Guinness PRO12 Fixtures

First topic message reminder :

Not seen this yet but here first 2 rounds of fixtures:

5/6/7 Sep Connacht Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons Sportsground

5/6/7 Sep Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Rugby Scotstoun Stadium

5/6/7 Sep Munster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby Thomond Park

5/6/7 Sep Ospreys v Benetton Treviso Liberty Stadium

5/6/7 Sep Scarlets v Ulster Rugby Parc y Scarlets

5/6/7 Sep Zebre v Cardiff Blues Stadio XXV Aprile

12/13/14 Sep Benetton Treviso v Munster Rugby Stadio Monigo

12/13/14 Sep Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park

12/13/14 Sep Edinburgh Rugby v Connacht Rugby BT Murrayfield

12/13/14 Sep Leinster Rugby v Scarlets RDS Arena

12/13/14 Sep Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys Rodney Parade

12/13/14 Sep Ulster Rugby v Zebre Kingspan Stadium

Nive early season home derby for us agains the Os, 2 big games for the Scarlets to get their season up and running

Speculation that the Pro12 fixtures might have to be moved to an international weekend to accommodate a development competition is very annoying. Apparently the Pro12 has said it won't move its fixtures (and quite rightly too).

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2014/0725/633170-fixture-conundrum-for-irish-sides-in-pro12/

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dai the pro12 was smaller then though.  But I really miss the Edf and Powergen Cup days, full sides competing for worthwhile silverware, double header semifinals at the MS, and the final at Twickers.  Back then the regions were actually competitive in it back then too.

and a pint of cider was half made up of ice. What was all that about?

Notch wrote:Speculation that the Pro12 fixtures might have to be moved to an international weekend to accommodate a development competition is very annoying. Apparently the Pro12 has said it won't move its fixtures (and quite rightly too).

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2014/0725/633170-fixture-conundrum-for-irish-sides-in-pro12/

Glad to hear it. Must clearly be the Sky factor calling the fixture list to go ahead. About time the Pro 12 fixture list was taken seriously and keeping each team playing on the allotted weekends. If only they could now sort the actual draws so teams actually get HOME,AWAY,HOME, AWAY fixtures so that fans can actually go to see their teams twice a month with regularity without having to watch a month of home games and then waiting another month for all the away fixtures to pass, then we could finally be on to a winner.

Welshmushroom wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dai the pro12 was smaller then though.  But I really miss the Edf and Powergen Cup days, full sides competing for worthwhile silverware, double header semifinals at the MS, and the final at Twickers.  Back then the regions were actually competitive in it back then too.

Aye but only because of the prize money which was lucrative for the winners for a handful of games.  The moment the PRL didn't secure the prize money that EDF had put up and given no welsh region could gain a extra HC spot through winning it, it ended any interest the welsh had in competing in it.  Now it's just a massive inconvenience.

Basically its a total sham of an event and I have no idea why on earth our regions are even trying to keep this going.  And there was me thinking the Challenge Cup was a mickey mouse trophy.  

Cardiff have used this competition, since the Dai Young days at CCS, to give younger players a run out. Got well munched mostly by far superior and experienced opposition.
What about your region WM?

Dai a smaller Celtic league meant a spare 4 wkends to get the group stages and semifinal played in, as opposed to having to try to squeeze them in somewhere. Also if you go to my local the beer tastes like its half water even now

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dai a smaller Celtic league  meant a spare 4 wkends to get the group stages and semifinal played in, as opposed to having to try to squeeze them in somewhere.  Also if you go to my local the beer tastes like its half water even now

I know that mun. Might be better if it was an age grade comp or something like that.
Don't have a local anymore. Both closed down around 6 or 7 years ago.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dai a smaller Celtic league  meant a spare 4 wkends to get the group stages and semifinal played in, as opposed to having to try to squeeze them in somewhere.  Also if you go to my local the beer tastes like its half water even now

I know that mun. Might be better if it was an age grade comp or something like that.
Don't have a local anymore. Both closed down around 6 or 7 years ago.

You should complain non stop about these pub chains until someone brings your local/s back.   

Cardiff Dave wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dai a smaller Celtic league  meant a spare 4 wkends to get the group stages and semifinal played in, as opposed to having to try to squeeze them in somewhere.  Also if you go to my local the beer tastes like its half water even now

I know that mun. Might be better if it was an age grade comp or something like that.
Don't have a local anymore. Both closed down around 6 or 7 years ago.

.

That's sloppy Dai. Everyone has a local.

I like the LV. Teams can use it however they like. Loads of young players have used it to break through. It can be used to play them alongside guys perhaps a like over the hill (experienced) or bringing back long term injured guys. It's not a premier competition but it's not supposed to be.

Thunor, I'm not so keen on it because our kids shine and then get poached (Shingler/Williams)

justified sinner wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dai a smaller Celtic league  meant a spare 4 wkends to get the group stages and semifinal played in, as opposed to having to try to squeeze them in somewhere.  Also if you go to my local the beer tastes like its half water even now

I know that mun. Might be better if it was an age grade comp or something like that.
Don't have a local anymore. Both closed down around 6 or 7 years ago.

.

That's sloppy Dai. Everyone has a local.

I have a local.
It's a Tescos Extra now though.
And the smart bird behind the counter looked at me weird when I asked for a pint of Guinness and some change for the pool table.

HammerofThunor wrote:I like the LV. Teams can use it however they like. Loads of young players have used it to break through. It can be used to play them alongside guys perhaps a like over the hill (experienced) or bringing back long term injured guys. It's not a premier competition but it's not supposed to be.

The prize for winning it is different though. What incentive is there for a Welsh club to go for it?

The Ulster game had better not get moved, as I have already paid to go over. What a farce.

Looks like the RRW and WRU row is spilling over again and effecting everyone else in the league,

Think judging by the RFU statement the LV will be rearranged, after the WRU and RRW sort themselves out.

Worst case is the Welsh regions would have to choose to forfeit a round in either the LV Cup or Pro 12,
If they have ambitions of making the playoffs and new European Cup, then its the LV that will have a poor round.

Can't see the other Unions being flexible on the dates, they appear to have been tough on this issue in the past.

according to wiki

"The Welsh clubs' inclusion initially caused them to be expelled from the Celtic League. Scottish and Irish officials were angered that the Welsh Clubs had apparently consented to Powergen Cup fixtures on the same weekend as Celtic League matches. The political fallout resulted in the purported expulsion of the Welsh clubs from the league. Eventually, a compromise was reached, and the Welsh clubs were readmitted."

I know it caused an issue but don't think it did reach expulsion and readmittance.

oh turns out they did
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4599583.stm

Risca Rev wrote:The Ulster game had better not get moved, as I have already paid to go over. What a farce.

Terrible situation for the away fans. Hope it gets sorted.

Kingshu wrote:oh turns out they did
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4599583.stm

Shows how the pro12 has managed to grow yet stay exactly the same! Still have the Welsh looking east for a quick buck. Ulster season tickets might be up a little from the 2,000 quoted in that article. The welsh are some of the most passionate rugby supporters around. How can they have made such a hash out of trying to adapt to professionalism (below the international test level of course).

Fixtures out.

http://www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php

They tally with what was around last week. Thomond park on Stephen's day

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Fixtures out.

(

Only for some clubs.

My team for instance haven't even got 2 of their first 7 games confirmed.


19/20/21 Sep Scarlets v Benetton Treviso Parc y Scarlets

31 Oct, 1/2 Nov Scarlets v Zebre Parc y Scarlets

What the hell is going on?

Is that October one not because someone fecked up the Anglo Welsh fixtures?

It seems to be the ones that are not televised that are not confirmed. Quite how it has taken this long to announce these, sort out which are broadcasted and tell us is just ridiculous. urine up & Brewery.

At least Guinness are paying us all a fortune to be involved.

And they have got more that 2 confirmed. 5 in fact.

My team does not have a ko time for a game involving an Italian team either. So allowing for the Anglo Welsh thing (Which was not down to the pro12) we are the same

Involves Italian teams, may have something to do with their broadcast who is yet to be determined apparently.

Why have you got such a massive negative head on you? It seems that you will take any excuse however tenuous to have a pop at the pro12?

It's a league involving 4 unions, some regions, about 6 TV stations and 4 international sides. Bound to be hard to organise things.

We all want it to be better, but that won't happen if people keep running it down.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

It's a league involving 4 unions, some regions, about 6 TV stations and 4 international sides.
.

Which is why it doesn't work.

For you... Evidently.

The rest of us would rather improve it than slag it off

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:For you... Evidently.

The rest of us would rather improve it than slag it off

+1

CN continuously posts throughout this site slagging off the Pro12 but thankfully it falls on deaf ears. Nobody listens when the whingers whinge.

Heads in the sand. We're being left behind while the English and French motor on.

So far, Leinster have 5 games of Sky and another 6 on TG4. The other 2 games are away to Italian opposition so they could be on Italian tv.

I'm looking forward to the Marmite this year, just hope everyone takes it seriously.

Chunky Norwich wrote:Heads in the sand. We're being left behind while the English and French motor on.

Yes, and your answer is lie down like a lapdog for a rub on the belly and some table scraps. Not my idea of fun thanks.

No need to be like that Ladyboy, the last thing this league needs is for it to be viewed as a part time league.

Big year for 'The Marmite' coming up as it really needs to grow in popularity.

Possibly a bit harsh of me

Pleasent as always Ladyboy!

Oh wait its school holidays.

I hope S4C have sorted out their English subtitles this year, very rarely worked on freesat last year.  

Scrumpy wrote:I hope S4C have sorted out their English subtitles this year, very rarely worked on freesat last year.  

Learn Welsh

I've learnt a few words but I find it spoils my enjoyment of the game (like being back at school), and seeing as most of South Wales don't speak Welsh iI still find it strange that S4C can't get their subtitles working.

You can get English commentary on the red button though

So Sky Sports seem to be targetting Pro12 for Saturday afternoons and evening games.

Is it me, or are there a lot of Friday night kick-offs? Just seems like more than previous seasons, but not many at the RDS (as a city kid I found it a good way to have to leave work, a game Friday night really set up a good weekend).

Still really annoyed that the farce in Round 7 hasn't been sorted out yet.

Also seems there is a bidding war going on between BBC NI and UTV, after UTV saw what a massive ratings winner Ulster Rugby was for BBC NI. Thats why the broadcaster for many Ulster Rugby home games hasn't been confirmed.

Hope BBC gets it.

Last season 54 games were on Fridays (not playoffs, counted off fixture list so might be a little off). Out of 132 games in total. So about 40%.

New season (so far) has 31 out of 69, so about 45%. If the Ulster games haven't been set yet and they like Fridays then I think that would go up.

Sky can't show football at 3pm on a Saturday so they'll fill the slot with rugby (edit: you'd think)

Yes, Sky have said they want Saturday games (to fill their schedule) and the two Welsh broadcasters want Friday night and Sunday afternoon, so that.goes a long way to explain scheduling. Not set in stone and some exceptions, but mostly what's happened.

HammerofThunor wrote:Sky can't show football at 3pm on a Saturday so they'll fill the slot with rugby (edit: you'd think)

Most of the games on Sky are Saturday at 14.40  as far as I can see  

That's good for me.

Chunky Norwich wrote:Heads in the sand. We're being left behind while the English and French motor on.

How more people don't think this way i don't know, it looks that way to me. I wouldn't say the English and French though, i'd say English and French club rugby.

If you're Welsh thats definitely true, and those wounds are self-inflicted.

But the competition authority in France has suspended their TV deal over complaints over the tendering process, and bidding for the French rights to show the European Cup have fallen short of the reserve price. Sponsors have also been a lot slower to come forward for the re-vamped competition than anyone would like. Whilst the big French clubs are wealthy enough to take the hit this hiccup in the TV deal will cause the smaller clubs are very worried over there.

The new European Cup is not having a very serene start, but the Pro12 unions insisted on being guaranteed no less than they earned before so we look set to benefit in the few years its going take these clowns to achieve what they arrogantly assumed would happen straight away in terms of sponsorship.

Meanwhile, tv ratings for Ulster have been so good the broadcaster isn't yet confirmed for us due to a bidding war which will attract more money to the league, Sky Sports are going to bring it to a whole new audience. TV money and sponsorship is still less than England or France but it's growing very steadily for us.

The English and French are still richer but they always have been, since the very beginning of professionalism they have been richer. It's been shown that with the right support from your Union, the right coaches and some smart business decisions they can be matched on the field. The Irish are tightening their belts in anticipation of more big money offers coming in for our top players but we're also shifting more tickets for games at this level than we ever have before and each sponsorship deal we attract is better than the last.

It's the incompetence of the WRU and RRW that are responsible for your bad mood Chunky. The Pro12 is delivering more for its stakeholders each year. It will likely never overtake the other leagues unless there is an unlikely explosion in the international market and in Italy but its still growing. It's the only realistic league for Wales to be a part of. The turmoil of having to fight two unions and the championship clubs to have a right of playing anywhere else isn't going to benefit the regions. At all. What you need is certainty, an end to the WRU-RRW conflict as soon as possible. Escalating that conflict isn't going to help- the Welsh try to leave the Pro12 all they'll do is damage the Pro12 and end up having to stay in that league anyway.

It's going to be a long fight to keep up with the big spending French/English clubs but it's no foregone conclusion we're not going to keep up.

Chunky Norwich wrote:Heads in the sand. We're being left behind while the English and French motor on.

The English aren't leaving anyone behind,they are stagnant as the salary cap restricts them from having truly top class squads.Toulon are the only French team that are ahead of the pack,all the rest are around the same level as their pro 12 rivals.Leinster beat Castres home and away last year while the Ospreys beat them once,Ulster did the same to Leicester and Montpellier,Munster hammered Toulouse,Cardiiff were the only team to beat Toulon in Europe.

The English have almost no chance of winning the new European Cup while the French might dominate if they keep throwing megabucks at it but there is nothing that can be done to stop that.Unlike the PRL/LNR I don't feel that we should try to put limits on teams that excel,it should be up to us to catch up with them.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Chunky Norwich wrote:Heads in the sand. We're being left behind while the English and French motor on.

The English aren't leaving anyone behind,they are stagnant as the salary cap restricts them from having truly top class squads.Toulon are the only French team that are ahead of the pack,all the rest are around the same level as their pro 12 rivals.Leinster beat Castres home and away last year while the Ospreys beat them once,Ulster did the same to Leicester and Montpellier,Munster hammered Toulouse,Cardiiff were the only team to beat Toulon in Europe.

The English have almost no chance of winning the new European Cup while the French might dominate if they keep throwing megabucks at it but there is nothing that can be done to stop that.Unlike the PRL/LNR I don't feel that we should try to put limits on teams that excel,it should be up to us to catch up with them.

Surely every English supporter should fear these comments, raising the salary cap and allowing the English clubs to spend willingly will only deteriorate English international rugby, similar to how the French team have struggled with quality players and depth the few years the league has run rampant.

Notch wrote:You can get English commentary on the red button though

Thats what I'm saying Notch it doesn't always work on S4C on freesat.