jblee, I believe freely expressing one's opinion is the lifeblood of any forum and welcome it.
However, the ability to challenge another's opinion is of equal value.
Taking offence when someone does the latter adds no value to any argument. Qualifying your views and assertions is a different matter altogether.
London Irish
Re: London Irish
Oh well I tried but my irony meter has broken now!
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Southstand
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2026 2:21 pm
Re: London Irish
Meanwhile back in the world of Rugby https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/ ... clubs-debt
Re: London Irish
The current direction of Premiership Rugby is an affront to the competitive integrity and heritage of English rugby. Proponents claim that moving to a closed franchise system secures the financial future of the sport, but the reality is that the 10-team Premiership has become an exclusive, hypocritical rich boys' club.
The league's administrators spout rhetoric about meritocracy, claiming that any aspiring newcomer simply needs to "spend at least one season in the second-tier Championship." This is complete nonsense.
The astronomical costs required to entry and the artificial criteria imposed on lower-tier sides act as a prohibitive moat. It is designed to protect underperforming incumbents while forcing ambitious grassroots clubs to break the bank and jeopardize their own financial futures just to get a seat at the top table.
Furthermore, the defense that billionaire investment from the likes of Red Bull, Dyson, and the Black Knight Group signals health is an illusion.
According to the Leonard Curtis report, six of the ten Premiership clubs are balance-sheet insolvent, yet the response is to double down on an owner-funded model that insulates billionaires from the consequences of poor management.
By eliminating relegation, the league removes the fundamental sporting principle that risk cuts both ways. The incumbents want the rewards of professional sport without the jeopardy of failure, building a closed circus that prioritizes corporate bubble wrap over fair, open, and authentic rugby competition.
The league's administrators spout rhetoric about meritocracy, claiming that any aspiring newcomer simply needs to "spend at least one season in the second-tier Championship." This is complete nonsense.
The astronomical costs required to entry and the artificial criteria imposed on lower-tier sides act as a prohibitive moat. It is designed to protect underperforming incumbents while forcing ambitious grassroots clubs to break the bank and jeopardize their own financial futures just to get a seat at the top table.
Furthermore, the defense that billionaire investment from the likes of Red Bull, Dyson, and the Black Knight Group signals health is an illusion.
According to the Leonard Curtis report, six of the ten Premiership clubs are balance-sheet insolvent, yet the response is to double down on an owner-funded model that insulates billionaires from the consequences of poor management.
By eliminating relegation, the league removes the fundamental sporting principle that risk cuts both ways. The incumbents want the rewards of professional sport without the jeopardy of failure, building a closed circus that prioritizes corporate bubble wrap over fair, open, and authentic rugby competition.
Re: London Irish
Eggchaser (Tim)'s podcast on the finance of rugby as a whole, seems to agree with you Rothman. He cites: wealthy owners, fragmented structure (RFU manage England and Prem Rugby manage the Premier ship), the historical roots of how Rugby union became professional (not much we can do about that) and the notion of Niche sport spending like a globally renowned sport (with facilities that are barely used). The seasonal nature of the game and the high level of player welfare also add to the challenges of balancing the books. The English game is in a bad shape with most of the Prem Teams technical insolvent and relying on "passion backing". Our sport also relies heavily on "big Events". Rugby Australia cleared its debt and made a record surplus becuase of the Lions tour. The Prem Franchising is an attempt to mimic the cricket 100 and IPL but with Cricket the IPL is a massive market and this does not exist for rugby yet. We have to grow the sport from grass roots but the return on investment is too slow for big investors. France, have bucked the trend and have a healthy top 14 system. But they have widened their appeal with great promotion and a National team that plays great and reasonably successful rugby. so it falls back to the international shop window and the RFU getting their act together.