They announced a restructure of the league in recent year to come in to effect this season. I don't see how it does much for the game. Having divisions 1A and 1B never seems to capture the public's imaginations. Divisions are either first tier or second tier. They should go back to the drawing board.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8971 - 11/09/2011 20:26:48    1032012

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 1296

1032012 They announced a restructure of the league in recent year to come in to effect this season. I don't see how it does much for the game. Having divisions 1A and 1B never seems to capture the public's imaginations. Divisions are either first tier or second tier. They should go back to the drawing board.

They are effectively divisions 1 and 2 but called 1A and 1B, hurling has done the same in recent years
That isnt a problem with the league at all. Issues relating to players on pro/academy contracts playing in the league and the scheduling of games are much bigger issues.
Senior Cup first round was on in Munster over this weekend.
Nenagh put up good fight against Shannon but lost out due to the added firepower shannon had including academy/pro players like paddy butler, luke o dea, mossy lawlor
Bruff hammered Clonakilty, Dolphin hammered Old Crescent, Garryowen shocked Cork Con

The league has expanded to 52 teams, 2 top divisions of 10 with 2 lower of 16. Tipp has its 2nd senior club now in cashel and the game between cashel and Nenagh in december will be a potential game of the season.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 11/09/2011 20:45:11    1032029

the biggest problem is the travelling and the is wht the IRFU is having most difficulty with, its overnight trip for alot of games and its very difficult on players and that is what the IRFU is most worried about, they are not overly intyerested in crowd etc, as they know the professional game can support the AIL with funding as the professional game needs the AIL. it will be a while before they get it right but theyare trying

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 11/09/2011 20:45:11    1032030

11/09/2011 20:45:11
liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 4404

1032030 the biggest problem is the travelling and the is wht the IRFU is having most difficulty with, its overnight trip for alot of games and its very difficult on players and that is what the IRFU is most worried about, they are not overly intyerested in crowd etc, as they know the professional game can support the AIL with funding as the professional game needs the AIL. it will be a while before they get it right but theyare trying

Good point, we are a senior club in a division that for the last 2-3 seasons has had 5-6 ulster clubs which has meant at least 3 trips up north which have to involve a night in the hotel the night before the game as you couldnt play a game at half 2 having travelled for 4 or do hours beforehand.
The pro game does totally support the amatuer game and the IRFU acknowledge that in their annual reports but its such a pity they dont help clubs with travel costs as the costs of putting 30 or so people up in a hotel 3 or 4 times a year for a rural club like ours is very difficult
As you said they are trying to get it right but it will take a while

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 11/09/2011 20:56:12    1032055

Ok, maybe it's just me. I just don't like the names 1A and 1B. While obvious in terms of levels that they are, in terms of promoting the league I don't think it works.

I think the IRFU were supposed to be open to regionalising some if not all the divisions but there was opposition against the move. If true, I can only take from that that the majority of the clubs in all the divisions want the league as it is.

For what it's worth, I think both divisions 2A and 2B should be split into two sections of 8 teams north and 8 teams south. It'll be 14 games, 7 home and 7 away in each division. It'd be a natural step of progression, junior provincial rugby, then two tiers with a north-south split and then two national tiers at the top.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8971 - 11/09/2011 21:45:17    1032117

Rugby is finished in this country, had its time in the sun, lets move on now and try something different like Tennis, or canoeing.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 12/09/2011 08:41:43    1032155

liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 4413

1032030
the biggest problem is the travelling and the is wht the IRFU is having most difficulty with, its overnight trip for alot of games and its very difficult on players and that is what the IRFU is most worried about, they are not overly intyerested in crowd etc, as they know the professional game can support the AIL with funding as the professional game needs the AIL. it will be a while before they get it right but theyare trying


The IRFU mightn't be worried about crowds but surely for the clubs and players, they'll want better support. Surely for the players and the promotion of the game, there's a god buzz playing in front of crowds. The IRFU fear could be support going more to the clubs than the provincial game?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8971 - 12/09/2011 10:42:52    1032261

12/09/2011 08:41:43
Ned_Stormcrow
County: Cavan
Posts: 37

1032155 Rugby is finished in this country, had its time in the sun, lets move on now and try something different like Tennis, or canoeing.

If you dont like rugby, dont comment on it. Ignore it and dont bother with your childish remarks

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 12/09/2011 11:11:46    1032290

Often attended Garryowen games and though the crowds were not great they werent bad and the games were always good. fairly cheap in too and a good way to kill a few hours while the women shop in the cresent

miketyson (Limerick) - Posts: 2748 - 13/09/2011 16:33:24    1033611

just shows us gaa people, ballboy, how much of a joke rugby in this country really is. maybe they should start taking some ideas from the amatuers in the gaa. or maybe they get in contact with you (through your PA of course) [or AP as you would probably spell it], and get some of your ideas.

pig.ignorant (Derry) - Posts: 655 - 13/09/2011 16:55:26    1033628

13/09/2011 16:55:26
pig.ignorant
County: Derry
Posts: 358

1033628 just shows us gaa people, ballboy, how much of a joke rugby in this country really is. maybe they should start taking some ideas from the amatuers in the gaa. or maybe they get in contact with you (through your PA of course) [or AP as you would probably spell it], and get some of your ideas.

What are you trying to say here, it makes no sense at all
Both hurling, rugby and gaelic football are good sports that many people enjoy. As this is a GAA website most posters obviously will mainly enjoy GAA but that doesnt mean every chance available should be taken to attack another sport
Rugby is not a joke in this country........ if you dont care for rugby ignore it and dont bother with any posts on the sport

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 13/09/2011 17:06:12    1033644

it was more of an "attack" on ballboy than it was on rugby ormondbannerman. i actually like the rugger, and have a few friends that play it. but the ballboy has been going on for an eternity telling us how much the gaa has to learn from rugby, and i had a chance to get back at him which i took. you must keep up

pig.ignorant (Derry) - Posts: 655 - 13/09/2011 17:34:49    1033674

pig.ignorant
County: Derry
Posts: 360

1033674 it was more of an "attack" on ballboy than it was on rugby ormondbannerman. i actually like the rugger, and have a few friends that play it. but the ballboy has been going on for an eternity telling us how much the gaa has to learn from rugby, and i had a chance to get back at him which i took. you must keep up
If you like it please dont call it rugger, its rugby. both sports can learn from each other

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 13/09/2011 18:15:03    1033727

Great to hear of ulster bank league games being played on our national ground. Nenagh play wanderers in the aviva in october and there will be more games played there throughout the season.
For those wondering who their nearest All Ireland league team is, here is all 52 teams competing this season
Blackrock College RFC
Clontarf
Cork Constitution
Dolphin
Garryowen
Lansdowne
Old Belvedere
Shannon
St. Mary's College
Young Munster
Ballymena
Ballynahinch
Belfast Harlequins
Bruff
Buccaneers
Dungannon
Galwegians
U.C.C.
U.L. Bohemian
UCD
Bective Rangers
City of Derry
Clonakilty
Corinthians
D.L.S.P
Dublin University
Greystones
Instonians
Malone
Midleton
Old Crescent
Old Wesley
Queens University
Seapoint
Terenure College
Thomond
Ards
Armagh
Banbridge
Boyne
Cashel
Connemara
Highfield
Naas
Navan RFC
Nenagh Ormond
NUIM Barnhall
Rainey OB
Sligo
Sundays Well
Suttonians
Wanderers

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 13/09/2011 22:05:18    1033934

I'm going to look at making more of an effort for the local team this year. Just as in the GAA we have club and county, province and country as well, in soccer club and country, I would see in rugby as having club, province and country. It's a bit of a shame the clubs don't get more support. Are the IRFU doing enough in that regard? Do they care?

I know clubs are getting financial support through the provincial structure but surely all clubs will want an increase in support and better matchdays for their games?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8971 - 14/09/2011 13:22:45    1034203

14/09/2011 13:22:45
legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 1301

1034203 I'm going to look at making more of an effort for the local team this year. Just as in the GAA we have club and county, province and country as well, in soccer club and country, I would see in rugby as having club, province and country. It's a bit of a shame the clubs don't get more support. Are the IRFU doing enough in that regard? Do they care?

I know clubs are getting financial support through the provincial structure but surely all clubs will want an increase in support and better matchdays for their games?

The IRFU do care its just a lot of fans treat their main team as munster, leinster, ulster, connacht not shannon, blackrock, nenagh etc
More club games are being played under lights and clubs are doing deals on drink, food etc to try make club games more of a family affair. I dont know about other clubs but my own club has had a good increase in attendances for its first few senior games this season
What would be your local club, a lot of good work is bein put into clubs in kerry a the moment. There is 6 players from kerry who have been involved with either munster at pro level or ireland at underage level in the past year from u18 to professional

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 14/09/2011 13:39:21    1034218

Living in Limerick, I'll be taking in a few of Garryowen's games. October is a bit of a late start for the AIL. I know Cup games are being played but still, the AIL could start a bit early as well.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8971 - 15/09/2011 11:41:37    1035009

15/09/2011 11:41:37
legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 1302

1035009 Living in Limerick, I'll be taking in a few of Garryowen's games. October is a bit of a late start for the AIL. I know Cup games are being played but still, the AIL could start a bit early as well.

Not really as the charity cups in munster and league cup in leinster start the last week of august and continue usually to at least this week, then the first round or 2 of the senior cup is played in munster. That gives teams at least 2-3 competitive games over 4-5 weeks before the league starts and for some clubs allows them to start the league with all their players back from playing gaa/summer travel etc.
If you start pre season in early july you have 3 months of pre season before the league, 2 months before the first competitive game and a month to train before the first friendly game

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 15/09/2011 13:05:20    1035129

15/09/2011 11:41:37
legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 1302

1035009 Living in Limerick, I'll be taking in a few of Garryowen's games. October is a bit of a late start for the AIL. I know Cup games are being played but still, the AIL could start a bit early as well.

Pre season starts early- mid july. clubs do 3-4 weeks training before any matches are played and most players will have had gym/ fitness programmes given to them to do in the off season.
Earliest teams will play friendlies is early august/last week of july. cup competitions start last week of august with 2 or 3 rounds of charity cups in munster and the league cup in leinster. the provincial senior cups start a week or 2 later with 1 or 2 rounds played
The AIL has always started in october. teams get 5-6 weeks of playing games compeitive in the form of cups and friendlies to get ready for the league
Good set up and starting in october gives the league some chance of publicity as september the pro leagues are only starting and they will get most of the rugby medias attention

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 15/09/2011 13:33:27    1035167

Good points fair play. I don't claim to know about the set-up and structures so it's good to be informed.

Should divisions 2A and 2B be regionalised 8 north and 8 south? With travel costs etc. it might be more appropriate if the lower tiers were regionalised before having two national divisions at the top, i.e. 1A and 1B as they are.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8971 - 15/09/2011 16:49:08    1035389