NPR

Some would say it has already started.

They WRU is lucky in a way that the English clubs are struggling for cash right now, otherwise a lot of the players would have been scooped up already. I doubt the other home nations will look that intensely at them given they’d be unavailable for international periods. I can see a lot going to Japan, and that’ll damage the national team severely.

themaddog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:58 pm Some would say it has already started.

Even the Mail had the grace to acknowledge that’s too easy a jibe.

themaddog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:58 pm Some would say it has already started.

On a serious point it cannot be easy to mentally prepare for games with this hanging over you.

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:05 pm They WRU is lucky in a way that the English clubs are struggling for cash right now, otherwise a lot of the players would have been scooped up already. I doubt the other home nations will look that intensely at them given they’d be unavailable for international periods. I can see a lot going to Japan, and that’ll damage the national team severely.

Why would the japs hire them?

Just read the article. What a shitshow. From that base, it looks really unlikely that the four pro teams and the national team will amount to much over the next few seasons.

The current financial plight of Welsh rugby can be dated back to the pandemic, when the WRU took a £20million loan from the Welsh Government. The money was handed out to the regions and without it, they would not have survived. But each of Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets have to repay their £5m share over 20 years with an annual interest of 10 per cent.

10%? Who signed that deal?

themaddog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:58 pm Some would say it has already started.

No. Just been on a go slow/work to rule.

PCPhil wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 9:41 pm

themaddog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:58 pm Some would say it has already started.

No. Just been on a go slow/work to rule.

Work to rule - if only, there wouldn’t have been 19 penalties.

Gav wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:24 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:05 pm They WRU is lucky in a way that the English clubs are struggling for cash right now, otherwise a lot of the players would have been scooped up already. I doubt the other home nations will look that intensely at them given they’d be unavailable for international periods. I can see a lot going to Japan, and that’ll damage the national team severely.

Why would the japs hire them?

They’re always on the lookout for bigger names. Usually nearer the end of their careers, but if they can get a few Welsh internationals they’d be delighted I reckon.

Gav wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:24 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:05 pm They WRU is lucky in a way that the English clubs are struggling for cash right now, otherwise a lot of the players would have been scooped up already. I doubt the other home nations will look that intensely at them given they’d be unavailable for international periods. I can see a lot going to Japan, and that’ll damage the national team severely.

Why would the japs hire them?

Because they’ve seen what Jake Ball, Cory Hill and Hadleigh Parkes can do.

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 9:44 pm

Gav wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:24 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:05 pm They WRU is lucky in a way that the English clubs are struggling for cash right now, otherwise a lot of the players would have been scooped up already. I doubt the other home nations will look that intensely at them given they’d be unavailable for international periods. I can see a lot going to Japan, and that’ll damage the national team severely.

Why would the japs hire them?

They’re always on the lookout for bigger names. Usually nearer the end of their careers, but if they can get a few Welsh internationals they’d be delighted I reckon.

The Japanese clubs are moving away from short term, big name contracts and any international looking for work there now will likely need to commit for two seasons at least.

If they were to strike (highly unlikely ) would they have the backing of the Welsh fans ? Not sure I’d want to deprive them of a chance of getting one over England

Benny The Ball wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:10 pm If they were to strike (highly unlikely ) would they have the backing of the Welsh fans ? Not sure I’d want to deprive them of a chance of getting one over England

As far as I can tell from FB the fans are very much on the players’ side, quite predictably I guess.

GogLais wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:13 pm

Benny The Ball wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:10 pm If they were to strike (highly unlikely ) would they have the backing of the Welsh fans ? Not sure I’d want to deprive them of a chance of getting one over England

As far as I can tell from FB the fans are very much on the players’ side, quite predictably I guess.

This just confuses the shit out of me - where is all the Welsh (TV) money going? It's not like the WRU aren't making it hand over fist - certainly their accounts show a greater income than the IRFU earns. Okay no question the provinces make more in their own right than the regions do, but still!

I know over the years the Millenuim Stadium debt was always mentioned, but that never made much sense either - it was built before the spiralling of construction costs, had a significant Millenium Fund grant (hence the name) and had how many years of extra initially unplanned rentals every year for the FA Cap, League Cup, Charity Shield and Play Off finals while Wembley was being rebuilt.

Do the Welsh Clubs all have exceptional facilities or something? Because if they don't some people somewhere must have very deep pockets stuffed full of siphoned off cash!

If it does happen do England get a walkover? Can't seem to find what the 6N rules for this are?

PornDog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:29 pm This just confuses the shit out of me - where is all the Welsh (TV) money going? It's not like the WRU aren't making it hand over fist - certainly their accounts show a greater income than the IRFU earns. Okay no question the provinces make more in their own right than the regions do, but still!

I know over the years the Millenuim Stadium debt was always mentioned, but that never made much sense either - it was built before the spiralling of construction costs, had a significant Millenium Fund grant (hence the name) and had how many years of extra initially unplanned rentals every year for the FA Cap, League Cup, Charity Shield and Play Off finals while Wembley was being rebuilt.

Do the Welsh Clubs all have exceptional facilities or something? Because if they don't some people somewhere must have very deep pockets stuffed full of siphoned off cash!

Yeah, they’re pissing money away somewhere.

GogLais wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:13 pm

Benny The Ball wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:10 pm If they were to strike (highly unlikely ) would they have the backing of the Welsh fans ? Not sure I’d want to deprive them of a chance of getting one over England

As far as I can tell from FB the fans are very much on the players’ side, quite predictably I guess.

Plus anyway the chances of this Welsh team of getting one over England are slim so they may as well forfeit the game.

My question is would they be striking if they had two wins behind them.

tc27 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:33 pm If it does happen do England get a walkover? Can't seem to find what the 6N rules for this are?

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

The ban on in-game drinking has really hurt the WRU.

Just shows that tattooed, fake tan, skinny tshirt/jeans wearing chavs, on roids, are the predominant Welsh rugby following demographic these days.

Let the chavs drink, and pay the players FFS.

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 5:48 am My question is would they be striking if they had two wins behind them.

Yes, now go and comment on something you know about.
Mumsnet it is then.

Just reading a bit more on this. You would ‘expect’ it to be sorted but in the worse case this could have serious ramifications. Looks like a real mess and not easy.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:58 am

tc27 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:33 pm If it does happen do England get a walkover? Can't seem to find what the 6N rules for this are?

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

Minimum 60 cap requirement for selection outside Wales!

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 8:55 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:58 am

tc27 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:33 pm If it does happen do England get a walkover? Can't seem to find what the 6N rules for this are?

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

Minimum 60 cap requirement for selection outside Wales!

Unless it’s your first cap. Must be a few surely.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:58 am

tc27 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:33 pm If it does happen do England get a walkover? Can't seem to find what the 6N rules for this are?

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

If the players do go on strike, would there be a sufficient number of players willing to cross the picket line and be scabs to raise an alternative team?

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 9:13 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:58 am

tc27 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:33 pm If it does happen do England get a walkover? Can't seem to find what the 6N rules for this are?

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

If the players do go on strike, would there be a sufficient number of players willing to cross the picket line and be scabs to raise an alternative team?

I would assume so, take a few grand, play for your country, hiding to nothing etc

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 9:37 pm

The current financial plight of Welsh rugby can be dated back to the pandemic, when the WRU took a £20million loan from the Welsh Government. The money was handed out to the regions and without it, they would not have survived. But each of Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets have to repay their £5m share over 20 years with an annual interest of 10 per cent.

10%? Who signed that deal?

That's a mad rate. Anyone know how much the WRU are being charged by the Welsh government? It should be past on and no more.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 9:13 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:58 am

tc27 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:33 pm If it does happen do England get a walkover? Can't seem to find what the 6N rules for this are?

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

If the players do go on strike, would there be a sufficient number of players willing to cross the picket line and be scabs to raise an alternative team?

Would they not just postpone the fixture?

There is precedent for this, though there is the World Cup and warms up to consider

If Italian players went on strike and a fixture had to be postponed or cancelled what would be the reaction from fans and the authorities do we think?

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 10:02 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 9:13 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:58 am

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

If the players do go on strike, would there be a sufficient number of players willing to cross the picket line and be scabs to raise an alternative team?

Would they not just postpone the fixture?

There is precedent for this, though there is the World Cup and warms up to consider

Definitely possible, but the challenge at 11 days notice is pretty huge:
- WRU will have already placed all the orders for food/booze/hospitality/rostering staff etc. How much of that could they get back?
- WRU almost certainly in breach of contract to the 6N and broadcasters who will likely hit the roof. Seems likely Wales England is the largest TV audience rugby gets in Britain.
- You'd assume the WRU would probably have to reimburse the RFU's costs
- When do you replay it? It isn't fair on either side to then have to play three tests on the bounce, and a strike that just postpones a week is likely a waste of time. Anything else will be outside the test window so you're talking about having to make an agreement with the Prem who not unreasonably will play hardball (Sarries are playing Quins at Tottenham the week after the 6N, for example, both sides would be furious to lose their stars and the spotlight)
- Do you have to offer a refund to ticket holders? Or risk just transferring them over and playing in a half empty stadium.

Probably not comprehensive. IMO if Wales can't play next week then the answer is what would happen in club rugby, they can't raise a side and England take the points.

If Wales are out, seems the perfect time to introduce another nation into this prestigious competition.

I'd be surprised if the match doesn't go ahead.

WRU seem fairly incompetent but it serves no one to cause them to lose millions and be even less able to get themselves and the regions out of this mess.

You'd hope the threat and media reaction will get everyone scrambling to put something temporary in place until they can iron everything out.

Wales online journalists will be furiously typing up an article about how only aways fans from Bristol, Bath, and Gloucester can save them in an Anglo Welsh league reigniting old rivalries which somehow exist despite the same journo decrying the region's as new franchise outlets with no natural fan base in the very next article.

In all seriousness, good luck to the players. What a sh*tshow rugby is in commercially currently.

PornDog wrote: ↑Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:29 pm This just confuses the shit out of me - where is all the Welsh (TV) money going? It's not like the WRU aren't making it hand over fist - certainly their accounts show a greater income than the IRFU earns. Okay no question the provinces make more in their own right than the regions do, but still!

I know over the years the Millenuim Stadium debt was always mentioned, but that never made much sense either - it was built before the spiralling of construction costs, had a significant Millenium Fund grant (hence the name) and had how many years of extra initially unplanned rentals every year for the FA Cap, League Cup, Charity Shield and Play Off finals while Wembley was being rebuilt.

Do the Welsh Clubs all have exceptional facilities or something? Because if they don't some people somewhere must have very deep pockets stuffed full of siphoned off cash!

I'm surprised as well, assumed the national team/stadium would be a massive cash cow and the regions would at least be bringing something in from TV and ticket sales, even if they are underperforming. Not many marquee players in the squads these days either.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 10:02 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 9:13 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:58 am

They’re surely far more likely to raise a side of overseas players/youngsters than lose their biggest commercial event?

If the players do go on strike, would there be a sufficient number of players willing to cross the picket line and be scabs to raise an alternative team?

Would they not just postpone the fixture?

There is precedent for this, though there is the World Cup and warms up to consider

When England's players threatened to go on strike in 2000 and said they would refuse to play against Argentina, they were told by Woodward and the RFU that if they refused to play, they would be replaced by a scratch team. Woodward even claimed he would pick amateur players if he had to. In the end, a compromise agreement was reached a few days before the match.

I very much doubt that World Rugby, the RFU or the 6N would agree to Wales postponing the fixture. Its up to the WRU to field a team. If the fixture is cancelled, the financial penalties for the WRU could well be significant, quite apart from the loss of immediate revenue.

I support the players 100%.

Fuck "the man".

Honestly though, they are 15 times more likely to get Motor Neurons, Early Onset etc from CTE from their brains smashihg the inside of their skulls.
The job is insane now.

Poster earlier was in about how charvy (with an r) Welsh rugby fans are, like it or not.. you are all down there with supporters of dog fighting or paying a homeless guy to hit themselves on the head with a hammer, if you support rugby now.

Line6 HXFX wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 11:16 am I support the players 100%.

Fuck "the man".

Honestly though, they are 15 times more likely to get Motor Neurons, Early Onset etc from CTE from their brains smashihg the inside of their skulls.
The job is insane now.

Poster earlier was in about how charvy (with an r) Welsh rugby fans are, like it or not.. you are all down there with supporters of dog fighting or paying a homeless guy to hit themselves on the head with a hammer, if you support rugby now.

You've stopped watching all pro rugby?

Why are you even bothering to post on a rugby forum?