Challenge Cup 22/23

[Shugs]

Unquestionably some great destinations and I completely take the point that we might even get somewhere in this. However, seeing it in black and white and seeing some of the other teams listed (no disrespect) doesn’t it make you disappointed we’re not sat at the top table?

[Neils]

Unquestionably some great destinations and I completely take the point that we might even get somewhere in this. However, seeing it in black and white and seeing some of the other teams listed (no disrespect) doesn’t it make you disappointed we’re not sat at the top table?

Actually no. We would be murdered currently. A year in the baby cup to do something and build. Get to 4th or 5th in the Prem and get decent seeding. (Also personally I am sick of Dublin and Toulouse!).

[welsh wasp]

What’s happened to Perpignan? They were usually in the quarters or semis. Look the director of rugby from La Rochelle so this has been his first season.

[westwaleswasp]

You wait till you are all in Newport or LLanelli on a wet Friday night. The top table will seem much more alluring then .

[DGP Wasp]

What’s happened to Perpignan? They were usually in the quarters or semis. Look the director of rugby from La Rochelle so this has been his first season.

They only recently came back up after a long spell in Pro D2, much the same as Biarritz.

[DGP Wasp]

Why Glasgow not Ospreys since Glasgow finished 8th and Ospreys 9th?  Is it because there must be at least one Welsh team? If that's the case, should the same not apply to Treviso as the highest placed Italian team?

To answer my own question:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021%E2%80%9322_United_Rugby_Championship

It is the first season in which URC Regional Shields (Irish, Welsh, South African and Scottish-Italian) will be awarded as separate trophies to the leading sides in each nation or region.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_European_Rugby_Challenge_Cup

Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, South Africa: Eight teams

• The bottom 8 teams in the United Rugby Championship that do not win a shield

[/list]

So Ospreys qualify for the Champs Cup as the highest ranked Welsh team and therefore winners of the illustrious Welsh Shield.  Edinburgh won the equivalent Scottish/Italian Shield, and were already qualified through their overall league position anyway.  The top Italian team don't qualify as they are competing with the Scots.

The URC really is crap!  Since when did Scotland and Italy make up a "region"

[InBetweenWasp]

You wait till you are all in Newport or LLanelli on a wet Friday night. The top table will seem much more alluring then .

I nearly said something similar! Would be just out luck.  Worcester, Newport and Llanelli…

Wonder what the cost implications are for playing the SA Teams and whether they’re balanced out at all. 

Doubt a squad of 23, plus reserves, plus coaching staff and match day staff (what, 35 minimum) are flying out economy and even if they are it must be a minimum of £20k in flights alone, but probably more than £35k and that’s a minimum cost.

Anyone know how it’s worked in the URC - Do the URC subsidise or fund travel in lieu of the additional sponsorship revenues/TV income from having the SA fans in?

[DGP Wasp]

With no precedent for a 20 team competition that only includes 4 rounds of pool games, it is anybody's guess what format they will come up with, but whatever pool system they contrive can be expected to involve English teams playing home and away games against one from each of the other 2 leagues.  Perpignan and Treviso would be nice.

[Neils]

With no precedent for a 20 team competition that only includes 4 rounds of pool games, it is anybody's guess what format they will come up with, but whatever pool system they contrive can be expected to involve English teams playing home and away games against one from each of the other 2 leagues.  Perpignan and Treviso would be nice.

Agree it is a complete pig's ear of an organisation but those would be fine for visits (Zebre also nice to eat and drink in).
Anyway got my tickets for the Wasps final!!

[Heathen]

As one of the top seeds we will play two of the lowest ranked clubs H & A. Keep winning and we are probably at H all the way through to the Final.

Great incentive IMHO.

[westwaleswasp]

You wait till you are all in Newport or LLanelli on a wet Friday night. The top table will seem much more alluring then .

I nearly said something similar! Would be just out luck.  Worcester, Newport and Llanelli…

Wonder what the cost implications are for playing the SA Teams and whether they’re balanced out at all. 

Doubt a squad of 23, plus reserves, plus coaching staff and match day staff (what, 35 minimum) are flying out economy and even if they are it must be a minimum of £20k in flights alone, but probably more than £35k and that’s a minimum cost.

Anyone know how it’s worked in the URC - Do the URC subsidise or fund travel in lieu of the additional sponsorship revenues/TV income from having the SA fans in?

To be totally fair, Cardiff is a fantastic night out, and one of the best game day atmospheres. I guess a few players would like to see Dai again.
Frankly the biggest issue with Welsh teams is that we don't have a great record against them. I am more confident when we play French teams.

[welsh wasp]

What an unfair comment about Llanelli. We played them in some competition or other many year ago. First half in perfect sunshine. Sea fog came in at half-time and all the players disappeared altogether when they went into the foggy half and then reappeared in the sunshine a few minutes later. No idea what happened in the fog.

[DGP Wasp]

What an unfair comment about Llanelli. We played them in some competition or other many year ago. First half in perfect sunshine. Sea fog came in at half-time and all the players disappeared altogether when they went into the foggy half and then reappeared in the sunshine a few minutes later. No idea what happened in the fog.

And for those (including myself) who enjoy a trip to the warmer, sunnier climes of Southern France or Italy, a reminder of Rovigo about 10 years ago.  Most of the 2nd half was played in thick, freezing fog.  Spectators could not see what was happening on the pitch for about the last 15 minutes.  Remember chatting to Marco Wentzel after the game and he said he couldn't see the final restart at all.  Just had to stand there waiting for a white ball to drop out of the white sky and hope for the best.

[MarleyWasp]

Perpignan won 41-16 against Mont de Marsan and retained their Top14 spot.

[westwaleswasp]

What an unfair comment about Llanelli. We played them in some competition or other many year ago. First half in perfect sunshine. Sea fog came in at half-time and all the players disappeared altogether when they went into the foggy half and then reappeared in the sunshine a few minutes later. No idea what haprpened in the fog.

Llanelli itself feels like a ghost town nowadays, frankly it makes Swansea, where half the shops are shut down but at least they have new student buildings and a new arena, seem busy.  Parc Y Scarlets is a really good ground though, but a fair old distance from the town centre.