The Future for the PRO14 - Part 4 - A Global Club Championship

First topic message reminder :

Following the Union Balldance of the last 12 months, another union has finally joined the party - SARU. The PRO12 league is gone with Martin Anayi's announcement of a global club championship involving conferences of teams from five unions with the potential for more to be included.

At first glance, it looks like a smart play - albeit somewhat fortuitous with SARU having to shed two teams from the Super Rugby competition. It brings together a lot more viewers that are attractive to media companies and business sponsors. Celtic Rugby Ltd still owns the competition with just its three founding shareholders - IRFU, SRU and WRU. No club or franchise owners involved. FIR failed to meet the required performance that would have made them shareholders at the beginning of July. And SARU weren't persuasive enough to get their seat at the table just yet. Rumours of a new company being set up failed to materialise. But they still signed up to a six-year agreement with £6m in funding each year.

It's not clear if this money is coming from SARU or directly from SuperSport, their broadcast partner. It is SARU who have signed the agreement to provide two teams so presumably the financial buck stops with them. It's more likely the £6m is a participation fee paid by SARU, similar to what FIR was charged when it joined in 2010. Media reports have said that the monies will be split equally amongst the 12 teams with travel and logistics costs for SA trips met centrally by Celtic Rugby Ltd since these will vary for clubs depending on whether they play one or both teams in SA.

Next on Anayi's agenda is the negotiation of a new media deal involving PPV and terrestrial TV, and online platforms. SuperSport may have already got their slice - all 20-22 home games involving Cheetahs and Kings plus some/all of the finals stages. Or perhaps not. Sky and possibly other PPV broadcasters such as Eir Sport may be willing to bid more to be the primary broadcaster for a higher profile, expanded Championship. But Anayi will want to keep a slice for terrestrial TV since they have a much better viewership reach. The current deal is for four years. Would a six-year deal be a better strategic move to guarantee increased revenues for a longer period? It would link in with the duration of the SARU agreement. And it would outlast the current participation agreement for the European Cup run by EPCR.

Further expansion is obviously the other key consideration with possibly other teams from SA, US and Europe coming on board. The danger is that Celtic Rugby goes too far and repeats the mistakes of Super Rugby. Better to build slowly to see if they will still come.

The coming season will be a fascinating one to see how the new structure and Championship beds in. Will attendances increase? Will there be more surprise results and potentially another new team to lift the cup next May?

Roll on 1 September.



Further info on PRO14 can be found here:
http://www.pro14rugby.org/2017/08/01/guinness-pro14-championship-qa/

Twenty five years ago the Welsh league was the equal if not better than anything in England. The clubs eventually got ditched because of the euro competition - it was madness then and hasn't got any better over the years.

Those senior clubs would now probably be in a two league Anglo/Welsh competition by now.

Recwatcher16 wrote:Twenty five years ago the Welsh league was the equal if not better than anything in England. The clubs eventually got ditched because of the euro competition - it was madness then and hasn't got any better over the years.

Those senior clubs would now probably be in a two league Anglo/Welsh competition by now.

Ahhh, the good ol days.

LordDowlais wrote:

Recwatcher16 wrote:Twenty five years ago the Welsh league was the equal if not better than anything in England. The clubs eventually got ditched because of the euro competition - it was madness then and hasn't got any better over the years.

Those senior clubs would now probably be in a two league Anglo/Welsh competition by now.

Ahhh, the good ol days.

I think thats a bit rose tinted.

The Welsh league was fully professional, and was the basis for the Pro 14.
There was the 1998–99 rebel season , but the aim of that was to have a British league, containing the top division English clubs, the two Scottish regional sides (Edinburgh and Glasgow) and four Welsh clubs
(meaning there would have been as many top flight teams in wales as it currently has, the other clubs would still have been in a welsh prem, just like they are now)
In the 1999–2000 season it invited Edinburgh and Glasgow to join creating the Welsh–Scottish League.
2001–02 and in 2002–03 all nine Welsh Premier Division teams were involved with the Scottish and Irish sides.
This is where I think things get confused, by 03/04 Welsh Regional Rugby's financial constraints that left Wales with only five fully professional clubs, so the 5 regional teams were created

So without rose tinted specs, it would have been 4 teams, not lots, in the Anglo/Welsh competition. You may argue that the teams would have been better off in a Anglo/Welsh competition, but I would say Dragons would certainly be in the championship and most likely Cardiff as well, meaning Wales would have only 2 top tier professional teams, compared to the 4 they have now.
If you think the rest may have joined later remember by 02/03 there were only five fully professional clubs.
If the 4 teams left the Welsh Prem would be worse than it is now, as tier would be no Cardiff, Swansea, and 2 other big teams playing in it.
The regions were not fully created because of euro competition, it was the finance in Wales meaning that only 5 teams could be fully professional as well.

You may think that there would have been a lovely two league Anglo/Welsh competition with Welsh teams thriving, I think it more likely that Wales would have only have two top flight professional teams, and a much worse/reduced Welsh Premiership.

When all is say and done, Welsh Rugby is better of in the Pro 14 with 4 professional clubs, and all teams still in the Welsh Prem.
Of course these are all what if's but I think it more likely that Wales would only have had two top tier teams in a Anglo-Welsh league, than the half dozen thriving teams, that some think there would be if it all came about.

Kingshu wrote:When all is say and done, Welsh Rugby is better of in the Pro 14 with 4 professional clubs, and all teams still in the Welsh Prem.
Of course these are all what if's but I think it more likely that Wales would only have had two top tier teams in a Anglo-Welsh league, than the half dozen thriving teams, that some think there would be if it all came about.

hhhmmmmm, I dunno.

Back in the late 90's early 00's Wales had some very competitive club sides. Newport, Swansea, Cardiff, LLanelli, Neath, Pontypridd and perhaps Bridgend and Ebbw Vale would have all been there or there about's.

LordDowlais wrote:

Kingshu wrote:When all is say and done, Welsh Rugby is better of in the Pro 14 with 4 professional clubs, and all teams still in the Welsh Prem.
Of course these are all what if's but I think it more likely that Wales would only have had two top tier teams in a Anglo-Welsh league, than the half dozen thriving teams, that some think there would be if it all came about.

 hhhmmmmm, I dunno.

Back in the late 90's early 00's Wales had some very competitive club sides. Newport, Swansea, Cardiff, LLanelli, Neath, Pontypridd and perhaps Bridgend and Ebbw Vale would have all been there or there about's.

You mean except for the fact that the WRU couldn't afford that many teams and the English didn't want that many?

LordDowlais wrote:

Kingshu wrote:When all is say and done, Welsh Rugby is better of in the Pro 14 with 4 professional clubs, and all teams still in the Welsh Prem.
Of course these are all what if's but I think it more likely that Wales would only have had two top tier teams in a Anglo-Welsh league, than the half dozen thriving teams, that some think there would be if it all came about.

 hhhmmmmm, I dunno.

Back in the late 90's early 00's Wales had some very competitive club sides. Newport, Swansea, Cardiff, LLanelli, Neath, Pontypridd and perhaps Bridgend and Ebbw Vale would have all been there or there about's.

Except they were all broke apart from Neath and Cardiff, so they were amalgamated to help survive.

rodders wrote:Except they were all broke apart from Neath and Cardiff, so they were amalgamated to help survive.

Yes. But what has that got to do with them not being competitive with the English ? At that time, we had teams in Wales that were more than a match for their English counterparts. Also, they were not ALL broke apart from Neath and Cardiff.

LordDowlais wrote:

rodders wrote:Except they were all broke apart from Neath and Cardiff, so they were amalgamated to help survive.

Yes. But what has that got to do with them not being competitive with the English ? At that time, we had teams in Wales that were more than a match for their English counterparts. Also, they were not ALL broke apart from Neath and Cardiff.

Maybe something to do with the fact that if you can't pay the bills you won't be around to compete

marty2086 wrote:Maybe something to do with the fact that if you can't pay the bills you won't be around to compete

marty, I know the history of Welsh rugby thanks. Anyway what has any of this got to do with anything ?

You were waffling on about how great rugby is in the US, now that you have been put to bed on that, you have now decided to have a go at this.

Wales had a fully pro league before regionalism and the Celtic league, we had clubs that were not only a match for the English, but for the French Scottish and Irish as well. Yes we have moved on out of necessity, as have the Irish and the Scots, but it was not because of all bar two Welsh clubs were going broke. There were a number of factors why we needed to move forward. Money just being one point.

LordDowlais wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Maybe something to do with the fact that if you can't pay the bills you won't be around to compete

marty, I know the history of Welsh rugby thanks. Anyway what has any of this got to do with anything ?

You were waffling on about how great rugby is in the US, now that you have been put to bed on that, you have now decided to have a go at this.

Wales had a fully pro league before regionalism and the Celtic league, we had clubs that were not only a match for the English, but for the French Scottish and Irish as well. Yes we have moved on out of necessity, as have the Irish and the Scots, but it was not because of all bar two Welsh clubs were going broke. There were a number of factors why we needed to move forward. Money just being one point.

Put to bed?

You mean after you claiming football was a faster growing sport in the US and being proven wrong? Or after you saying the US couldn't compete despite not having a clue what kind of structures they would have? Or showing that the US have similar player numbers to Ireland who have 4 competitive teams never mind the one or two the US would be putting out? I was really put to bed there

Now on to Wales, I'll try to break it down for. How competitive were London Welsh in the Championship last season? They had a team to compete but didn't see out the season. No point having the players if you can't afford them, hence the problem with your argument but Im sure you'll put me to bed now.

marty2086 wrote:Put to bed? Laugh

You mean after you claiming football was a faster growing sport in the US and being proven wrong? Or after you saying the US couldn't compete despite not having a clue what kind of structures they would have? Or showing that the US have similar player numbers to Ireland who have 4 competitive teams never mind the one or two the US would be putting out? I was really put to bed there Rolling Eyes

Now on to Wales, I'll try to break it down for. How competitive were London Welsh in the Championship last season? They had a team to compete but didn't see out the season. No point having the players if you can't afford them, hence the problem with your argument but Im sure you'll put me to bed now.

marty, you are very tiresome, very sapping, and very annoying on here.

What are you even arguing with me about now ?

You asked me if Wales had a fully professional league before what we have now. I answered that we did, Recwatcher, a fan from England who supports English rugby made this statement.

Recwatcher16 wrote:Twenty five years ago the Welsh league was the equal if not better than anything in England. The clubs eventually got ditched because of the euro competition - it was madness then and hasn't got any better over the years.

Those senior clubs would now probably be in a two league Anglo/Welsh competition by now.

I agreed with him and harked back to the good old days. then you and your Irish friends decided to give me a lesson in Welsh rugby history.

FFS.

The temerity of some of the members on here, who think they are the font of all rugby knowledge is beggars belief.

Only on V2.

From the man who said he put me to bed after being repeatedly proven wrong it' quite ironic

Because someone said something you agree with doesn't make it factual you do know that? It also seems your grasp of the history isn't the best if you agree with Recs 'statement'

marty, you claimed that rugby was one of the fastest growing sports in the US, you then skewed your facts to prove yourself right.

When you actually delve into it, rugby is probably about the 6th fastest growing sports in the US, so as I said, yes you are right, it is ONE of the fastest growing sports in the US, but it is nowhere near where it needs to be. I then countered and asked you to consider, that if rugby is so big in the USA, then where is their pro league, why only one team to be put into the Pro14, none of these have been answered.

Now, you are trying to tell me how it was during the 90's in Welsh rugby when at the time you must have been what ? 10 years old ? I was there, I was supporting and watching, during the late 90's I was a season ticket holder at Pontypridd. I remember epic European games against the Leicesters and Wasps, Toulose, Bath's of this world.

I also remember the league games, where our teams would have to go and play the likes of Dunvant and Treorchy and put cricket scores on them after watching very high standard games between the better teams, this is why we needed change, along with being more professional and needing more money.

LordDowlais wrote:marty, you claimed that rugby was one of the fastest growing sports in the US, you then skewed your facts to prove yourself right.

When you actually delve into it, rugby is probably about the 6th fastest growing sports in the US, so as I said, yes you are right, it is ONE of the fastest growing sports in the US, but it is nowhere near where it needs to be. I then countered and asked you to consider, that if rugby is so big in the USA, then where is their pro league, why only one team to be put into the Pro14, none of these have been answered.

Now, you are trying to tell me how it was during the 90's in Welsh rugby when at the time you must have been what ? 10 years old ? I was there, I was supporting and watching, during the late 90's I was a season ticket holder at Pontypridd. I remember epic European games against the Leicesters and Wasps, Toulose, Bath's of this world.

I also remember the league games, where our teams would have to go and play the likes of Dunvant and Treorchy and put cricket scores on them after watching very high standard games between the better teams, this is why we needed change, along with being more professional and needing more money.

I don't know why a Pro league is so important, Argentina are and were a good side with no domestic pro league, and have only recently added a Pro team.

LordDowlais wrote:marty, you claimed that rugby was one of the fastest growing sports in the US, you then skewed your facts to prove yourself right.

When you actually delve into it, rugby is probably about the 6th fastest growing sports in the US, so as I said, yes you are right, it is ONE of the fastest growing sports in the US, but it is nowhere near where it needs to be. I then countered and asked you to consider, that if rugby is so big in the USA, then where is their pro league, why only one team to be put into the Pro14, none of these have been answered.

Now, you are trying to tell me how it was during the 90's in Welsh rugby when at the time you must have been what ? 10 years old ? I was there, I was supporting and watching, during the late 90's I was a season ticket holder at Pontypridd. I remember epic European games against the Leicesters and Wasps, Toulose, Bath's of this world.

I also remember the league games, where our teams would have to go and play the likes of Dunvant and Treorchy and put cricket scores on them after watching very high standard games between the better teams, this is why we needed change, along with being more professional and needing more money.

Not sure what facts I skewed exactly but nice of you to tell me I did it to prove I was right then turn round and say I was indeed right

Not only was the pro league question answered a number of times, you know why there isn't a league

As for the only no one team, no one knows if there will be one or two. The answers the same as to why there are 4 in Ireland, 4 in Wales, 2 in Scotland and 2 in Italy. It's called sustainability plus they need to walk before they can run

As for the whole what you know about Welsh rugby because you were there, any copper will tell you eye witnesses are the least reliable. Then again there is this

Graham Henry wrote:It was right to reject this paltry offer. What was proposed wasn't British, just a few Welsh clubs in a predominantly English league which would have been no good to anyone

So much for all those Welsh teams being competitive in an Anglo Welsh league when half them weren't welcome

Kingshu wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:marty, you claimed that rugby was one of the fastest growing sports in the US, you then skewed your facts to prove yourself right.

When you actually delve into it, rugby is probably about the 6th fastest growing sports in the US, so as I said, yes you are right, it is ONE of the fastest growing sports in the US, but it is nowhere near where it needs to be. I then countered and asked you to consider, that if rugby is so big in the USA, then where is their pro league, why only one team to be put into the Pro14, none of these have been answered.

Now, you are trying to tell me how it was during the 90's in Welsh rugby when at the time you must have been what ? 10 years old ? I was there, I was supporting and watching, during the late 90's I was a season ticket holder at Pontypridd. I remember epic European games against the Leicesters and Wasps, Toulose, Bath's of this world.

I also remember the league games, where our teams would have to go and play the likes of Dunvant and Treorchy and put cricket scores on them after watching very high standard games between the better teams, this is why we needed change, along with being more professional and needing more money.

I don't know why a Pro league is so important, Argentina are and were a good side with no domestic pro league, and have only recently added a Pro team.

Because in LDs head not being able to sustain a league of 10/12 teams means you obviously cant sustain one team.

This is the guy who argued because of the Eagles ranking it obviously means they cant compete in the Pro14 because Ireland are 4th in the world and the Provinces have Irish test players in them.

Don't forget that US sports are solely American and don't have teams from outside America and everything is sponsored isn't that right LD? By the way since we are chasing up unanswered questions can you tell me who sponsors the World Series and where the Blue Jays play?

Recwatcher16 wrote:Twenty five years ago the Welsh league was the equal if not better than anything in England. The clubs eventually got ditched because of the euro competition - it was madness then and hasn't got any better over the years.

Those senior clubs would now probably be in a two league Anglo/Welsh competition by now.

Being competitive in a completely different era means absoulstly nothing. Sure Dundalk (Irish football club) played Real Madrid in a European QF 30+ years ago and look at where the respective clubs are now. The Welsh teams had do what they did in order to stay competitive. If the Welsh can't get behind a great club like the Scarlets what chance does any club have?

http://m.sarugbymag.co.za/?postslug=/#sa-to-get-two-new-franchises

Looks like SA are planning on having 8 professional teams with 4 in the Pro 14. As mention earlier It'll most likily be the Currie cup teams Griquas and Pumas.

I suspect in 2020 they will enter them but i suspect the one will go to Super Rugby and one to Pro 14 and one of the established Super Rugby teams will move to Pro 14.

I Think that the western teams will be Pro 14 and eastern teams Super rugby to keep derbies. Ie Pro 16 SA teams would be Griquas, Cheetahs, Kings and Stormers, but that's speculation as I don't know if Stormers expressed and interest but Sharks have, that could change if Cheetahs do well and get money from entering Champions cup as well.

Kingshu wrote:http://m.sarugbymag.co.za/?postslug=/#sa-to-get-two-new-franchises

Looks like SA are planning on having 8 professional teams with 4 in the Pro 14. As mention earlier It'll most likily be the Currie cup teams Griquas and Pumas.

I suspect in 2020 they will enter them but i suspect the one will go to Super Rugby and one to Pro 14 and one of the established Super Rugby teams will move to Pro 14.

I Think that the western teams will be Pro 14 and eastern teams Super rugby to keep derbies. Ie Pro 16 SA teams would be Griquas, Cheetahs, Kings and Stormers, but that's speculation as I don't know if Stormers expressed and interest but Sharks have, that could change if Cheetahs do well and get money from entering Champions cup as well.

That's consistent with what's been said by Roux to date. Stormer and Sharks both expressed interest according to previous reports. Using the Anglowelsh comp as a stepping stone to a league in 2020 makes sense. Does this mean the suggested involvement of the Irish and Scottish clubs to create a proper B&I Cup during test windows has been dropped?

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Recwatcher16 wrote:Twenty five years ago the Welsh league was the equal if not better than anything in England. The clubs eventually got ditched because of the euro competition - it was madness then and hasn't got any better over the years.

Those senior clubs would now probably be in a two league Anglo/Welsh competition by now.

Being competitive in a completely different era means absoulstly nothing. Sure Dundalk (Irish football club) played Real Madrid in a European QF 30+ years ago and look at where the respective clubs are now. The Welsh teams had do what they did in order to stay competitive. If the Welsh can't get behind a great club like the Scarlets what chance does any club have?

Reminiscing with a Welshman appears to have touched a nerve with some Irish fans on here, when it had nothing to do with them. They seem to believe they know best for Welsh clubs too - curious.

Recwatcher16 wrote:Reminiscing with a Welshman appears to have touched a nerve with some Irish fans on here, when it had nothing to do with them. They seem to believe they know best for Welsh clubs too - curious.

Yes curious indeed.

Welcome to the world of some of our average Irish members on here and their constant craving to always be right.

Recwatcher16 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Recwatcher16 wrote:Twenty five years ago the Welsh league was the equal if not better than anything in England. The clubs eventually got ditched because of the euro competition - it was madness then and hasn't got any better over the years.

Those senior clubs would now probably be in a two league Anglo/Welsh competition by now.

Being competitive in a completely different era means absoulstly nothing. Sure Dundalk (Irish football club) played Real Madrid in a European QF 30+ years ago and look at where the respective clubs are now. The Welsh teams had do what they did in order to stay competitive. If the Welsh can't get behind a great club like the Scarlets what chance does any club have?

Reminiscing with a Welshman appears to have touched a nerve with some Irish fans on here, when it had nothing to do with them. They seem to believe they know best for Welsh clubs too - curious.

Or "the irish" are giving an opinion, just like you are?

LordDowlais wrote:

Recwatcher16 wrote:Reminiscing with a Welshman appears to have touched a nerve with some Irish fans on here, when it had nothing to do with them. They seem to believe they know best for Welsh clubs too - curious.

Yes curious indeed.

Welcome to the world of some of our average Irish members on here and their constant craving to always be right.

Relax, LD. You're coming across as anti-Irish. Cool yer jets boy.

LordDowlais wrote:

Recwatcher16 wrote:Reminiscing with a Welshman appears to have touched a nerve with some Irish fans on here, when it had nothing to do with them. They seem to believe they know best for Welsh clubs too - curious.

Yes curious indeed.

Welcome to the world of some of our average Irish members on here and their constant craving to always be right.

Thats from the guy who claims he puts people to bed

With the first Premiership match airing on Channel 5 over the weekend, it gave Mark McCafferty an opportunity to air his views on the broadcasting future for the Premiership rights.

He was dutifully praiseworthy of Sky and BT in helping to build rugby TV audiences. Nonetheless, in his remarks he pointed to future deals becoming more fragmented with the presence of more platforms being available such as Facebook and Amazon to target niche markets/new viewers. Underlying his remarks is the acknowledgement that BT viewing figures have been disappointingly short for both the expectations of PRL and for BT.

There’s a few signs that a single broadcasting deal will no longer be the best option in the future, nor will one broadcaster such as BT be willing to pay expected increases in rights fees when they come up for grabs at end of 2020/21 season.

The cited approach outlined by Anayi to securing best value in each broadcasting territory in the PRO14 rather than one overall deal may yet be the outcome of the TV rights renewal this season.

There’s a mid-agreement review in 2020 on the SA teams to see how well the teams are doing. If Kings repeat this season for next two years, they’ll be likely pulled. If it goes well then 1-2 more SA teams is likely with potentially an extension to SARU’s participation agreement and opening up of shareholding in Celtic Rugby company. Italy will be looking to get a holding again, but if they still owe money, then unlikely.

http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/


Eir sport outbids sky according to this article. Its light on detail though.

Too soon to say told you so?

profitius wrote:http://www.the42.ie/eir-sport-pro14-tv-rights-3793899-Jan2018/


Eir sport outbids sky according to this article. Its light on detail though.

Yeah - saw that Prof. In line with what a few of us were saying on here previously given eirSport’s successful bids on other rugby comps. Wales Online have translated this story into saying Sky will not be bidding for the UK rights as a result.

Anayi did say they would seek to get best value deals in each territory, so a combo of FTA with BBC and possibly BT in those territories?

Eirsport has a deal with BT Sport to broadcast the Champs Cup when they take over, so they are probably the most likely ones for the UK market (which would have a lot of Irish people living there who would support the Provinces).

Worth a read here: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/big-media-transfer-the-man-who-swapped-rt%C3%A9-for-eir-1.3167448

Sin é wrote:Eirsport has a deal with BT Sport to broadcast the Champs Cup when they take over, so they are probably the most likely ones for the UK market (which would have a lot of Irish people living there who would support the Provinces).

Worth a read here:  https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/big-media-transfer-the-man-who-swapped-rt%C3%A9-for-eir-1.3167448

That kinda makes sense, Sin. Although, are EirSport just relaying BT generated content or making their own programme from BT produced match footage or producing match-days in Ireland only? If Sky have dropped out, then BT is a possible partner, but it will be competing against Premiership Rugby on its own channels. And I presume BBC will want to keep its domestic oar in the waters.

What happens if BT Sport doesn't bid for the UK rights, as they want their Aviva Premeirship to remain the sole uk rugby league on it's channels?

This looks like a link up between Eir sport and Premier sports. The pro14 have taken Eir sports' deal for Irish rights. Meanwhile Sky TV have pulled out of the pro14 as they wanted exclusive coverage of both UK and Ireland. Not just UK.

So now, in order to watch your team in all competitions, you'll have to subscribe to:

Sky Tv (European competitions)
BT Sport (European competitions)
Premier Sport (Pro 14)
Eir Sport (Pro14 Irish fixtures)
+ Free to air tv

Or you could just go down the pub to watch Premier sports - oh no you can't because no pubs subscribe to Premier sport.

Great.

RugbyFan100 wrote:This looks like a link up between Eir sport and Premier sports. The pro14 have taken Eir sports' deal for Irish rights. Meanwhile Sky TV have pulled out of the pro14 as they wanted exclusive coverage of both UK and Ireland. Not just UK.

So now, in order to watch your team in all competitions, you'll have to subscribe to:

Sky Tv (European competitions)
BT Sport (European competitions)
Premier Sport (Pro 14)
Eir Sport (Pro14 Irish fixtures)
+ Free to air tv

Or you could just go down the pub to watch Premier sports - oh no you can't because no pubs subscribe to Premier sport.

Great.

Why would you subscribe to Sky for European fixtures when they don't have the rights?

And why would you need to subscribe to Premier and Eir? You need Eir to watch in Ireland Premier to watch in the UK and you get both if you subscribe to BT so you just need to get BT

marty2086 wrote:

[Why would you subscribe to Sky for European fixtures when they don't have the rights?

BT Sport have exclusive rights as from next season don't they. My bad.

And why would you need to subscribe to Premier and Eir? You need Eir to watch in Ireland Premier to watch in the UK and you get both if you subscribe to BT so you just need to get BT

Because the rumour is that the pay tv company that is showing the saturday games next year in the UK is Premier Sports. I have Virgin Media. So I need to subscribe to Premier Sport to get this if this rumour is true.

That would leave me unable to get Eir sport, as I don't think it is available on Virgin tv.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

[Why would you subscribe to Sky for European fixtures when they don't have the rights?

BT Sport have exclusive rights as from next season don't they. My bad.

And why would you need to subscribe to Premier and Eir? You need Eir to watch in Ireland Premier to watch in the UK and you get both if you subscribe to BT so you just need to get BT

Because the rumour is that the pay tv company that is showing the saturday games next year in the UK is Premier Sports. I have Virgin Media. So I need to subscribe to Premier Sport to get this if this rumour is true.

That would leave me unable to get Eir sport, as I don't think it is available on Virgin tv.

Eir sport is for watching in Ireland, if you are in the UK you need Premier, you don't need both

So not sure what your complaint is

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

[Why would you subscribe to Sky for European fixtures when they don't have the rights?

BT Sport have exclusive rights as from next season don't they. My bad.

And why would you need to subscribe to Premier and Eir? You need Eir to watch in Ireland Premier to watch in the UK and you get both if you subscribe to BT so you just need to get BT

Because the rumour is that the pay tv company that is showing the saturday games next year in the UK is Premier Sports. I have Virgin Media. So I need to subscribe to Premier Sport to get this if this rumour is true.

That would leave me unable to get Eir sport, as I don't think it is available on Virgin tv.

Eir sport is for watching in Ireland, if you are in the UK you need Premier, you don't need both

So not sure what your complaint is

Will all games on Eir sport also be on Premier sports if that rumoured deal is true?

The complaint is that yet another subscription based service is needed. It would have been ideal to get an established organisation showing the league. Sky or BT.

Premier sports are an absolute shambles, not well established and unlikely to be shown anywhere in pubs / bars etc

Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

marty2086 wrote:Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

So there will be a free to air package available in the UK (Eir sports) that allows people based in the UK to watch some of the Irish provinces games. Is that right?

As long as BBC2 Wales an S4C still have the rights, that should keep me all rugby'd up.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

So there will be a free to air package available in the UK (Eir sports) that allows people based in the UK to watch some of the Irish provinces games. Is that right?

You're trolling right?

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

So there will be a free to air package available in the UK (Eir sports) that allows people based in the UK to watch some of the Irish provinces games. Is that right?

You're trolling right?

Sorry not free to air , I mean pay tv.

Will UK based viewers be able to subscribe to Eir sports to watch their teams play against the Irish provinces?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

So there will be a free to air package available in the UK (Eir sports) that allows people based in the UK to watch some of the Irish provinces games. Is that right?

You're trolling right?

Sorry not free to air , I mean pay tv.

Will UK based viewers be able to subscribe to Eir sports to watch their teams play against the Irish provinces?

No. They'll watch their UK teams on BBC Wales...and LD is happy.

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

So there will be a free to air package available in the UK (Eir sports) that allows people based in the UK to watch some of the Irish provinces games. Is that right?

You're trolling right?

Sorry not free to air , I mean pay tv.

Will UK based viewers be able to subscribe to Eir sports to watch their teams play against the Irish provinces?

The Irish rights aren't the rights to show games from Ireland, it's the rights to show Pro14 games to viewers in Ireland

Just out of curiosity, how much will this new deal be worth to the Pro14 ?

One million dollars.

LordDowlais wrote:Just out of curiosity, how much will this new deal be worth to the Pro14 ?

BILLIONS, LD!  

BILLIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

So there will be a free to air package available in the UK (Eir sports) that allows people based in the UK to watch some of the Irish provinces games. Is that right?

You're trolling right?

Sorry not free to air , I mean pay tv.

Will UK based viewers be able to subscribe to Eir sports to watch their teams play against the Irish provinces?

The Irish rights aren't the rights to show games from Ireland, it's the rights to show Pro14 games to viewers in Ireland

So if they can access BBC / S4C feeds in Ireland, why would they pay for Eir sport?

So nobody knows then ?

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

RugbyFan100 wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Well I haven't seen the deal but since like I have said twice already Eir will have the rights to show games in Ireland and Premier to how them in the UK what one shows is irrelevant to the other since they will operate in different jurisdictions

So there will be a free to air package available in the UK (Eir sports) that allows people based in the UK to watch some of the Irish provinces games. Is that right?

You're trolling right?

Sorry not free to air , I mean pay tv.

Will UK based viewers be able to subscribe to Eir sports to watch their teams play against the Irish provinces?

The Irish rights aren't the rights to show games from Ireland, it's the rights to show Pro14 games to viewers in Ireland

So if they can access BBC / S4C feeds in Ireland, why would they pay for Eir sport?

Coz BBC don't do internet and phone packages?... and BBC Wales will mostly for some strange reason only show Pro14 games with one Welsh side in it....