France Versus Ireland - French Clubs Influence

According to the independent the French league has demanded the game be played in June. If this happens it will be a farce. It will ruin the 6 Nations tournament for all teams.

Hopefully sense will prevail? http://www.independent.ie/sport/

Not going to happen, full stop, as Ireland will be in New Zealand at that point. Don't worry.

I think a one off 6 Nations runners up game in June is a good idea

Do you know what, I am sick to death with France over the last couple of years. They constantly want to change kick off times to Friday or Saturday nights, they take all our good players by waving money at them, I reckon they will be asking to join the southern hemisphere four nations next.

It will be played on the first weekend of March. There might be an all-mighty row in France about it, but the clubs won't hold much sway.

Tell them 'Nice blunt French demand...now if you want to forfeit the game keep the arrogant demands going'

Kidney better demand it be played in March or else we will demand that they forfeit the points. I sense a french strike of sorts brewing.

I think a game in June would be a great idea. Maybe shift Super Saturday to that time of year so that all the "finals get played across a series of weeks.

Could be the start to summer rugby.....

I think they are just looking for some extra compensation because the match will now fall outside of the the international window.

On an other note. Was listening to 'Off the ball' on Newstalk today, they interviewed a reporter from L'Equippe and he was saying the FFR will be looking at some sort of compensation for the Irish fans that traveled aside from renewing/refunding tickets.

How can the clubs be forced to release players outside the international window? Is there some clause in the IRB regulations? If not I don't see how Kidney can demand anything.

It has to be March 2 or 3 for me. June would be an absolute farce. They FFR had the time to cancel it early and put it forward to this weekend but failed in that so why should the other 6N teams bow to their wishes?

Imagine being a side (proabably the Welsh) waiting until June to know whether or not they will be the champions...

HammerofThunor wrote:How can the clubs be forced to release players outside the international window? Is there some clause in the IRB regulations? If not I don't see how Kidney can demand anything.

Its France who want it played outside the International window not Ireland

Ireland will be in New Zealand at the beginning of June so that is a complete no goer

Since the internation window is already full of games when exactly did Ireland want to play it? A double header with England going second? (please say yes)

[The off weekends are not in the international window which is why English and French clubs have their players back (excluding EPS)]

eirebilly wrote:It has to be March 2 or 3 for me. June would be an absolute farce. They FFR had the time to cancel it early and put it forward to this weekend but failed in that so why should the other 6N teams bow to their wishes?

Imagine being a side (proabably the Welsh) waiting until June to know whether or not they will be the champions...

Imagine the horror. soemthing like that would never happen would it (2001?)

That was a totally different set of circumstances Hammer

HammerofThunor wrote:

eirebilly wrote:It has to be March 2 or 3 for me. June would be an absolute farce. They FFR had the time to cancel it early and put it forward to this weekend but failed in that so why should the other 6N teams bow to their wishes?

Imagine being a side (proabably the Welsh) waiting until June to know whether or not they will be the champions...

Imagine the horror. soemthing like that would never happen would it (2001?)

To be honest the issue in 2001 was related to a serious issue which affected the livelyhoods of thousands (possibly 100's of thousands) of people all across the home nations. This is simply the FFR's ability to get a pitch sorted to host the game. In reality the FFR created this mess (Paris is prone to cold snaps, no undersoil heating, no contingency). Bet they would have nailed it if it was an invasion though

Pot Hale wrote:I think a game in June would be a great idea. Maybe shift Super Saturday to that time of year so that all the "finals get played across a series of weeks.

Could be the start to summer rugby.....

Ireland have already got a game on the 9th June ...away to someone called the All Blacks - thats why it has to be the first weekend in March.

The Hosts let everyone down
...the Hosts will have no demands
...the Hosts will solve the issue by saying 'sorry and what can we do to accomodate the game being now played, with particular regard to accomodating the guest side - Ireland'

That's the Host's role now. Any guff from the French clubs should be put into context for them with blunt language. 'Your guys screwed up so shut it.'

Those years Secret spent in the Diplomatic Corps really show, don't they?

I'd truly speak that way and I'd truly make that point clear and concise if I were in a negotiating position, MrsP.

Sometimes right is so right that lovely speeches about compromise are just cobwebs on the 'round table'. Besides, the French know how to be blunt themselves, they appreciate candour...as many poor sheep found out to their cost several years ago!

The hosts have no control over the players outside of the international window.
The hosts (I imagine) will have to stump up a fair lump of cash in compensation if they want that control.

I reckon the game should be played on the 7th or 8th of April.

Fine by me - there still be 2 Irish sides in the HC SF's

Munster or Ulster + Leinster reserves who will still turn over Cardiff

Good man Secret.

You tell'm!

HammerofThunor wrote:The hosts have no control over the players outside of the international window.
The hosts (I imagine) will have to stump up a fair lump of cash in compensation if they want that control.

Ahh, Thunor again - the man who suggests Ireland should roll over and accept the demands coming from the big club boys? I personally couldn't care less how much compensation the clubs would need, and so I wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about it. Somebody done somebody wrong (as the old song goes)... courtesy suggests they solve with with respect to the guests they short changed in the process.

Apparantly the FFR want it played in the Autumn now......

The French are turning this into a right charade now.

Nonsense situation. Get it played, get it over with.

HammerofThunor wrote:How can the clubs be forced to release players outside the international window? Is there some clause in the IRB regulations? If not I don't see how Kidney can demand anything.

Surely the game would be taking place in the seven week international window set aside for the Six Nations?

I think France should have to forfeit the game due to the lateness of it being called off.

The FFR are a shambles.

In fact is there a Union that isn't?

Hmm, I'm wrong.

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2027792.html

Annual release period for Northern Hemisphere eligible players:
Five weeks (matches) out of the seven weeks from the first weekend of February to the third weekend of March for the senior national representative team, the next senior national representative team and the Under 20 national representative team.

But it does seem ridiculous that there is no provision for this happening. And I don't think the FFR should be making demands... they failed to provide a playable surface. I think this will be vetoed.

We don't have any free weekend in the June window and it's not going to happen in November either- if the game takes place, it should take place before the end of this tournament.

The call is for it to take place outside of an international window either way if they want it in September. The common sense time is when players are in national training camps anyway and the competition is ongoing.

Tell the French to feck off and give us the points.

There taking the urine now

How silly that the French want to play a 6 nations match in the NH depth of winter in the evening when we all know that the temperature plummets, added to which, the Stade de France doesn't have undersoil heating?

For the life of me i can't see how a supposedly clever bunch of administrators couldn't see this happening, or at least the possibility of this happening. Truly a gigantic 'man sausage -up'.

Game confirmed for 4th March.

SecretFly wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:The hosts have no control over the players outside of the international window.
The hosts (I imagine) will have to stump up a fair lump of cash in compensation if they want that control.

Ahh, Thunor again - the man who suggests Ireland should roll over and accept the demands coming from the big club boys?

?? Am I missing something?

I think you've been missing quite a lot from your first post to your last in this thread Thunor. By the way you're constant negativity and swipes at Irish rugby are really starting to make you come across as being rather bitter.

France have just lost the grand slam as they have to play 4 consecutive weekends. Good for Wales

Care to point out a swipe at Irish rugby? As far as I remember I pointed out that the French clubs don't have to release players outside the international window. Therefore it's not as simple as the IRFU demanding anything. In what way is that a swipe at Irish rugby?

HammerofThunor wrote:Care to point out a swipe at Irish rugby? As far as I remember I pointed out that the French clubs don't have to release players outside the international window. Therefore it's not as simple as the IRFU demanding anything. In what way is that a swipe at Irish rugby?

It's over now and it is March...just like I knew it would be. But to quickly return to your point. You brought it up twice or three times in the course of this thread. How can Kidney demand anything when the French clubs don't have to release players. The inference was that Kidney and the Irish were demanding something from the clubs and were being unreasonable in the process.

Meanwhile in the real world - Ireland was never talking to the clubs, and never demanded a blessed thing from them. They were talking to the people they talk to - the guys in France that control the French national side, the French Union. The Irish were I'm sure telling the French Union in no uncertain terms that the problem was theirs, they mucked up and they should do the dealing with the clubs in their country. Sort out the dissention (and demands) in the ranks, and when they've sorted it out with their clubs come back to Ireland with a date that will be acceptable to Ireland - the International side that is suffering the delay through no fault of their own.

No not in June when we'll be in New Zealand! No, not next season either..... Now, try March and just sign the dotted line. Grand, thanks, that'll do nicely.

I think that's just how the RFU would do business if French clubs tried the old mutiny card...don't you think?

flynnnio wrote:Kidney better demand it be played in March or else we will demand that they forfeit the points. I sense a french strike of sorts brewing.

I was responding to this comment. That's all. Sorry if I suggested otherwise