Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:39 pm  

Catalancs wrote: Fewer women and young men keen on rugby union, crowds down generally, an issue with trust in the sport, a reduction in the number who consider that what they are watching is “excellent” — just some of the less favourable findings emerging from a recent survey which asked 12,000 regular rugby union watchers what they thought of the Premiership. Shrinking pool of support could leave Premiership high and dry Perhaps they are starting to see the light.

Catalancs wrote: Fewer women and young men keen on rugby union, crowds down generally, an issue with trust in the sport, a reduction in the number who consider that what they are watching is “excellent” — just some of the less favourable findings emerging from a recent survey which asked 12,000 regular rugby union watchers what they thought of the Premiership. Shrinking pool of support could leave Premiership high and dry Perhaps they are starting to see the light.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:45 pm  

Could it be that thanks to the European Cup the league simply doesn't have the same attraction?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:57 pm  

sanjunien wrote:

Good move for Charlie tho' I would have thought a money move to france was on the cards - good to see Sarries getting well and truly stuffed (as a Wasps fan) but I have to take issue with you over the wembley crowd - the Tube Strike plus the busiest shopping day of the year in London plus the bad weather,my mate a Sarries fan was still stuck at his house in High Wycombe because of the snow and couldn't get out !
Some good games yesterday with Ulster turning the clock back a bit with a hard fought slogging match in the difficult conditions with Humphreys performing miracles with his boot in front of 10,500 hardy souls.The Leicester game was the opposite with open running rugby with the Scarlets playing better than the scoreline suggests IMO - Toulouse march on with some of the regulars back after the disaster in Paris with a comfortable looking win in front of 17,000ish crowd which is about 10% of thte crowds we get for the TO13 games ..............

I love The Heineken Cup. I'm quite happy to do nothing when it's on the box.

The one thing that pisses me off though is Sky's love of the Irish. They can't say enough good things about Munster and Leinster. I'm not anti-Irish but they take it to a level that isn't needed.

The Heineken Cup is basically Rugby Union's version of Football's Champions League. I think that bit is quite obvious. But yet when The Champions League is on Sky and ITV prioritise the English clubs. Barcelona and Real Madrid could be playing but they'd still but even the smallest of English clubs on their main channels.

Pretty much every Munster game has been on as one of the main games. Ok, today London Irish were already out of the cup but they were on the red button whilst a French team and an Irish team were playing on the main channel. The commentary team were even in a studio in Toulon!

It really annoys me. It's not like Munster and Leinster are house hold names and so there'd be uproar if they didn't get shown.

But there were some great games this weekend. Ulster and Biarritz doesn't sound great at 9-6 but it was a traditional game of Rugby and you'd struggle to play a running game in the wind and rain in Belfast! Toulon tore Munster apart today which was refreshing to watch.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:06 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

As long as you don't start playing like Newcastle and Leeds you've little reason to worry
Speaking to a couple of people this morning who are planning on going to the game at the Reebok but haven't yet got their tickets. I'd be surprised if mighty Mick Hogan and the Sale Sharks marketing team can't make it a sell out. The money is obviously there so radio and especially television adverts could and should boost ticket sales.
As for S.A.racens, how many more loss making trips to Wembley will they have before they change their plan or just give it up?

I can't see it happening. We'll probably give a load out to school kids towards the end and if it's somewhere between 15,000-20,000 then it will at least look respectfully full.

The one thing that makes our game difference to the Saracens one is the stadium appeal. Wembley is such a well known ground and even non Football fans would love to visit. Plus, when Saracens have played there will have been a lot of away support. I think Worcester took 5,000 when they played, Leinster had a lot of blue in the crowd, Wasps was local so could have had a few. London Irish who we're playing play at a ground which is pretty much a replica of it. So I can't see their being much appeal for many Irish fans.

I also imagine when the game was booked that we didn't expect to be in a relegation battle and for us to be in a bit of a crisis with managers and what not.

Saracens are apparently moving stadiums next season to an athletics stadium in Barnet with a 10,000 capacity. I don't really know why as it doesn't sound very ambitious and Premiership criteria is soon to be 12,000 seats, with Heineken Cup knock out games needing a 15,000 capacity ground. A lot of the fans might not like Watford and so they're speaking with their bodies and not turning up to the home games.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:31 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Could it be that thanks to the European Cup the league simply doesn't have the same attraction?

could well be - you can have too much of a good thing sometimes ! I now the Amlen Cup isn't exactly setting the world alight - the Brive game against the Salvador lot only attracted 3000 people on a pleasant winters evening - usually it's a struggle to get a ticket for a Brive Top 14 home game - can't afford a season ticket i'm afraid

regarding the interesting link on diminishing crowds etc in the uk You have to remember we are going through a tough period and maybe people don't have enough disposable income available - times are tougher nowadays for the average family so luxuries like RU & RL etc may have to be sacrificed.And,as I said,mybe people can be given too much of a good thing sometimes...

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:05 am  

USAP rugby union visit Barca. Both boards looking to strengthen ties. http://yfrog.com/f/h384gksj/

USAP rugby union visit Barca. Both boards looking to strengthen ties. http://yfrog.com/f/h384gksj/

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:09 pm  

Shark J wrote:

I love The Heineken Cup. I'm quite happy to do nothing when it's on the box.

The one thing that pisses me off though is Sky's love of the Irish. They can't say enough good things about Munster and Leinster. I'm not anti-Irish but they take it to a level that isn't needed.

The Heineken Cup is basically Rugby Union's version of Football's Champions League. I think that bit is quite obvious. But yet when The Champions League is on Sky and ITV prioritise the English clubs. Barcelona and Real Madrid could be playing but they'd still but even the smallest of English clubs on their main channels.

Pretty much every Munster game has been on as one of the main games. Ok, today London Irish were already out of the cup but they were on the red button whilst a French team and an Irish team were playing on the main channel. The commentary team were even in a studio in Toulon!

It really annoys me. It's not like Munster and Leinster are house hold names and so there'd be uproar if they didn't get shown.

But there were some great games this weekend. Ulster and Biarritz doesn't sound great at 9-6 but it was a traditional game of Rugby and you'd struggle to play a running game in the wind and rain in Belfast! Toulon tore Munster apart today which was refreshing to watch.

Please remember that SKY is not an British channel it is a British and Irish channel which is why they big up the Irish.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:25 pm  

dids858 wrote:

Please remember that SKY is not an British channel it is a British and Irish channel which is why they big up the Irish.

of course,and so they should IMO - it's great to see the scots teams as well

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:34 am  

Would love it if Munster can progress and make the Heineken Cup Final again, classic when the commentator said a few years ago about how the final (Munster v Toulouse IIRC) was technically at a neutral venue (Millenium Stadium), as 65,000 Munster fans sang their hearts out.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Jan 20, 2011 3:01 pm  

Roofs wrote:

Would love it if Munster can progress and make the Heineken Cup Final again, classic when the commentator said a few years ago about how the final (Munster v Toulouse IIRC) was technically at a neutral venue (Millenium Stadium), as 65,000 Munster fans sang their hearts out.

Where are those Munster fans when they play at home?