Siberian team qualifies for Challenge Cup

Gone largely unnoticed but a team from Krasnoyark in Siberia has won a playoff game against a Romanian team for a place in next season's Challenge Cup. A handy 10 points you might think for the Celtic, French and English teams - until you consider that the December back to back ga mes will involve a trip into the depths of the Siberian winter, apparently it regularly hits -20 in Krasnoyarsk in December. Sounds fun

brennomac wrote:Gone largely unnoticed but a team from Krasnoyark in Siberia has won a playoff game against a Romanian team for a place in next season's Challenge Cup.   A handy 10 points you might think for the Celtic, French and English teams - until you consider that the December back to back ga mes will involve a trip into the depths of the Siberian winter, apparently it regularly hits -20 in Krasnoyarsk in December.  Sounds fun

And how much will travelling to Siberia cost the already cash strapped regions in Wales ? As I have said before, Europe has been ruined by the PRL/LNR. Nobody will send their first choice side out to Krackinmyarse to play rugby in -20 temperatures. The whole second tier is a joke.

Look at the positive: free cryogenic therapy!

Rugby Europe dictated that Yenisy-STM played their home leg at Sochi which, despite being the Winter Olympics venue, has a pretty mild climate. It's still in Asia, though, not Europe and doesn't have much of a rugby following - not sure how many home fans would travel across a couple of timezones to get there if they are forced to play there in the Challenge Cup.

Ring fence the competition?

Where is this third tier competition for the development countries ? Or is this just another lie spouted by the organisations to get what they wanted ?

Don't know, I was asking you if you wanted ring fenced comps?

Ah yes

Its too cold in Russia so our 18 stone rugby players can't possibly be asked to travel over there.

Never stopped those diving nancies we call footballers heading over to Moscow, St Petersburg etc for games

No 7&1/2 wrote:Don't know, I was asking you if you wanted ring fenced comps?

It is of my opinion that the second tier comp should be scrapped altogether.

Scrapped? Never. Our exfoliating, cultured friends from Luvvietown would have nothing to aspire to. I think the MFL could take the Siberians, easy. Over two legs of course.

LordDowlais wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Don't know, I was asking you if you wanted ring fenced comps?

It is of my opinion that the second tier comp should be scrapped altogether.

And an expanded mess of a top comp?

No 7&1/2 wrote:And an expanded mess of a top comp?

Yes have one competition for all, and then we could focus more on prioritisng our leagues.

Ah so you would ruin the top competition by having an increased number of cricket score matches.

No 7&1/2 wrote:And an expanded mess of a top comp?

Yes have one competition for all, and then we could focus more on prioritisng our leagues.

PS travel expenses come out of the central pot so "cash starved regions" would not be penalised.

LordDowlais wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:And an expanded mess of a top comp?

Yes have one competition for all, and then we could focus more on prioritisng our leagues.

You'd then risk the same thing as your original post?

LordDowlais wrote:Where is this third tier competition for the development countries ? Or is this just another lie spouted by the organisations to get what they wanted ?

From the Telegraph in Sept 2012 - "The Manifesto"

"A third European tournament, another Premier Rugby inducement, involving eight teams from Russia, Georgia, Spain and Portugal, played out in September and providing a route through to the Challenge Cup, is also seen as a vehicle with which to exploit a dormant, but potentially lucrative, market and generate more funds in the years ahead."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9545233/Battle-lines-drawn-in-Europe-over-Heineken-Cup-and-English-clubs-huge-TV-deal-with-BT-Vision.html


From the Mediators statement in Oct 2013 - "Agreement in Principle"

"The Secondary Competition would consist of up to 20 clubs made up of the remaining 18 PRL, LNR and Pro12 clubs. Two places could be allocated to clubs qualifying from a third competition".

http://www.epcrugby.com/news/25300.php#.VUiy5o5Vikp


From Walesonline in April 2014 - "The Peace Deal"

The size of the third-tier Qualifying Competition is yet to be confirmed, with planning still ongoing. It will feature between eight and 12 teams, including clubs from the likes Georgia, Romania and Russia, along with Italian sides. The two finalists in this competition will qualify for the Challenge Cup the following season.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/european-rugby-champions-cup-idiots-6951859


The Qualifying Competition for this season was held in September, comprising Georgian, Romanian and Italian teams - but only 4 of them and none from Spain,Portugal or Russia. BIG LIE

The Qualifying Competition for next season's Challenge Cup has just completed and comprised 8 teams from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Russia and Romania - but none from Georgia and it was held over the winter. BIG LIE


I'm just wondering which of those lies causes the most anguish?

BamBam wrote:Ah yes

Its too cold in Russia so our 18 stone rugby players can't possibly be asked to travel over there.

Never stopped those diving nancies we call footballers heading over to Moscow, St Petersburg etc for games

Has anyone actually punched Krasnoyarsk into google maps to see where it is?

It certainly looks absolutely nothing like St Petersburg or Moscow.

I have just done that RR, it actually looks like a really nice place.

Yeah I don't doubt that LD but it is absolutely miles away. It's closer to Mongolia than it is to anywhere in Europe!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Yeah I don't doubt that LD but it is absolutely miles away. It's closer to Mongolia than it is to anywhere in Europe!

Yes it's past Kazakhstan, is it even in Europe ?

Yep further away than Borat's country, north of Mongolia. Didn't Ireland have to go to Siberia once for a RWC qualifier though that wasn't in the middle of the winter.

I thought the point had been made that their home matches will not be in Siberia?

It really was a massive upset for them to beat Baia Maire given the budgets and players that the Romanian clubs have.

The Romanian team had major problems securing visa's to get into the country and the game almost didn't even go ahead. The referees all failed to get visa's and they had to bring in a team of Italian refs to do the game. Could this be an issue for the Challenge cup?