Rugby News from unexpected places

[amirite]

There's some kind of shitfight going on between Pro Rugby in the US and the Canadian Rugby Union - has anyone got a take on that?

Would you mind giving context or linking an article? I'm interested.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^ this, maybe?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37866584

I read it more as a PRO (USA) v Pro12 thing than USA v Canada & I'd have thought Canada would be better served by linking with PRO than Pro12 in any case.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Rugby Canada decided to slip in a clause allowing for the entry of other pro leagues. PRO was asking for a 5 year exclusivity period. Evidently a Vancouver venue was secured and a Toronto venue was near settled.

 

[amirite]

Disappointing - would love to see a realistic long term goal of PRO having 1.5-2X the American teams, 2 Canadian teams, and perhaps even South American teams.

There's no reason the Argies couldn't run 2-3 teams in this league and treat it as their NRC/NPC. The time of the year isn't ideal, but it's affordable and would feed nicely into Super Rugby. 2-3 PRO teams and 1 Super team would be a good model.

On top of this, perhaps Colombia and Uruguay could support a team. Maybe even Brazil. This is pretty big speculation though.

 

[Highlander35]

Reading between the lines, it seems that there's a slight overlap between the wants of Rugby Canada and Pro Rugby.

Pro Rugby wants the 5 year exclusivity clause to ensure that this is a proper commitment to the league and they won't drop the teams after a year or two.

Rugby Canada doesn't seem to want to close off the possibility of a Professional Canada A playing in the Pro12 at the start of the next cycle, regardless of the participation in Pro Rugby.

And those two facts make a compromise very very difficult.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Reading between the lines, it seems that there's a slight overlap between the wants of Rugby Canada and Pro Rugby.

Pro Rugby wants the 5 year exclusivity clause to ensure that this is a proper commitment to the league and they won't drop the teams after a year or two.

Rugby Canada doesn't seem to want to close off the possibility of a Professional Canada A playing in the Pro12 at the start of the next cycle, regardless of the participation in Pro Rugby.

And those two facts make a compromise very very difficult.

Rugby Canada would have no actual interest in either team if they were to get up. Merely just a sanctioning body. The general feeling among the Canadians I know is that the 5 year exclusivity request was quite reasonable and similar to the 3+2 agreement PRO has with USARugby.

This appears to have thrown PRO's plans a bit. They were planning to add 3 new teams for next year and it appears the Canadian teams were to be 2 of those three. The owner is taking a very open and transparent approach to the league and is asking people where they tink new teams should be and what venues they would prefer.

Some are taking this as a sign of a lack of porfessionalism but it seems to be a means to measure demand.

Personally there are a few obvious choices in Utah, Washington and Pittsburgh as possible replacements. A team from Texas would also be a strong option.

In terms of the first three. Utah has one of the strongest Rugby scenes in the US particularly at the junior and HS levels. It has lacked any real organisation at the senior level up until this year with Rugby Utah (set up in the last couple of years) setting up a well organised Premier structure.

Both Pittsburgh and Washington (and surrounds of both) actually have a lot of Rugby going on. Then there's the North East corridor.

 

[Highlander35]

Rugby Canada would have no actual interest in either team if they were to get up. Merely just a sanctioning body. The general feeling among the Canadians I know is that the 5 year exclusivity request was quite reasonable and similar to the 3+2 agreement PRO has with USARugby

Love me some Reddit Shitposts.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Love me some Reddit Shitposts.

This whole situation summed up quite nicely actually.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Rugby Canada would have no actual interest in either team if they were to get up. Merely just a sanctioning body. The general feeling among the Canadians I know is that the 5 year exclusivity request was quite reasonable and similar to the 3+2 agreement PRO has with USARugby.

This appears to have thrown PRO's plans a bit. They were planning to add 3 new teams for next year and it appears the Canadian teams were to be 2 of those three. The owner is taking a very open and transparent approach to the league and is asking people where they tink new teams should be and what venues they would prefer.

Some are taking this as a sign of a lack of porfessionalism but it seems to be a means to measure demand.

Personally there are a few obvious choices in Utah, Washington and Pittsburgh as possible replacements. A team from Texas would also be a strong option.

In terms of the first three. Utah has one of the strongest Rugby scenes in the US particularly at the junior and HS levels. It has lacked any real organisation at the senior level up until this year with Rugby Utah (set up in the last couple of years) setting up a well organised Premier structure.

Both Pittsburgh and Washington (and surrounds of both) actually have a lot of Rugby going on. Then there's the North East corridor.

The tweets about venues has seemingly paid some dividends. Several facilities keen to talk.

 

[Tip]

TBH everyone's missing the key point here that's driving this.

USA didn't want Canadian participation in the pilot year of PRO rugby, when Canada actively sought participation.

Now, the USA are like, okay we'll let you guys come play now.

And Canada is like, oh, okay, we'll play, BUT we want to be free to play elsewhere because you obviously don't care too much about us anyway.

GO Canada!

 

[amirite]

TBH everyone's missing the key point here that's driving this.

USA didn't want Canadian participation in the pilot year of PRO rugby, when Canada actively sought participation.

Now, the USA are like, okay we'll let you guys come play now.

And Canada is like, oh, okay, we'll play, BUT we want to be free to play elsewhere because you obviously don't care too much about us anyway.

GO Canada!

That's some creative reading between the lines.

 

[Tip]

Canada were bitterly disappointed to not be included in the pilot year of Pro Rugby. Their CEO said exactly as much.

I don't understand why it's such a long bow to draw?

Canada wants what's best for its players and it's national team. Playing in PRO Rugby might not be it. PRO12 might be, they're smart to keep their options open.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Canada were bitterly disappointed to not be included in the pilot year of Pro Rugby. Their CEO said exactly as much.

I don't understand why it's such a long bow to draw?

Canada wants what's best for its players and it's national team. Playing in PRO Rugby might not be it. PRO12 might be, they're smart to keep their options open.

PRO wanted a least one Canadian franchise in its first season but RC elected to hold off sanctioning. PRO weren't the reason then nor are they now for the lack of Canadian involvement.

 

[Tip]

But, Canada was restricted to 1 team. Not officially, but they were.

USA were never going to give them two teams.

They were aiming for a 6 team comp and they had 5 teams already sorted in the USA.

 

[amirite]

Canada were bitterly disappointed to not be included in the pilot year of Pro Rugby. Their CEO said exactly as much.

I don't understand why it's such a long bow to draw?

Canada wants what's best for its players and it's national team. Playing in PRO Rugby might not be it. PRO12 might be, they're smart to keep their options open.

Because maybe there were other reasons, like cost and risk mitigation.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

But, Canada was restricted to 1 team. Not officially, but they were.

USA were never going to give them two teams.

They were aiming for a 6 team comp and they had 5 teams already sorted in the USA.

One team to begin with another in either season 2 or 3 at the latest. There was some suggestion that Canada would end up with at least 3 teams. Before this whole situation deteriorated PRO had locked in the Vancouver location and were in the final stages of settling Toronto. If RC hadn't pulled their little stunt they would have two teams incseason 2 as was in line with PRO's original plans.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Because maybe there were other reasons, like cost and risk mitigation.

PRO Rugby wouldn't have cost RC a dime.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Canada were bitterly disappointed to not be included in the pilot year of Pro Rugby. Their CEO said exactly as much.

I don't understand why it's such a long bow to draw?

Canada wants what's best for its players and it's national team. Playing in PRO Rugby might not be it. PRO12 might be, they're smart to keep their options open.

Unless they can source a generous multi-millionaire/billionaire to cover the bill then Pro12 isn't likely any time soon. RC certainly cannot afford it.

 

[Tip]

You're forgetting that the Toulon owner was recently talking about funding a team in Maimi.

Which could be a precursor to a America's conference in the PRO12.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

You're forgetting that the Toulon owner was recently talking about funding a team in Maimi.

Which could be a precursor to a America's conference in the PRO12.

Completely separate league. Evidently Boudjellal anted to get in on PRO but was knocked back and is now trying to rally other club Presidents to invest in a rival league based around existing performance clubs. Racing already has an agreement the Austin Huns (this public knowledge)while Brive has had meeting with a yet to be announced Houston group. Several others have expressed interest and have even met with a number of these clubs.

The issue will be getting around USAR sanctioning. Which isn't impossible. Could set up a league that just so happens to have several pro clubs competing.