Re: Wasps gone pop : Tue Oct 18, 2022 4:41 pm
Cruncher wrote:
We've already lost key clubs in a way.
Widnes, Bradford and Halifax are all still functioning, but their glory days are long behind them with no hope of returning.
There's no doubt that RL is also under threat. At domestic level, neither code seems capable of regularly pulling in the sort of crowds they need to pay massive wages etc. But I think it's safe to say that RU went much further than RL when it came to putting big bucks on the table.
The likes of Faz, Jason Robinson, Henry Paul and Sam Burgess would never have gone over if some of the most successful clubs in RL hadn't been easily outbid. The fact there've been very few (if any) high-level defections from Union to League in the last 25 years surely proves it too.
I just hope the IMG deal helps us get our act together in time. There is certainly no time for faffing about.
Widnes, Bradford and Halifax are all still functioning, but their glory days are long behind them with no hope of returning.
There's no doubt that RL is also under threat. At domestic level, neither code seems capable of regularly pulling in the sort of crowds they need to pay massive wages etc. But I think it's safe to say that RU went much further than RL when it came to putting big bucks on the table.
The likes of Faz, Jason Robinson, Henry Paul and Sam Burgess would never have gone over if some of the most successful clubs in RL hadn't been easily outbid. The fact there've been very few (if any) high-level defections from Union to League in the last 25 years surely proves it too.
I just hope the IMG deal helps us get our act together in time. There is certainly no time for faffing about.
Interesting to read the RFU saying that maybe it's time for a condensed, 10 team league. Obviously there's a loss of two fixtures per year, but more TV money to go around as well as deeper squads too.
Seems to be the opposite of what IMG are calling for though. Although both are on the same page in regards to promotion/relegation & licences.
Out of interest, does anyone know (Jukes perhaps) how much a RL club makes off their home games? Is the Leicester revenue of £350k high, or comparable to RL? I know ticket prices are different and they get an average of c.8/10k more through the gates than us.