URC 2022 Thread

Cookiemunster · 06-09-2022 3:24pm

I think its time for some full quotes.

“I think it’s a process actually, and I know that sounds super corny,” said Anayi at the URC launch in London today.

“Our championship games and Champions Cup games are so important to our clubs and the fans of those clubs. To take any of those games away from a home crowd is really difficult.

“We’ve had this conversation around do you take games to the US, which is slightly less challenging logistically or from a conceptual point of view as there have already been games in the US.

“It’s going to be really hard to take a championship game to Qatar but can you take baby steps?

“Can we have winter training camps like football have in Qatar? Can you take pre-season matches to the air-conditioned stadiums and take full advantage of the legacy they want to achieve there? Can you set up new competitions? Can you help Qatar rugby?”

https://www.the42.ie/urc-qatar-5858790-Sep2022/

Despite the headline URC games won't be played in Qatar (or the US) any time soon.

Itxa · 06-09-2022 3:32pm

It’s the ethical and moral questions that make the Qatar deal stink. Anayi said “At the same time, what they can take from a partnership with a rugby competition is that we stand for great values and stand for championing those values.”

He’s talking about the values of the game and then grabbing the money with the other hand. You can’t talk about ethics and morality and then out the other side of your mouth trample all over those values by backing a country who has those human rights abuses.

I think he’s going to have to be reigned in by the Irish hopefully.

Red Silurian · 06-09-2022 3:38pm

Wouldn't mind having a preseason friendly in the USA but a regular season game there would upset the home fans, and possibly the away ones resulting in the beginning of the end for the competition

Itxa · 06-09-2022 3:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119579995#Comment_119579995

I wouldn’t go that far. An exhibition game in a America wouldn’t destroy the competition. One game a season is grand once the IRFU and the Branches gain more from it than they would playing at home.

aloooof · 06-09-2022 3:58pm

I wouldn't be entirely opposed to a game in the States (thinking back to when the Premiership tried it, it seemed to go pretty well) but I wouldn't be too pleased if a marquee game like Munster v Leinster was moved there.

OldRio · 06-09-2022 4:02pm

Good grief. Capitalism at its finest. Almost faustian in its nature.

Red Silurian · 06-09-2022 4:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119580053#Comment_119580053

There might be some merrit in a smaller game being moved stateside, or even a game against the Eagles, but the bigger games would do more harm than good

TomsOnTheRoof · 06-09-2022 4:58pm

Anayi's comments about club ownership shouldn't be overlooked either. Thank God the provinces are owned by the Union because going by his remarks the next step will be clubs being cut up and sold off piece by piece.

Larbre34 · 06-09-2022 5:47pm

As people are pointing out on social media, Nick McCarthy couldn't even travel to Qatar and conduct his personal life as he sees fit.

Until that happens, I feel its incumbent on the fans to kill off any notion of URC association with Qatar, in its crib.

Dave_The_Sheep · 06-09-2022 6:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119579904#Comment_119579904

All any of that means is that we're going to do this, but we're going to do it incrementally so people don't get angry, but we're doing it regardless because money.

lawrencesummers · 06-09-2022 7:15pm

Take the Qatar money all you want, i hope they get bucket loads of it, but if my club agree to move a game there its curtains as far as my support goes.

Mostly though dont fuking patrionise rugby people and pretend its to grow the game in a country that doesnt have a rugby team

If you want to grow the game then Spain, Portugal, Germany, Romania, Georgia etc etc are all crying out for investment, help, exposure and development and are much closer to home and actually worthy of help.

Exclamation Marc · 06-09-2022 7:43pm

So if any of this goes ahead, its less games again on a season ticket.

For Leinster, there were 14 back in 2016 (11 Pro14 games/3 CC), its 11 in 2022. (9 URC/2 CC) - with no change in price. It will get to the point where people won't bother with season tickets anymore, particularly if the games that are being playing abroad are the key games.

Shameful if it goes ahead and that's not even considering the abomination of holding games in Qatar.

I don't see a point either in holding an exhibition game abroad. Players are already flogged so I can't see why international players would go when they need rest. And if they're not going, a Leinster Munster squad game is not what you want to be touring.

That quote from Anayi is very indicative of a "if we could, we would" attitude.

Itxa · 06-09-2022 8:35pm

I’m a season ticket holder and I wouldn’t be against a game in Boston provided the Union and Branch do better out of it than playing it at home. But it’s not for the money I would be endorsing it. There are many emigrants out there that follow Leinster and I know quite a few in New York also. Enough to fill a stadium? I don’t know that but there are clubs that would go along with most of their Irish, Americans and players from other countries.

In terms of the number of games per season ticket, you can’t have it both ways, player welfare and value for the supporters. If we want more games for season ticket holders and we are at the precipice of falling out over losing a one off game then you shouldn’t be a supporter. It also smacks of us who stayed in Ireland are more Irish or more Leinster than the Irish abroad. It stinks of national elitism.

Laurence above hit the nail on the head, all this expansion into new markets abroad was positive so long as it was to grow the game and help emerging rugby nations. That is what it was about, not the extra money for executive and players’ salaries. Or even advertising. The extra exhibition game is not the point, the point is going to a nation where no rugby exists and there is questionable human rights records. In short savagery. Rugby exists in the USA, it doesn’t exist in Qatar.

I can’t stomach the fact that there is also many people criticising the human rights there in the twitterverse and on social media (not on here) when their own families and schools have a hand in the complicit and implicit repression of such rights in this country. I wouldn’t listen to them claiming the moral high ground in such hypocritical fashion.

Exclamation Marc · 06-09-2022 8:48pm

"In terms of the number of games per season ticket, you can’t have it both ways, player welfare and value for the supporters. If we want more games for season ticket holders and we are at the precipice of falling out over losing a one off game then you shouldn’t be a supporter...It stinks of national elitism"

I'm sorry but that's utter bóllocks. It's an ongoing creep on the value of being a season ticket holder. If the value of a season ticket drops from 14 to 10 over the course of four years, it is almost a 30% reduction in games whilst the club still charges the same amount - in a cost of living crisis if you think it wouldn't lose season ticket holders, you're deluded. Add to that, if one of those games is the most anticipated match on the calendar, it's going to hit the Union harder on the backend as season ticket holders wont see value in it anymore and just sporadically attend games that suit.

And national elitism? Jesus, give me a break. I don't think I'm any more or less of a supporter than someone who supports them from the moon but at the end of the day, unions make money from people walking through turnstiles and its all well and good if thousands more watch games on the TV in new nations but if attendances start to fall, its a net negative to Irish teams.

lawrencesummers · 06-09-2022 9:05pm

I might add. Im all for taking Qatari money, the more the better, milk them dry if you can.

Whats probably coming on the back of this is a tilt at getting the rugby world cup to Qatar down the road or even events like rugby 7’s, womens rugby, etc etc to justify the stadiums that have been built already.

Itxa · 06-09-2022 10:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119581442#Comment_119581442

If that’s the case have a go at the people behind reducing the number of games from 14 to 11 games. I can guarantee you it’s not the executives looking to maximise profits.

Exclamation Marc · 06-09-2022 10:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119581919#Comment_119581919

I'm not looking to have a go at anyone. I'm simply pointing out that any further reductions in home games would push a lot of fans to pass on their season tickets, which is not good. With people looking to tighten their purse strings and rugby a game that very much depends on patrons through the gate, a very much less value-for-money season ticket is not a good incentive to renew. Claiming that any supporter who shows dismay at being able to support their team in person less for the same price shouldn’t be a supporter is a bizarre statement.

And it always comes down to profit at the end of the day, one way or the other, its naïve to think otherwise. If this was an "out of the goodness of their hearts to raise the game" decision, they would be playing it in a European country that would bend over backwards just to have a Leinster, Munster, Ulster or Connacht play in their country.

awec · 07-09-2022 1:07pm

Not dropping prices when you reduce your offering is 100% about maximising profits. In real terms it's a price hike.

AdamD · 07-09-2022 1:49pm

It wouldn't take much more for me to stop renewing my Leinster season ticket, already down a few games, including one European game.

Itxa · 07-09-2022 2:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584021#Comment_119584021

I was talking solely about number of games not price per game. In actuality, marginal profit or cost determines output. But I take your point

awec · 07-09-2022 2:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584244#Comment_119584244

I am not sure they represent good value for money any more. Unless you attend every single match it's probably better value just buying week to week.

lawrencesummers · 07-09-2022 2:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584548#Comment_119584548

Tickets to regular season games are only one (albeit sizeable) attraction of a season ticket, any conversation about value for money needs to take into account the other benefits of a season ticket.

aloooof · 07-09-2022 2:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584615#Comment_119584615

I would say they're at least, what, 95% of the attraction? Probably more.

Also, if the number of regular season games has reduced bu the price remained the same, then to provide equal value, the non-ticket benefits would've had to go up by a considerable amount to compensate. They haven't.

lawrencesummers · 07-09-2022 3:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584755#Comment_119584755

the % you place on it is a personal opinion.

ive renewed my season ticket perviously knowing i wasnt going to attend any games that season.

AdamD · 07-09-2022 3:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584548#Comment_119584548

Yeah we worked it out, they simply don't. We'd usually miss at least 2 or 3 each due to other commitments so the price per ticket isn't great for us. The 'other benefits' aren't that spectacular, if you want a ticket for a Leinster game, you'll get one. We'll have to reassess in a few months

aloooof · 07-09-2022 4:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584890#Comment_119584890

Which is fine. But I'm not sure many people would see that as value for money.

Red Silurian · 07-09-2022 4:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119580656#Comment_119580656

Here here! Worth remembering though that much of the USA is that way as well

aloooof · 07-09-2022 4:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585418#Comment_119585418

It’s not illegal to be gay in the States. Huge difference.

Red Silurian · 07-09-2022 4:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585453#Comment_119585453

Fair point, it's frowned upon still but not illegal

Itxa · 07-09-2022 4:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585370#Comment_119585370

What about loyalty to the team? I know many people who are hard strapped for cash will renew due to loyalty to the club.

Itxa · 07-09-2022 5:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585418#Comment_119585418

Rubbish. In Qatar it’s state imposed.

Red Silurian · 07-09-2022 5:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585492#Comment_119585492

That's true, in certain states they sneak it in the backdoor instead of a blunt law, religious freedom laws they call them, anti-gay laws by another name.

aloooof · 07-09-2022 5:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585483#Comment_119585483

As do I. It still doesn’t necessarily make it value for money.

awec · 07-09-2022 5:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585483#Comment_119585483

No doubt, but relying on people's loyalty rather than providing value for money is a precarious position to be in.

stephen_n · 07-09-2022 6:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119585460#Comment_119585460

It’s frowned upon in parts of this island!

Paul Smeenus · 08-09-2022 8:13am

While it's commendable that people are aware of the conservatism of stretches of our own island, there is simply no equivalency between the reality of being gay here - North or South - and being gay in a country where you face time in prison for that reason.

Some of our players would worry about their safety In Qatar - not because of crime, but because of the state. Day-to-day safety is a bit different to ruminations on geopolitical legacy.

Larbre34 · 11-09-2022 7:18pm

I see the URC now has a title sponsor in BKT, 'BKT United Rugby Championship'.

Balkrishna Industries Tyres are specialists in agri and ATV tyres and are renowned for being the 41st best tyre manufacturer globally.

Seriously?? The ****ing title sponsor?! Where does the URC executive get its commercial acumen? Does they pick it straight of their holes like??

This is a tournament that had Guinness and RaboBank as its title sponsors previously, even before SA joined in. Are they trying to tell us that this unknown Indian outift is the best global market brand they could get?

Coming after the Qatar debacle, questions must be asked about the executive board of this sh1tshow.

PMC83 · 11-09-2022 7:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604536#Comment_119604536

I thought it was a strange one myself, but really who cares if it's worth a lot of money?

Larbre34 · 11-09-2022 7:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604632#Comment_119604632

It matters. Cheapens the whole brand.

Might as well have got Mattress Mick.

PMC83 · 11-09-2022 7:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604637#Comment_119604637

Well it matters to some, obviously. But you've the sharks running around with Mr Price on them, the Wallabies with Cadburys, and teams like the Scarlet's are basically head to toe in sponsors. Rugby isn't exactly flush with cash these days, if the moneys good then I see no real issue with the sponsor. Plenty would have the same opinion.

awec · 11-09-2022 7:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604536#Comment_119604536

In fairness, I doubt they had a lot of options to choose from.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Guinness got the ProWhatever sponsorship for relative peanuts at the time as there was very low interest.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 11-09-2022 7:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604536#Comment_119604536

Technically this was announced before the Quatar debacle.

Anyway if the money works I don't mind too much.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119584615#Comment_119584615

Which is a fair point. A lot of the benefits of a season ticket (access to big games) doesn't apply to Leinster as Leinster move big games to Aviva.

Former Former Former · 11-09-2022 8:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604536#Comment_119604536

This is a tournament that had Guinness and RaboBank as its title sponsors previously

And no title sponsor last season...

It's an inherently unattractive product, and beggars cannot be choosers.

lawrencesummers · 11-09-2022 8:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604766#Comment_119604766

Its also been outlawed having alcohol sponsoring sporting events like that, rabo are gone, and the irish banks are all well exposed to rugby already. It leaves airlines, global financial companies, car manufacturers and not much else to target as a title sponsor.

Those problems coupled with the strange geographic spread of participating countries makes a title sponsor near impossible.

Red Silurian · 12-09-2022 11:24am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119604766#Comment_119604766

They had Vodacom in South Africa, the smart move would have been to put Vodafone in as sponsor in Europe

Personally I prefer not having to be reminded about banks and financial institutions the whole time so BKT are welcome in my books

Cookiemunster · 12-09-2022 11:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119606764#Comment_119606764

The thing is that Vodafone would have needed to want to sponsor the URC in Europe. You can't just make them the sponsor. They obviously don't have an interest in such a sponsorship. And while Vodafone are the majority shareholder in Vodacom, Vodacom are a separate company.

Red Silurian · 12-09-2022 11:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119606798#Comment_119606798

Yes smart-arse I'm aware you don't just make a company the title sponsor... You'd wonder why vodafone wouldn't be interested in the exposure though

TaurenDruid · 12-09-2022 12:16pm

The change in title sponsorship means I've failed in my quest to count the number of times the name of Diageo's most well known beer was used by the stadium announcer at the RDS. I never managed it, always lost count somewhere between 20 and 40...

awec · 12-09-2022 4:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119606894#Comment_119606894

You don't really have to wonder, as Former Former Former put it the URC is an unattractive product with limited exposure.

OldRio · 13-09-2022 8:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119608443#Comment_119608443

BKT are also one of the sponsors of the Rugby World Cup therefore they have some clout.

URC 2022 Thread

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