2024/2025 Not Heineken Cup

[Sards]

Some really sensitive ladies on here. It's no wonder Sandyvagina is as she is.

Honestly. Imagine we acted the same when Argentina joined the Tri-Nations. Instead we shook their hands and welcomed them for enhancing the competition.

Some one suggested to me that there is that traveling fan environment that consumes a lot of alcohol and that we would never understand that ........its like we don't braai and drink dop

[LoveOfTheGame]

The problem is these guys don't understand the nature of European rugby, having good travel, away fans and a culture of supporters mixing and forming bonds over long periods. Just doesn't happen for them because the distances are too big. So they can't see what the problem is, it's completely outside of their experience.

Most of us fully appreciate that, you keep reminding whoever wants to listen whenever you get the opportunity. But it is what it is, we cannot change the travel, so best we just crack on and play some rugby.

[assfly]

The problem is these guys don't understand the nature of European rugby, having good travel, away fans and a culture of supporters mixing and forming bonds over long periods. Just doesn't happen for them because the distances are too big. So they can't see what the problem is, it's completely outside of their experience.

No one is forcing you to travel chief, and there are plenty of other games you can go to.

[PornDog]

Anyone who says they don't understand what is meant by the "SA Circus" is either being disingenuous or has their head in the sand.

The complete one eyed-ness of much of your media (and no, its not just Keo - though he is probably the worst), threatening referees and practically bringing the entire game into disrepute and having undoubtedly the biggest cunt in rugby as your figurehead doesn't help you either. Jake White's totally unacceptable comments last week is just yet another symptom!

I'm not talking about internet hardmen like us lot either. Every country has their loon fans, and even us sensible ones (stop sniggering at the back) have our moments, but in SA the craziness is much (much) more mainstream.

While the media barrage by current and ex-players over the last few weeks (and months) in the build up to Ireland series is all much tamer relatively speaking (and I know it's a compliment to us, they're doing it because they fear us *) I find all just so funny - sad funny though, not ha ha funny. I think its all really pathetic and needy.

Despite all of that, and the travel issues and other obstacles, I am really positive about the SA sides in the URC. They've brought competitiveness both on and off the pitch and really rejuvenated a competition that was frankly dying. The Scots and Italians improving has also helped that a great deal - genuinely wish the same could be said about the Welsh.

I get the NTHC objection to SA involvement, the travel issues are much worse there due to the shorter notice and turnarounds (and to a lesser extent I get the identity objections), but as was said above, those issues are minuscule when compared to the complete cluster fuck the organisers have made of the format (none of which is the fault of the SA teams). It's gone from the premier competition in the north to a fucking jokeshop!


* Hey Kiwi's - has our membership to the club gone through yet? Are there club polo shirts? Please tell me they're not black

I think you are taking yourself far too seriously. Perhaps a bit of snowflake as well. Good grief man.

A bit of that is just shit I don't like, which is fair enough if you don't agree. But the out and out attacks against referees is just full blown behaving like a cunt! There's no excusing that.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Anyone who says they don't understand what is meant by the "SA Circus" is either being disingenuous or has their head in the sand.

The complete one eyed-ness of much of your media (and no, its not just Keo - though he is probably the worst), threatening referees and practically bringing the entire game into disrepute and having undoubtedly the biggest cunt in rugby as your figurehead doesn't help you either. Jake White's totally unacceptable comments last week is just yet another symptom!

I'm not talking about internet hardmen like us lot either. Every country has their loon fans, and even us sensible ones (stop sniggering at the back) have our moments, but in SA the craziness is much (much) more mainstream.

While the media barrage by current and ex-players over the last few weeks (and months) in the build up to Ireland series is all much tamer relatively speaking (and I know it's a compliment to us, they're doing it because they fear us *) I find all just so funny - sad funny though, not ha ha funny. I think its all really pathetic and needy.

Despite all of that, and the travel issues and other obstacles, I am really positive about the SA sides in the URC. They've brought competitiveness both on and off the pitch and really rejuvenated a competition that was frankly dying. The Scots and Italians improving has also helped that a great deal - genuinely wish the same could be said about the Welsh.

I get the NTHC objection to SA involvement, the travel issues are much worse there due to the shorter notice and turnarounds (and to a lesser extent I get the identity objections), but as was said above, those issues are minuscule when compared to the complete cluster fuck the organisers have made of the format (none of which is the fault of the SA teams). It's gone from the premier competition in the north to a fucking jokeshop!


* Hey Kiwi's - has our membership to the club gone through yet? Are there club polo shirts? Please tell me they're not black

I think you are taking yourself far too seriously. Perhaps a bit of snowflake as well. Good grief man.

A bit of that is just shit I don't like, which is fair enough if you don't agree. But the out and out attacks against referees is just full blown behaving like a cunt! There's no excusing that.

Rassie has thankfully done an about turn on that. With the full-time employment of Jaco Peyper they are setting out to better respect the referees (and their decisions) and also are being coached by Jaco to ensure they play within the boundaries of the laws.

[SaintK]

Some really sensitive ladies on here. It's no wonder Sandyvagina is as she is.

All the usual cliches and insults. Find some new ones FFS

Who do you support lass

Fucking hilarious.
How old are you 11?

[assfly]

Who do you support lass

Probably Newcastle. It would explain why he's permanently angry.

[JM2K6]

All the usual cliches and insults. Find some new ones FFS

Who do you support lass

Fucking hilarious.
How old are you 11?

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

[Sards]

Who do you support lass

Fucking hilarious.
How old are you 11?

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

It does make it a lot more understandable. I mean if your side has always been shite and suddenly 4 strong sides are added, your team just moves 4 places down the scales.
But I have no objections to your teams inclusion. Just another team to play against and want to beat

[JM2K6]

Fucking hilarious.
How old are you 11?

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

It does make it a lot more understandable. I mean if your side has always been shite and suddenly 4 strong sides are added, your team just moves 4 places down the scales.
But I have no objections to your teams inclusion. Just another team to play against and want to beat

Both our sides contested semi finals this season, dipshit

[sockwithaticket]

Fucking hilarious.
How old are you 11?

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

It does make it a lot more understandable. I mean if your side has always been shite and suddenly 4 strong sides are added, your team just moves 4 places down the scales.
But I have no objections to your teams inclusion. Just another team to play against and want to beat

It would be fucking weird if you did since English teams are regionally appropriate for a European rugby competition and are part of the furniture of it.

[Biffer]

I doubt the finances are going to work in the long term. If SA has all this cash, then why isn't their domestic competition the focus? If they have money, why do their players leave and why don't they attract players from other countries? It slots nicely into European tv markets unlike Soup Rugby, so should be able to get broadcasting deals. Sums don't add up for me, and we'll see that come to a head now they've stopped contributing to travel costs and the broad cast rights haven't had a boost.

[Sards]

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

It does make it a lot more understandable. I mean if your side has always been shite and suddenly 4 strong sides are added, your team just moves 4 places down the scales.
But I have no objections to your teams inclusion. Just another team to play against and want to beat

It would be fucking weird if you did since English teams are regionally appropriate for a European rugby competition and are part of the furniture of it.

So it's mainly the English that have an issue. If I read that right.

[Sards]

I doubt the finances are going to work in the long term. If SA has all this cash, then why isn't their domestic competition the focus? If they have money, why do their players leave and why don't they attract players from other countries? It slots nicely into European tv markets unlike Soup Rugby, so should be able to get broadcasting deals. Sums don't add up for me, and we'll see that come to a head now they've stopped contributing to travel costs and the broad cast rights haven't had a boost.

Our domestic competition kicks off this weekend.
A lot of up and coming youngsters will be on show for your talent scouts to look at to strengthen your domestic competitions. Regards the financial implications. No risk no reward.

[sockwithaticket]

This board is too small to make any sweeping judgements. I've seen plenty of anti-Saffa inclusion sentiment on other platforms like Reddit and Facebook from Celts and the French.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Who do you support lass

Fucking hilarious.
How old are you 11?

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

Was waiting for you to enter this conversation...

[assfly]

This board is too small to make any sweeping judgements. I've seen plenty of anti-Saffa inclusion sentiment on other platforms like Reddit and Facebook from Celts and the French.

Well that certainly changes things.

Better withdraw from the Champions Cup so it can become ethnically homogenous again, some nerds on Reddit are unhappy.

[Sards]

This board is too small to make any sweeping judgements. I've seen plenty of anti-Saffa inclusion sentiment on other platforms like Reddit and Facebook from Celts and the French.

The French I can understand. They have been dominating the competitions . So they have most to lose if the Saffer sides build strength in depth

[JM2K6]

Fucking hilarious.
How old are you 11?

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

Was waiting for you to enter this conversation...

You're not sending your best

[Biffer]

I doubt the finances are going to work in the long term. If SA has all this cash, then why isn't their domestic competition the focus? If they have money, why do their players leave and why don't they attract players from other countries? It slots nicely into European tv markets unlike Soup Rugby, so should be able to get broadcasting deals. Sums don't add up for me, and we'll see that come to a head now they've stopped contributing to travel costs and the broad cast rights haven't had a boost.

Our domestic competition kicks off this weekend.
A lot of up and coming youngsters will be on show for your talent scouts to look at to strengthen your domestic competitions. Regards the financial implications. No risk no reward.

If we're not financially better off having you, you'll be out the door.

[SaintK]

Note the blinding rugby intellect of the man demanding to know who "SaintK" supports in an effort to make out they're just jealous their team isn't as good as the SA sides, or something.

As a supporter of brand-new European royalty Harlequins, I can safely say that the SA sides are worthless dogshit, playing rugby that would see them come stone last in Regional 2 South East, with fans who make Indian cricket fans look reasonable. I think that's what Sards is looking for, right?

It does make it a lot more understandable. I mean if your side has always been shite and suddenly 4 strong sides are added, your team just moves 4 places down the scales.
But I have no objections to your teams inclusion. Just another team to play against and want to beat

Both our sides contested semi finals this season, dipshit

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

[LoveOfTheGame]

I doubt the finances are going to work in the long term. If SA has all this cash, then why isn't their domestic competition the focus? If they have money, why do their players leave and why don't they attract players from other countries? It slots nicely into European tv markets unlike Soup Rugby, so should be able to get broadcasting deals. Sums don't add up for me, and we'll see that come to a head now they've stopped contributing to travel costs and the broad cast rights haven't had a boost.

Our domestic competition kicks off this weekend.
A lot of up and coming youngsters will be on show for your talent scouts to look at to strengthen your domestic competitions. Regards the financial implications. No risk no reward.

If we're not financially better off having you, you'll be out the door.

You sound like my wife and kids.

[assfly]

You sound like my wife and kids.

[JM2K6]

It does make it a lot more understandable. I mean if your side has always been shite and suddenly 4 strong sides are added, your team just moves 4 places down the scales.
But I have no objections to your teams inclusion. Just another team to play against and want to beat

Both our sides contested semi finals this season, dipshit

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

Genuinely seems like Sards has no idea about the competition except for matches involving SA sides. I guess he missed Saints (that's Northampton for you, Sards) in their knockout game against a SA side somehow

[Sards]

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

[Sards]

Genuinely seems like Sards has no idea about the competition except for matches involving SA sides. I guess he missed Saints (that's Northampton for you, Sards) in their knockout game against a SA side somehow

Oh I found them to be very impressive. Was disappointed when they choked. Looking forward to seeing more of them

[Slick]

Our domestic competition kicks off this weekend.
A lot of up and coming youngsters will be on show for your talent scouts to look at to strengthen your domestic competitions. Regards the financial implications. No risk no reward.

If we're not financially better off having you, you'll be out the door.

You sound like my wife and kids.

[SaintK]

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

Wibble

[Sards]

I think we might just win the English over in the long term.

[assfly]

I think we might just win the English over in the long term.

They're warming to us.

[Biffer]

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

So sport is just a business?

[_Os_]

If SA has all this cash, then why isn't their domestic competition the focus?

Because there's no appetite to sanction ourselves, and at the level we're talking about there's not many nations with the ability to give our sides a match. The Aussies were/are the problem in SANZAAR, they basically make the same arguments the English do about wanting glorious isolation but without even having a domestic comp to back it up, it made doing anything interesting with Super Rugby very difficult (they liked the idea of expansion but not the reality, the format became ridiculous to try and mitigate reality and meet all their demands). Discussions like the one on this thread went on for years/decades, the Aussies ended up blaming us for them not liking rugby (the time the matches are on when teams are touring, they didn't know where our teams were from after decades and couldn't use Google, etc). The English are making similar noises, which makes me a bit lukewarm on European rugby. The lesson of SANZAAR is it's best not to bother if one partner isn't fully committed.

If they have money, why do their players leave and why don't they attract players from other countries?

There was a choice made to not attempt to keep all the top players and to fund the broader structure instead. The strategy is production based, not the NZ model of focusing on test players. There's more pro and semi pro teams in SA than what's in the URC, if the Welsh sides ever left the URC we could fill the gap on our own (not saying that would be a good idea, just that there are more teams in SA). There are some foreign players that appear in SA sides, but none of our sides need to recruit foreigners so it's not common.

It slots nicely into European tv markets unlike Soup Rugby, so should be able to get broadcasting deals. Sums don't add up for me, and we'll see that come to a head now they've stopped contributing to travel costs and the broad cast rights haven't had a boost.

I haven't seen the numbers so don't know, but more content at watchable hours is key (more the case for URC than these comps I guess). SARU have always had an official airline sponsor who pays for a lot of the travel.

[Sards]

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

So sport is just a business?

You would be silly to think it isn't.

[Biffer]

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

So sport is just a business?

You would be silly to think it isn't.

I'd invite you to reconsider. It is a business, but it's not 'just' a business. Which is the question I asked.

[Sards]

So sport is just a business?

You would be silly to think it isn't.

I'd invite you to reconsider. It is a business, but it's not 'just' a business. Which is the question I asked.

Listen. If it were not for the support of the supporters the teams wouldn't have started up. But there has to be strong financial leadership or else the teams wouldn't exist. So sport is a business that feeds on us supporters. And we feed off them. So yes it is a business. I never saw the " it's not just a business " part. And I am truly happy to play against your team

[JM2K6]

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

I know you think you own the competition but you really don't

[Sards]

Only interested in the Saffer teams. No interest in the history of the comp as a whole or the rivalries built up over the years.
Typical blow ins.

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

I know you think you own the competition but you really don't

Oh my word.
How old are you. Not making fun of you. Just trying to understand your reluctance to accept change. I am 60 and have managed to " go with it "

[JM2K6]

The Aussies were/are the problem in SANZAAR, they basically make the same arguments the English do about wanting glorious isolation

The glorious isolation of an existing pan-Europe competition featuring teams from seven countries?

[Biffer]

You would be silly to think it isn't.

I'd invite you to reconsider. It is a business, but it's not 'just' a business. Which is the question I asked.

Listen. If it were not for the support of the supporters the teams wouldn't have started up. But there has to be strong financial leadership or else the teams wouldn't exist. So sport is a business that feeds on us supporters. And we feed off them. So yes it is a business. I never saw the " it's not just a business " part. And I am truly happy to play against your team

There were only five words, it's hard to miss 20% of them.

To suggest that anyone taking over a sports team of any description isn't particularly interested in the history of that team and the competitions they're in is, frankly a bit daft.

[JM2K6]

If a new owner took over the business you are employed in, he wouldn't be interested in the history , probably only the comparisons he could draw from it.
I do get that some people find it hard to accept change. Mainly because of age and habits.

I know you think you own the competition but you really don't

Oh my word.
How old are you. Not making fun of you. Just trying to understand your reluctance to accept change. I am 60 and have managed to " go with it "

Mate, we're discussing the controversial decisions made by committees and the negative impacts thereof, not the inevitability of your incontinence