Tier 2 Update - RFU

[coddy]

I would sign up for that, and get to any games local to me (ish). As long as they have motorbike parking (you too Coddy)?

Definitely mate, luckily a motorbike can be parked practically anywhere.

[baldpaul101]

Average Attendances:
Coventry 3440
Bedford 3063
Doncaster 1884
C. Pirates 1611
Cambridge 1411
Caldy 1182
Nottingham 1158
Ampthill 1069
Ealing 1008
Hartpury 994
L. Scottish 608

Thanks for posting. very interesting. Anyone have any idea why Coventry & Bedford get such high gates compared with the rest?

[Robson9]

Think a lot comes down to local interest/competitors (in both rugby and other sports) and facilities. My 2 pennies worth based on travelling to most of the grounds over the last few years, so just my opinions!

Coventry - have gone from strength to strength since their promotion, and imo have a great chance of competing with Ealing for the title next year. Great facilities, really easy access to the station etc. And how many casual Coventry based Wasps fans have drifted their way in the last 2 years?

Bedford - consistently finishing top half and normally in the top 2-3 over many years - play great rugby. No local Bedford football club outside of the football leagues so nothing to really compete with.

Doncaster - generally top half finisher,  amazing facilities (the only club to apply and pass the RFU audit every single year. Sadly they dont get near promotion as their facilities are top notch).

To compare to some of the strugglers:

 Ealing - competing with the over saturated London sports market, Sarries etc. Regularly finish top but no hint of promotion, smash most of their opposition in lop sided uncompetitive games - wheres the fun in that?

Hartpury - glorified University team and Gloucesters feeder club. A real real ballache to get to on public transport.

Ampthill - lovely local club but not yet established FT in the championship. Ground is effectively the side of a hill in the middle of the woods with a clubhouse.

Caldy - pretty much the same as Ampthill in terms of being established and facilities.

London Scottish - Have struggled massively over the past few years, crowds dropped as the results went. Competing for fans with Richmond, Harlequins etc, as well as the same London sports market. Share the RAG, which is falling apart.



Its an odd league with some big skills gaps between the top and bottom (most of the clubs with big attendances are fully pro), vs the semi pro/amateur clubs in the bottom half, as well as big big differences in terms of stadiums/facilities/match day experience etc.

[asteriskszegol]

Yes, and don't forget that Coventry were the predominant team in England in the 70s, so have a legacy of support from then - and Bedford weren't so far behind them, at that stage and in the pre-Premiership years, so have retained their base support as well. For Coventry, read Leicester as a rough equivalent; for Bedford, read Gloucester. Either club would survive in the Premiership - if they ever could get there - at least as well as Newcastle, say, in terms of a fan income base.

[baldpaul101]

The only Champ club I have been to is Nottingham. Good position, easy to get to but basic facilities (single small stand) but they are trying hard. Large semi permanent marquee for food & drink for example. Their biggest problem is the Trent floods the pitch on a reasonably regular basis!
Very nice people though & well organised.

[wycombewasp]

Chinnor in the champ. next season just down the road from Wycombe, playing in Thame, blew away national 1 this season, had a look at their ground the other week, very basic,  reckon 2500 cap. mostly all standing around the pitch, still I think you can get a pie and a pint in the marquee, might have a look in next season, Tom Cruse is forwards coach.

[WonkyWasp]

I'm just hoping that wherever Wasps  wind up they will be able to implement a Wasps TV, and then we can join in.