Inter-continental competitons

[STMKY Profile]

Hardly. Don't forget who will be organizing this Shield. Rugby Europe. It's not even the EPCR. They don't have the money and resources to create an alternative league to PRO16. Russia really has the resources for this.

[victorsra Profile Website]

There's a huge difference between playing the Continental Shield and relocating to Russia to play the Russian league Remember the Cheetahs played matches in South African soil when they were in the PRO14. If they can play at home, the commercial model is the same. Relocation changes the whole operation.

And the goal is not to play the Continental Shield. It is to play the Challenge Cup. For this to happen, the Continental Shield organization must reach a deal with EPCR anyway

Therefore, it makes sense for the Cheetahs to want to play the Shield, but it would be realy interesting only if EPCR offers the Shield spots in the Challenge Cup. Which, once more, depends on many other decisions: if the English Premiership expands from 12 to 14 clubs and if the PRO16 South Africans will have the right to play the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Obviously that's why nothing is certain atm.

[victorsra Profile Website]

There you are, Premiership with 13 clubs. https://www.planetrugby.com/relegation- ... 21-season/

This means Champions Cup and Challenge Cup must expand to 24 clubs each, otherwise T2 rugby will have only 1 spot in the Challenge Cup. That's why South Africans can help, because they make a case for EPCR's expansion. Let's see.

[Rebus Profile]

There you are, Premiership with 13 clubs. https://www.planetrugby.com/relegation- ... 21-season/

This means Champions Cup and Challenge Cup must expand to 24 clubs each, otherwise T2 rugby will have only 1 spot in the Challenge Cup. That's why South Africans can help, because they make a case for EPCR's expansion. Let's see.

Always thought this would be the easiest idea to get T2 countries involved. 2 competitions with 48 spaces. Pro, Premiership and Top 14 leavues comes to 43 teams (including SA teams) , give 1 space each to the top 5 nations in the REC automatically. The countries can put in their respective league champions , or even a league select , their choice. But no qualifying competition , just straight into the Challenge Cup

[victorsra Profile Website]

That's why the South Africans might be useful in this case.

[Working Class Rugger Profile]

There you are, Premiership with 13 clubs. https://www.planetrugby.com/relegation- ... 21-season/

This means Champions Cup and Challenge Cup must expand to 24 clubs each, otherwise T2 rugby will have only 1 spot in the Challenge Cup. That's why South Africans can help, because they make a case for EPCR's expansion. Let's see.

Always thought this would be the easiest idea to get T2 countries involved. 2 competitions with 48 spaces. Pro, Premiership and Top 14 leavues comes to 43 teams (including SA teams) , give 1 space each to the top 5 nations in the REC automatically. The countries can put in their respective league champions , or even a league select , their choice. But no qualifying competition , just straight into the Challenge Cup

Domestic based Select XVs would probably be the best option in my opinion. AS for qualification. Your suggesting using the Top 5 REC nations. Welln it's a 6 team structure. Wouldn't that be the qualifying competition? Not crapping on the idea. Actually think it's worthwhile. Would like to see it.

[Rebus Profile]

[/quote]

Domestic based Select XVs would probably be the best option in my opinion. AS for qualification. Your suggesting using the Top 5 REC nations. Welln it's a 6 team structure. Wouldn't that be the qualifying competition? Not crapping on the idea. Actually think it's worthwhile. Would like to see it.[/quote]

Reason I chose the top 5 nations was apart from the convenience of the numbers , its because the 6th team in the structure has to play a relegation play off and may be relegated so , (a) wouldnt be fair to give the 6th team a place if they got relegated and not the Trophy team instead, but also (b) using the 2019 relegation play off match as an example , the result is not known until June which would limit the winning teams preparation time for the European season.

To be honest , if this works out well , you could easily bring in qualifying rounds in future years where hypothetically you can have the league champions of lower ranked european play against the lower ranked teams from the PRO/Premiership/Top 14 teams play against each other to go into the group stages. Akin to what they do in the European football competitions.

[Working Class Rugger Profile]

Domestic based Select XVs would probably be the best option in my opinion. AS for qualification. Your suggesting using the Top 5 REC nations. Welln it's a 6 team structure. Wouldn't that be the qualifying competition? Not crapping on the idea. Actually think it's worthwhile. Would like to see it.[/quote]

Reason I chose the top 5 nations was apart from the convenience of the numbers , its because the 6th team in the structure has to play a relegation play off and may be relegated so , (a) wouldnt be fair to give the 6th team a place if they got relegated and not the Trophy team instead, but also (b) using the 2019 relegation play off match as an example , the result is not known until June which would limit the winning teams preparation time for the European season.

To be honest , if this works out well , you could easily bring in qualifying rounds in future years where hypothetically you can have the league champions of lower ranked european play against the lower ranked teams from the PRO/Premiership/Top 14 teams play against each other to go into the group stages. Akin to what they do in the European football competitions.[/quote]

I think your math may have been a little out by the way. Taking the Pro16 + Premiership + Top 14 you'll have 42 teams. Or are you also including the Cheetahs? But if you go with the 42 teams you could add a team from all 6 REC nations.

[victorsra Profile Website]

The question is always who pays for it. A select XV means the Union has to pay for it. And the comercial project is limited, since it is a brand that will exist for only 6 matches. Unless, obviously, it becomes a franchise playing other competitions as well (like a continental league).

The club is easier if the club is already professional.

[Rebus Profile]

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I think your math may have been a little out by the way. Taking the Pro16 + Premiership + Top 14 you'll have 42 teams. Or are you also including the Cheetahs? But if you go with the 42 teams you could add a team from all 6 REC nations.[/quote]

Was taking into account there would be no relegation fromt he Premiership this season and the league expanding to 13

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56044619