The Future for the PRO14 - Part 6 - Pay TV, More SA Makes Sweet 16

by Pot Hale Sat Jul 07, 2018 7:10 pm

A new thread to continue the tracking of where the multi-country Championship is heading.

With the TV deals done for Ireland, UK, Italy and South Africa, PRO14 quietly announced their deal for tapping other broadcast markets around the world with rights partner, RDA, who already have the Heineken Cup and English Premiership in their stable.

Here’s extract from what the PRO14 press release said:

Guinness PRO14 is the first rugby union championship to host clubs from the traditional rugby powers in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with teams from South Africa competing against the top sides from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy.....

....RDA’s focus will be on growing revenues in core markets as well as increasing the Guinness PRO14’s global footprint. Current media agreements in host markets secured by PRO14 include eir sport in Ireland, Premier Sports in the UK and Super Sport in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Martin Anayi, CEO, Guinness PRO14 commented: “It’s an incredible time in the Guinness PRO14 with our expansion into South Africa, the success of our clubs in Europe and the confirmation of our new broadcast partners in Ireland and the UK. Every season the biggest names in world rugby take to the pitch in our Championship guided by some of the sharpest minds in the game providing imaginative, high-intensity match-ups which make for compulsive viewing.

“The Guinness PRO14 is one of the most talked about rugby properties in the world right now and it’s the perfect time to join forces with RDA who have a track record of success when it comes to sports media rights. With brands such as Premiership Rugby, Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup in their portfolio we can ensure that rugby fans will feel a part of the Guinness PRO14 action no matter where they are.”

...,Richard Dennis, CEO, RDA commented: “The Guinness PRO14 is an action-packed tournament. With a global-playing base of 300 players capped at full international level, and 100 top players from countries such as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the Pacific Islands, PRO14 will have a worldwide appeal to rugby fans. It also boasts some impressive stats, 1.3 million attendees last season and games averaging 5.9 tries, so it’s no surprise scoring has risen for the fifth year in a row. We’re very much excited to be working with the Guinness PRO14.”

RDA adds the Guinness PRO14 to a strong rugby portfolio covering the newly sponsored Champions Cup, European Challenge Cup, Premiership Rugby, Betfred Super League and the RFL International Test Series.

Anayi in another pre-season general interview said that PRO16 would be the ideal size for the Championship that would allow less regular season games to be played and avoid test windows. It’s likely the final two spots would go to two more SA teams - likely from Super Rugby before the start of its new Sanzaar TV contract in 2020.

Anayi also mentioned that they were bringing in a new programme to allow them employ professional referees directly on their elite refs panel.

by Brendan Sat Jul 07, 2018 9:51 pm

People from the Pro 14 area might not like the league but seems others do.

Definitely we seem to becoming a more professionally run organisation and reaping the rewards. Next few years will be important for first catching up with the other two leagues and second for impressing South Africa.

From a union point of view the less strain the league teams put on their finance and the more self sustaining the league becomes the happier they will be.

by ScarletSpiderman Sat Jul 07, 2018 11:34 pm

The one thing that I don’t think many people can argue is the ProXX (insert number) has the ingredients to be a good product. There are the top players from four nations, decent teams, and osssionate fans. Maybe people outside the bubble see those things, whereas us inside the bubble see things we could be doing to improve it for us, rather than as a product in general.

by Recwatcher16 Sun Jul 08, 2018 9:53 am

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/lucky-waratahs-are-the-beneficiaries-of-dud-super-rugby-system-20180706-p4zpva.html

The Pro14 format is still new, but the above scenario will happen at some point - either real or imagined.
How the Pro14 management and fans react to it will be key to the future of the format.

The NFL deals with unbalanced conferences by having a draft player system to maintain credibility but rugby nations in a conference structure is a different dynamic. It will be interesting to watch.

by geoff999rugby Sun Jul 08, 2018 10:59 am

Why?

Super Rugby is warped to give the other Nations a chance against the Kiwis
Pro14 is straight up fight between teams with no structural bias shown to a particular nation.
Success or failure is based on how the teams and the Unions organise themselves.
That wont change

by Guest Sun Jul 08, 2018 12:20 pm

Recwatcher16 wrote:https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/lucky-waratahs-are-the-beneficiaries-of-dud-super-rugby-system-20180706-p4zpva.html

The Pro14 format is still new, but the above scenario will happen at some point - either real or imagined.
How the Pro14 management and fans react to it will be key to the future of the format.

The NFL deals with unbalanced conferences by having a draft player system to maintain credibility but rugby nations in a conference structure is a different dynamic. It will be interesting to watch.

I might be missing the point, or over simplifying the solution, but I don’t really see unbalanced conferences being difficult to fix. The quality of any conference is going to be difficult to predict accurately until the season is actually underway because the teams you thought would be strong might have a stinker, and the opposite perhaps for the weak teams (like the Dragons next season who are going to walk the league Wink

). But if conferences are just based on the previous season’s finishing places then that should get a fairly even spread of teams, shouldn’t it? Just switch the conferences up at the end of each season if they’re looking like too many weak/strong teams in one conference.

by broadlandboy Sun Jul 08, 2018 1:28 pm

To help the spread of rugby a 2nd division with promotion & relegation would be beneficial as very few developing countries could support a professional league

by Kingshu Sun Jul 08, 2018 3:14 pm

broadlandboy wrote:To help the spread of rugby a 2nd division with promotion & relegation would be beneficial as very few developing countries could support a professional league

Why does this come up, which Union the WRU SRU IRFU FIR SARU, will vote to have a risk of some or all its teams in a 2nd division?
Developing the game is noble but it also has to benefit the Unions already involved.

A team based in Spain which only uses 2nd tier players and 5 non second tier players would be better. Maybe a Belgium team that just uses Pacific islanders (and guarentees their release early for international training camps etc) would be better.

by Guest Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:06 pm

Yeah, was going to write the same as Kingshu. Rugby development worldwide is a noble gesture, but which unions are going to condemn themselves and their teams to the 2nd tier. It would be turkeys voting for chirstmas!

On the PRO14 conferences themselves, how did they decide them last time? Could they not just use the European rankings and place the top PRO14 team in conference A, the 2nd in the euro rankings in B, 3rd in A, 4th in B, etc? Messes up the derbies thing then though potentially, but would give an even split I guess.

by geoff999rugby Sun Jul 08, 2018 6:49 pm

A 2nd Division is not even close to being commercially viable - complete non starter

by doctor_grey Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:09 am

I suggest relegating Munster. They win too much....

by geoff999rugby Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:28 pm

On the contrary nothing since 2011

by Brendan Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:29 pm

As we saw last year teams over and under performed.

Conference A was a nice fight all the way through.
Conference B Edinburgh & Treviso exceeded expectations. This year all going well the Dragon will improve so that only leaves the Kings. As teams have to play Leinster and Scarlets (the two best teams) it's probably fair they get the Kings to even it out.

by marty2086 Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:50 pm

Recwatcher16 wrote:https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/lucky-waratahs-are-the-beneficiaries-of-dud-super-rugby-system-20180706-p4zpva.html

The Pro14 format is still new, but the above scenario will happen at some point - either real or imagined.
How the Pro14 management and fans react to it will be key to the future of the format.

The NFL deals with unbalanced conferences by having a draft player system to maintain credibility but rugby nations in a conference structure is a different dynamic. It will be interesting to watch.

Not sure how you figure out that it could happen in the Pro14, considering every team plays every other team at least once during the season. The problem highlighted about the Lions is they avoided playing the NZ franchises who are the strongest teams, that doesn't happen in the Pro14.

The issue with the Waratahs is that the 4th or 5th best team could be champions? Sure that can happen in any league where the champions are decided by play offs, in fact it's never happened in the Pro14/12/Celtic League but has in the AP though I doubt they were called false champions Rolling Eyes

by Brendan Mon Jul 09, 2018 12:58 pm

On the second division i would love to see it but only as a development tool to bring teams up not send others down.

As an example each of the B6N had a team in the league add in an italian team aswell and maybe North Wales.. Teams are given conditions to meet to be able to move up (structure/sustainablity). They would also need to meet certain playing standards to show they wouldn't be 70-0 walk overs. These could include finishing 3rd or higher in Challenge cup groups for 3-5 seasons. Or their average position for 5 years needs to be third. Look at how well the Jags are doing in S15 v how rubbish the national team is. Get all Rominia's home players playing together and they would improve to a decent level.

The Pro 14 is set up in a way to add teams and don't need to demote teams. The problem with super rugby is not the conference system but the way the best teams don't get rewarded. When the fourth team is one conference is getting more than the top team in another conference we would feel the same way. When they had S18 they could of mixed the OZ and NZ conferences to make it fairer. If Ulster had got more points than Glasgow we would have felt the same way

The great thing about our league is that as long as the top 2 Irish are kept part and they have the top Welsh and Scottish on different sides then the top teams will always be in the playoffs. As Edinburgh showed the chasing pack aren't far behind either.

by Kingshu Mon Jul 09, 2018 4:47 pm

To be honest I never liked the idea of conferences as it creates an imbalance, however I am prepared to accept them for the greater good of the league, but I would like them as balanced as possible.

Since we do need conferences here are a few ways I think that they could be arranged in the fairest possible ways.

1) Reclassify the Derbies, they create an extra imbalance that the league could do without.
Is it fair some teams have to play Leinster and Munster and another plays Southern Kings twice instead (the teams it is unfair for now will change overtime)?

The way I see it is the league should forget about Derbies (they do still have place if you keep reading), just play home and away in your conference and home or away in the other (not completely balanced but better than now).

The Derbies not in the fixture list leave the Pro 14 control, and become the Unions Cup games to arrange and sell (maybe have on domestic TV)

For example, a 4 team Union like WRU, IRFU and in time SARU, in the league fixtures 2 teams will be in the same conference, the aggregate winner, in each conference will play each other outside the league in a cup game, and the two losers will play for a Shield.

Using last years results and Welsh teams.
In conference A, Ospreys beat Blues 55-51 on agg so they qualify for Cup, Blues for Shield
in Conference B, Scarlets beat Dragons 80-21 on agg so they qualify for Cup, Dragons for Shield

In means judgement day could be held, with no impact on league results, as a double header for Shield then Cup in MS. (No team loses home advantage during league)
Opener Dragons V Blues for Shield, then Ospreys play Scarlets for Cup.
This is sold and marketed by the WRU and it keeps TV money etc, therefore, it is in its benefit, to make sure the top players are not rested for it, and it is and continues to be a meaningful fixture.

IRFU would have sold
Connacht V Ulster Shield,
Leinster V Munster Cup, Aviva double header.

The trade off for this is that at least one home derby game will be missed per team per season.

Two team unions, could either, have a one off game for a Cup, or home and away agg for Cup.

Double header may not be IRFU or SARU's cup of tea, so missing derbies can be played like now but not count towards league and have either separate inter pro table with trophy, or arrange as a aggregate Cup?

Advantages/disadvantages
League is fairer and more balanced.
Pro 14 loses some of its biggest games, but since the Unions own the Pro 14 and the games are just moved under their control is this a loss to the Pro 14?
The Unions sell these games (may have to include them in current TV agreement so no extra there) but in future could sell separately to domestic TV, they do get to promote and keep gate receipts. Each team may get a % depending if they are 1st-4th, which should hopefully more than cover the one lost home game or keep gate receipts if keeping it home and away.
Promotes derby games more.

Will come back for other options.

by Kingshu Mon Jul 09, 2018 6:41 pm

Option B

draw conferences the same why they are now.

Play home and away and no cross conference games (12 games) with the extra SA sides (14 games)

Then
1+2 in each conference for cup
3+4 in each conference for Shield
5+6 in each conference for Plate
Cup Plate and Shield can be mini league (6 games) or knockout 2 games
OR
1-3 Cup Knock out
4-6 Shield knock out
either way
Bottom team (or two teams) in each conference plays a reverse knock out where the two losers stay in and play and the loser of it is presented the humilating wooden spoon. After all there is no relegation, but the captain picking up a wooden spoon may provide motivation not to finish bottom the next season.

by SecretFly Tue Jul 10, 2018 5:30 pm

McCafferty now wants to run(take-over) Pro14!!!

'It's unfair that there is another League of mostly English speaking sides that doesn't have the good guidance and due diligence of the PRL to manage it. This mustn't not be allowed continue. The PRL have the exclusive copyright to good English usage in Rugby Union and will not stand it being bastardised by a crop of Celtic gits from Wales and other more remote isles in the West, South Africa and bloody Italy. We will not participate in Pro14 until we are ruled owners of it. We will not tolerate any High Office of said League to be in any other jurisdiction but the Caymen Islands. If Pro14 continue to refuse our buy out options, we will dock all Pro14 sides 20 points in their League and so ban all of them from European Competition."

by Pot Hale Tue Jul 10, 2018 8:05 pm

It’s called the PRO14 Championship for a reason. It’s not a league anymore.

The allocation of teams to Conf A and B will use same system as last year as I understand it. So Leinster and Scarlets will not be in the same conference.

by SecretFly Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:06 am

Oops.... pardon me for the slip up. I'm so not up to date on ye olde Conference shenanigans yet.

by doctor_grey Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:33 am

SecretFly wrote:McCafferty now wants to run(take-over) Pro14!!!

'It's unfair that there is another League of mostly English speaking sides that doesn't have the good guidance and due diligence of the PRL to manage it. This mustn't not be allowed continue. The PRL have the exclusive copyright to good English usage in Rugby Union and will not stand it being bastardised by a crop of Celtic gits from Wales and other more remote isles in the West, South Africa and bloody Italy. We will not participate in Pro14 until we are ruled owners of it. We will not tolerate any High Office of said League to be in any other jurisdiction but the Caymen Islands. If Pro14 continue to refuse our buy out options, we will dock all Pro14 sides 20 points in their League and so ban all of them from European Competition."

Oh come now, Laddie. You Italo-African-Celts know you want to be wed to the PRL. You know you want it. You lust for it. You want to say...…….yeeesssss.

by thebandwagonsociety Wed Jul 11, 2018 4:12 pm

Pot Hale wrote:It’s called the PRO14 Championship for a reason. It’s not a league anymore.

The allocation of teams to Conf A and B will use same system as last year as I understand it. So Leinster and Scarlets will not be in the same conference.

I'd like to see them clarify that, it all seems a bit up in the air. Teams are already back in preseason training and the fixtures aren't even out, the conferences haven't even been set. The could release the composition of the conferences to get a bit of buzz going.

by marty2086 Wed Jul 11, 2018 5:04 pm

thebandwagonsociety wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:It’s called the PRO14 Championship for a reason. It’s not a league anymore.

The allocation of teams to Conf A and B will use same system as last year as I understand it. So Leinster and Scarlets will not be in the same conference.

I'd like to see them clarify that, it all seems a bit up in the air. Teams are already back in preseason training and the fixtures aren't even out, the conferences haven't even been set. The could release the composition of the conferences to get a bit of buzz going.

Martin Anayi said so in his interview with WalesOnline last week and the fixtures will be out in the next week or so, mid July he said.

The AP only had their fixtures out a few days ago and the Pro14 have to put up with 4 host broadcasters and teams across continents so the logistics of it all aren't exactly a walk in the park

by Pot Hale Wed Jul 11, 2018 6:18 pm

thebandwagonsociety wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:It’s called the PRO14 Championship for a reason. It’s not a league anymore.

The allocation of teams to Conf A and B will use same system as last year as I understand it. So Leinster and Scarlets will not be in the same conference.

I'd like to see them clarify that, it all seems a bit up in the air. Teams are already back in preseason training and the fixtures aren't even out, the conferences haven't even been set. The could release the composition of the conferences to get a bit of buzz going.

PRO14 said the conferences would be based on previous seasons rankings at the launch last year as decided by each union in order to ensure there is 1 or 2 teams from each country in each conference. So the union rankings should be:
IRFU= 1. Leinster (Champions) , 2.Munster, 3.Ulster, 4 Connacht
WRU= 1.Scarlets, 2. Cardiff, 3. Ospreys, 4. Dragons
SRU= 1.Glasgow 2. Edinburgh
FIR = 1. Benetton, 2. Zebre
SARU = 1. Cheetahs, 2. Kings

Last year, 1&4 were grouped with 2&3 from IRFU and WRU rankings.

So following the graphics in last year’s explainer video, it should be:

Conf A
Scarlets 1
Dragons 4
Munster 2
Ulster 3
Glasgow 1
Zebre 2
Cheetahs 1

Conf B
Leinster 1
Connacht 4
Cardiff 2
Ospreys 3
Edinburgh 2
Benetton 1
Kings 2

They might decide to allocate the Scot/Ita/SA teams the other way round.

by St John The Enforcer Wed Jul 11, 2018 6:20 pm

Didn't Anayi say that conferences would be exactly the same as last year with the inter conference fixtures reversed as to home and away?

by Guest Wed Jul 11, 2018 6:46 pm

Yeah, I think he did say that. There was some disappointment (on here and online) that they wouldn’t be changed.

by Pot Hale Wed Jul 11, 2018 7:01 pm

St John The Enforcer wrote:Didn't Anayi say that conferences would be exactly the same as last year with the inter conference fixtures reversed as to home and away?

You’re quite right. I just read the interview now and he’s quoted as saying they’ll leave the teams as they are to “build up rivalry”.

He also says PRO16 is their ideal target number of teams which would allow less number of games to be played each season. Presumably, that means two conferences of 8 teams with home and away in each to give 14 games and then probably cross-conference derbies to bring them to 18 games in the conference stage before the finals stage.

by marty2086 Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:32 pm

Virgin TV boosts its sports selection with FreeSports

Virgin TV has extended its roster of sports channels for all TV customers with the addition of FreeSports.

The sports channel, which aims to broadcast up to 1000 events a year, specialises in airing a mix of domestic and international programming from the world’s most loved sports.

This vast selection includes highlights and live football, cricket, tennis, rugby, athletics and motorsport action as well as basketball, ice hockey and even drone racing.

Some of the top action on offer includes live International football friendlies, Premier League teams’ pre-season friendlies, Guinness PRO14 Rugby, ATP World Tour 250 tennis series, grassroots rugby league, British Basketball League, Global T20 Canada cricket as well as Red Bull Air Races.

All Virgin TV customers will be able to access FreeSports on channel 553 from Saturday 21 July.

It has been a sports-rich summer for Virgin TV customers who have been able to watch some of the biggest events in the highest picture quality available. This included the Champions League Final and Roland Garros in 4K Ultra HD as well as some of the matches at the World Cup in Russia.

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Showing these sporting spectacles in 4K UHD has been made possible through Virgin TV’s smallest and smartest set-top box – the V6 - and powered by Virgin Media’s ultrafast broadband, which provides speeds of up to 350Mbps for customers.

David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media, said: “It has been an incredible summer of sport so far and our customers have had everything they need to experience it from the comfort of their homes. Bringing FreeSports to Virgin TV further boosts our roster of sports channels and our customers can expect more to come.”

Richard Sweeney, CEO at FreeSports, said: “We are delighted that our ever growing dedicated free sports channel is joining the Virgin Media platform. FreeSports boasts a large portfolio of global and domestic free, live sport that we believe will be a huge hit with Virgin Media customers.”

by geoff999rugby Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:12 pm

That's good - if they add Premier Sports2, which I am sure they will, I can watch every Pro14 game, in English, ever week, for £9.99 a month

Instead of watching half of them in varieties of Gaelic, some not at all, and some for £34 a month

That sounds like a deal to me

by PhilBB Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:33 pm

Premier Sports will be offering subscription deals to club season ticket holders, so I read.

by Pot Hale Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:44 pm

PhilBB wrote:Premier Sports will be offering subscription deals to club season ticket holders, so I read.

Really?

Jeez, the UK TV deal looks better and better with each passing announcement. Eir TV deal for non Eir subscribers is pretty Poopie in comparison.

by Pot Hale Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:46 pm

I wonder when Anayi is going to announce their new ref deal - it appears they’re going to employ the refs directly with the increased monies that they’ve gained.

by Stone Motif Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:51 pm

Pot Hale wrote:I wonder when Anayi is going to announce their new ref deal - it appears they’re going to employ the refs directly with the increased monies that they’ve gained.

IRFU wrote: Down with dis tort o'ting

by Pot Hale Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:20 pm

Stone Motif wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:I wonder when Anayi is going to announce their new ref deal - it appears they’re going to employ the refs directly with the increased monies that they’ve gained.
IRFU wrote: Down with dis tort o'ting

Distorting?
Down with this sort of thing?

by RugbyFan100 Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:04 pm

Pot Hale wrote:
St John The Enforcer wrote:Didn't Anayi say that conferences would be exactly the same as last year with the inter conference fixtures reversed as to home and away?

You’re quite right. I just read the interview now and he’s quoted as saying they’ll leave the teams as they are to “build up rivalry”.

He also says PRO16 is their ideal target number of teams which would allow less number of games to be played each season. Presumably, that means two conferences of 8 teams with home and away in each to give 14 games and then probably cross-conference derbies to bring them to 18 games in the conference stage before the finals stage.

So we are getting less home games but our season tickets are costing the same? And people think this is a good thing?

by marty2086 Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:19 pm

RugbyFan100 wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:
St John The Enforcer wrote:Didn't Anayi say that conferences would be exactly the same as last year with the inter conference fixtures reversed as to home and away?

You’re quite right. I just read the interview now and he’s quoted as saying they’ll leave the teams as they are to “build up rivalry”.

He also says PRO16 is their ideal target number of teams which would allow less number of games to be played each season. Presumably, that means two conferences of 8 teams with home and away in each to give 14 games and then probably cross-conference derbies to bring them to 18 games in the conference stage before the finals stage.

So we are getting less home games but our season tickets are costing the same? And people think this is a good thing?

That's an issue for individual clubs, it's not like some of the costs have went up for clubs for hosting each game or anything

by munkian Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:37 pm

Fixtures would be nice, is it true the Irish press have already been shown them ?

by RugbyFan100 Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:42 pm

munkian wrote:Fixtures would be nice, is it true the Irish press have already been shown them ?

Seems that way. The Dublin press appear to know Leinster's fixtures.

I'm sure this is all above board and it's just a coincidence that an irish paper based in Dublin have the fixtures of the Dublin team courtesy of the Pro14 that is based in Dublin.

by munkian Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:45 pm

RugbyFan100 wrote:
munkian wrote:Fixtures would be nice, is it true the Irish press have already been shown them ?

Seems that way. The Dublin press appear to know Leinster's fixtures.

I'm sure this is all above board and it's just a coincidence that an irish paper based in Dublin have the fixtures of the Dublin team courtesy of the Pro14 that is based in Dublin.

For the Irish, by the Irish.

by RugbyFan100 Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:50 pm

munkian wrote:
RugbyFan100 wrote:
munkian wrote:Fixtures would be nice, is it true the Irish press have already been shown them ?

Seems that way. The Dublin press appear to know Leinster's fixtures.

I'm sure this is all above board and it's just a coincidence that an irish paper based in Dublin have the fixtures of the Dublin team courtesy of the Pro14 that is based in Dublin.

For the Irish, by the Irish.

It might have been a Cork based publication not a Dublin one. My bad. Definitely no conspiracy here.

by munkian Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:56 pm

Do you have any links ?

by marty2086 Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:20 pm

All clubs and broadcasters have the provisional fixtures. The league are waiting on any requests from broadcasters or clubs for changes but sure talk conspiracies because someone has leaked it or jumped the gun publishing it

Completely ignore the report on where the final will be too Rolling Eyes

by munkian Fri Jul 20, 2018 3:39 pm

http://www.the42.ie/pro14-fixtures-irish-provinces-munster-leinster-4137472-Jul2018/?utm_source=twitter_short

by RugbyFan100 Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:27 pm

This is the sort of exposure the league gets with fixture leaks like the one to the Irish press today. Official clubs social media accounts in awkward positions. Really poor.

https://twitter.com/tweetsfromben/status/1020351849508098048?s=19

by St John The Enforcer Fri Jul 20, 2018 11:20 pm

I find it ridiculously hard to believe that some clubs/provinces/regions have the fixture list and others don't.
Smells like bullsh1t

A Welsh friend of mine sent fixtures to me on Tuesday. He would be close to one of the region's setups

by **RiscaGame** Sat Jul 21, 2018 12:23 am

Probably just mean that papers shouldn’t be breaking the fixtures.

Anyway, Treviso home first up. Perfect opportunity for uncle Bernie to kick off year two of his three year plan with a bang.

by marty2086 Sat Jul 21, 2018 2:14 pm

St John The Enforcer wrote:I find it ridiculously hard to believe that some clubs/provinces/regions have the fixture list and others don't.
Smells like bullsh1t

A Welsh friend of mine sent fixtures to me on Tuesday. He would be close to one of the region's setups

All clubs and broadcasters had the provisional fixtures, the league were waiting on feedback before finalising them

by St John The Enforcer Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:44 pm

That tweet wrote:Pro 14 team hearing about their fixtures via Twitter by someone who read them on an Irish sports site! How is this allowed to happen,

Someone is trying to make out that a pro14 team heard about the fixtures from an Irish newspaper on Friday. When I saw them from a Welsh region back on Tuesday. And at this point have had the full fixture list from multiple sources in Ireland and Wales.

Not condoning whoever leaked it to the press but no one anywhere close to any pro14 team in any country heard about these for the first time on Friday.

It looks like some lads on Twitter supporting the old cliche "when you have a hammer in your hand everything looks like a nail"

by Pot Hale Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:46 am

The amount of times that PRO14 news has been leaked to Wales Online should give the whiners pause for thought. I suspect that Irish media got tired of it and went with their own reports.

Embargoes are tricky things to enforce when one publication consistently breaks it. And I mean Wales Online.

by Guest Sun Jul 22, 2018 10:49 am

Pot Hale wrote:The amount of times that PRO14 news has been leaked to Wales Online should give the whiners pause for thought. I suspect that Irish media got tired of it and went with their own reports.

Embargoes are tricky things to enforce when one publication consistently breaks it. And I mean Wales Online.

Oooh, gives us some examples Pot. I love a juicy bit of gossip.

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