URC 2022 Thread

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120667091#Comment_120667091

Saffers play 6 games in Europe in URC and 2 in Champions Cup

Simple solution would be for them to come to Europe twice for 4 matches each time. 3 URC rounds before or after a Champions Cup round

Neil3030

Thing I don't quite understand is, weren't long tours one of their biggest complaints with super rugby?

AbusesToilets

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120667119#Comment_120667119

The time zone difference was a big one, having games on super early if they were in Aus or NZ. I

TaurenDruid

When do the actual, confirmed fixtures normally appear (IIRC they just release "weekend of" dates initially)? I'm kinda half thinking a trip to South Africa next year might be an option for "summer" holiday. Take in two matches a week apart in two cities, add on a week on a safari, or something.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120667119#Comment_120667119

South Africa are what I would call a big fish in a small pond. Their options are either doing more tours of shorter duration or fewer tours of longer duration

As it stands they play 8 games in Europe, 6 URC and 2 Champions Cup. In the last full SR season (that they participated in) they were due to play in NZ twice, Australia/Japan twice and Argentina once but most of their 5 tour games were at ungodly hours of the morning. The 8 guaranteed home games in SR Vs 11 in URC/CC surely helps as well

Also worthy to note that they have 20 guaranteed games and up to 7 knockout games every season across the 2 competitions Vs 16 regular and up to 3 knockout with Super Rugby which all equates to more money.

phog

https://twitter.com/URCOfficial/status/1678381787507052545?t=OhJMzxkzLIuLql3nkkYP8Q&s=19

More here

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120651543#Comment_120651543

 5000 made the trip, with some reports even claiming a figure close to double that

Whoever wrote those reports is high on something. I don't even believe the 5,000 figure (suspect if there were 5k Munster fans it included a hefty chunk of local Irish in SA already).

Cookiemunster

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that it was mentioned in the pre match PR that up to 5000 were expected to travel. I think it ended up being somewhere closer to 2500 (still pretty damn good).

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120830516#Comment_120830516

Martin Anayi said it in an interview, but it was very offhand and not specific. 2500 on that short notice and with the logistics involved is still super impressive. You would have needed multiple charter flights to have a hope of getting 5k down there.

Blut2

Interesting that Leinster didn't make the top 5 most watched teams and Connacht did.

The figures also really show the TV viewership value the Saffers are bringing to the table.