Wales   

This has been covered elsewhere but...

The union that governs a team is based on geography. So the regions could only join the RFU if the WRU agreed (they need WRU agreement to move as well).

No RCC was ever finalised so there was nothing to approve. Whether the RFU would approve or not is rather moot until there is something there.

IRB have similar reaffirmed something that most people already know (including the PRL as they stated any teams that wanted to be in the RCC would need union approval).

The issue would be whether the Regions could demonstrate that the WRU NOT approving a cross-border competition was unlawful. I don't think they would be able to but that would force the WRU to approve the competition.

Thanks Hammer... and first sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, it gets difficult to keep up with all the posts, especially if you can only join the forum occasionally as I can...

Interesting, but understandable, that the governing Union is based geographically, but would be interesting to see how that played out, if (for example) Ospreys decided to leave WRU and join RFU. I cant see how they could be forced into leaving their home.

I guess all of this has been created by the PRL signing a contract (or at least agreeing a principal) with BT which looks like they weren't legally able to sign/agree (according to IRB rules).

... as the saying goes "money is the root of all evil".

Lets hope the old BT slogan can work for the WRU/Regions .. "Its good to talk."

No9 wrote:Thanks Hammer... and first sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, it gets difficult to keep up with all the posts, especially if you can only join the forum occasionally as I can...

Interesting, but understandable, that the governing Union is based geographically, but would be interesting to see how that played out, if (for example) Ospreys decided to leave WRU and join RFU. I cant see how they could be forced into leaving their home.

I guess all of this has been created by the PRL signing a contract (or at least agreeing a principal) with BT which looks like they weren't legally able to sign/agree (according to IRB rules).

... as the saying goes "money is the root of all evil".

Lets hope the old BT slogan can work for the WRU/Regions .. "Its good to talk."

But money is not the root of all evil.  Even factoring women out of the equation, it is almost always power.  You're familiar with 'rather reign in hell than serve in heaven'?  The ERC has power, the PRL and LNR want some.  The WRU has power, the Regions want it.  The FFR has power, the LNR wants some.  No one with power wants to compromise or relinquish some power.  No one without power is satisfied until they get some.  Everyone has clearly overlooked that we are in neither heaven nor hell.  Therefore compromise is required.  

Where is John Milton when we need him?

No9 wrote:Thanks Hammer... and first sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, it gets difficult to keep up with all the posts, especially if you can only join the forum occasionally as I can...

Interesting, but understandable, that the governing Union is based geographically, but would be interesting to see how that played out, if (for example) Ospreys decided to leave WRU and join RFU. I cant see how they could be forced into leaving their home.

I guess all of this has been created by the PRL signing a contract (or at least agreeing a principal) with BT which looks like they weren't legally able to sign/agree (according to IRB rules).

... as the saying goes "money is the root of all evil".

Lets hope the old BT slogan can work for the WRU/Regions .. "Its good to talk."

It was mentioned ages a go so no worries. There are enough complete nonsense threads that one more clarifying something buried in another thread isn't going to upset anyone   

There is still some dispute over the BT deal. The RFU think that they have the TV rights. The press release (so not the contract) for the 8 year EPS agreement said that the PRL have the domestic TV rights except those for the HEC and ACC which they give direction the ERC over. So it would depend how it's worded whether 'new' competitions revert back to the RFU or whether the were included in the 'domestic' part. No idea, not much point worrying about it. But if the RFU ok it then it doesn't matter either way.

Regarding the Ospreys, they can't be forced to leave their home, they need the WRU's agreement to change their ground/base. Basically they can't be registered as a club for another union without their union's approval.

E.g. London Welsh are dual registered with the RFU and WRU. They can only do that with the RFU agreement. They couldn't become fully 'Welsh' without the RFU letting them.