Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 4:00 pm  

Dunbar wrote:

Sport England reduces funding for rugby union by £1.1m because of poor participation figures

Link please Dunbar.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 4:09 pm  

Catalancs wrote: Link please Dunbar. It was on the scrolling section but this has just been added http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 333133.stm

Catalancs wrote: Link please Dunbar. It was on the scrolling section but this has just been added http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 333133.stm

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 4:46 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

I'm surprised such a big drop for London Irish as whenever I've seen them they've played some good attacking rugby. The one that stands out for me is Saracens. Top two finish and favourites to make it to the final and yet down from 9,000+ to 7,000+.

As much as I dislike Union you have to envy some of the attendances, especially internationals. But none of the people I know who go are attracted by the quality of the offering. The floating voter goes because it is fashionable to do so & it has a high media saturation. Unless something can continually reinvent itself (like godawful WWf wrestling thing) floaters people eventually get bored.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 6:32 pm  

Dunbar wrote: It was on the scrolling section but this has just been added http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 333133.stm 'The reduction, which brings the total below £30m for 2009-2013, was agreed with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).' Bloody ell! That's still a massive amount.

Dunbar wrote: It was on the scrolling section but this has just been added http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 333133.stm 'The reduction, which brings the total below £30m for 2009-2013, was agreed with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).' Bloody ell! That's still a massive amount.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 6:37 pm  

tigertot wrote:

As much as I dislike Union you have to envy some of the attendances, especially internationals. But none of the people I know who go are attracted by the quality of the offering. The floating voter goes because it is fashionable to do so & it has a high media saturation. Unless something can continually reinvent itself (like godawful WWf wrestling thing) floaters people eventually get bored.

I think domestic and international union attendances are two entirely different animals. As you mentioned, internationals are an event, a place to be seen. When the RFU or clubs put on a special event such as Premiership games at Wembley and Twickenham the attendance figures rocket. Union needs to look at swelling the stands for the bread and butter, week in week out games.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 8:35 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

'The reduction, which brings the total below £30m for 2009-2013, was agreed with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).'

Bloody ell! That's still a massive amount.

Rugby league received an increase in funding from £18.5million to £29.4million in 2008 so it looks like the two sports are at parity now

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue May 10, 2011 6:53 am  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Back looks at a route whereby Leeds could guarantee themselves a place at the top table for the foreseeable future more like...

Even if they don't get relegated because Worcester have a brain explosion (they only beat Bedford by virtue of a very late try from a scrum five yards out), Leeds have lost a couple of their best young players for next season already in Burrell and Myall who have gone to Sale.

Leeds have confirmed head coach Neil Back has resigned with immediate effect.

Will Back still hold that view?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue May 10, 2011 3:03 pm  

Sale Sharks confirm the departure of 21 players. Shark J, what's going on? Paul Sackey leaves Toulon after just one season. "As he did not satisfy us, we have decided to release him," said Toulon president and owner Mourad Boudjellal. Newcastle prepare for 2012 relegation fight before 2010/2011 is even over. What message does this send out to Geordies?

Sale Sharks confirm the departure of 21 players. Shark J, what's going on? Paul Sackey leaves Toulon after just one season. "As he did not satisfy us, we have decided to release him," said Toulon president and owner Mourad Boudjellal. Newcastle prepare for 2012 relegation fight before 2010/2011 is even over. What message does this send out to Geordies?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue May 10, 2011 7:46 pm  

Diamond wants to get rid of those who underperformed this season, it's as simple as that.

I've always been honest with you and told you we don't think we're a big club, we won the league but never got carried away. But our decline has been a drastic and unpleasant one. Teams used to come to Stockport on a wet Friday night and hate playing there. We rarely lost at home. This season has we have been embarrassing, as with last season. Steve is a Sale fan first and foremost and he obviously isn't happy with what he's been seeing. He's getting rid of those he considers not to be worthy of the shirt I suppose. He's bringing in a load too so the numbers will even out.

He's been quite public about how he feels and I hope that doesn't go against him. Mike Brewer, in the few months he was in charge was very vocal about the players and it annoyed a lot of them. One night he slagged Charlie Hodgson off in a post match interview after we'd gotten beat by Wasps 25-24, Hodgson scoring all the points that night.

I'm not sure what to expect next season. Season ticket renewals are this Friday and I've still not seen enough to make me want to renew just yet. It's £99 too so that's saying something!

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue May 10, 2011 8:53 pm  

Only £99 for a season ticket? Without wanting to depress you further, I've heard that should they come up, Worcester are looking to assemble a very strong squad with the aim of pushing for Europe. Looks like it could be a straight scrap between yourselves and Newcastle to avoid relegation.