Monday Morning Mull.

[Wombles]

Another weekend of rugby action has passed, tries rained down, previously thought ‘comfortable’ half time leads are anything but. The confusion of what is a forward pass once again reigns supreme. Yet thoughts are more focused on bigger issues. We find out today if Worcester can continue whilst we ourselves stand at the foot of the guillotine wondering whether we will be called up to place our head on the chopping block, or whether a 11th hour reprieve arrives.

To say rugby is at a crossroads in England is an accurate assessment. It is well known the financial difficulties abound through every team. Half the league could easily have the same issues as ourselves and Worcester. At least 4 more are kept afloat on the back of wealthy benefactors. However like the scorpion and the frog, it only takes one sting from their business owners and they too will flounder in rugby’s waters. I have read with interest supporters from other clubs views that more teams falling by the wayside will lead to a better product. Even a certain journalists assertion that 2 Welsh teams joining the league could enrich its standing is seen as a positive. Yet such thoughts are a fallacy. Would these posters feel the same if their clubs stood as we do now? Unlikely. Would harvesting and harming another leagues teams to replace our own losses do anything to increase the credibility and desirability of our own? Even less so. The professional era was presented as a wonderful step forward. We -shamefully- turned our eyes from historical teams suffering. Coventry, Orel, Blackheath, Richmond, Waterloo fell or regressed. Even recent discomfort felt as London Welsh came and went was hidden by Exeter’s emergence. Our Emperor’s PRL and RFU tried to redress the problems. But their lack of support both monetarily and practically to the  Championship and rugby pyramid meant even the most glamorous  dressed up ideas from them could not hold. Well the clothes are now off, the Emperors naked and only decisions of value and integrity can change the outcomes we and the game are facing.

So this Monday morning let us celebrate the rugby on the field, whatever problems it has it is still something that unites us all. But Coventry rugby said it best, no matter our allegiances and club, we are brothers and sisters in the same rugby family. No one should hope for teams to fail, or to find it as a positive as long as their team survives. Pull the ladder up Jack and sod the rest is why we are where we are today.

I hope Worcester survive with all my heart, for their players, their employees, their fans -our brothers and sisters- and for the game as a whole.

Chris

Once a Wasp ALWAYS a Wasp.

[Heathen]

Listening to the BBC Breakfast news this morning, unless something miraculous happens, Worcester players have until 5.30 today to remove all their belongings from the premises.

That does not bode well.

Just a further thought. If Worcester, sadly, cannot continue playing, would the fixture schedule be reworked? Use the two spare weekends as rest weeks during the AIs or VI Nations?

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Listening to the BBC Breakfast news this morning, unless something miraculous happens, Worcester players have until 5.30 today to remove all their belongings from the premises.

That does not bode well.

The players seem to have given up hope. There was a pic on Twatter of them having a final party with Dimes.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

Listening to the BBC Breakfast news this morning, unless something miraculous happens, Worcester players have until 5.30 today to remove all their belongings from the premises.

That does not bode well.

Just a further thought. If Worcester, sadly, cannot continue playing, would the fixture schedule be reworked? Use the two spare weekends as rest weeks during the AIs or VI Nations?

You'd hope something would be done, our home game against them was supposed to be the Christmas Cracker, a local derby, a chance to actually sell some tickets...

[Shugs]

I think Wuss might only suffer a temporary suspension at the moment. On the broader point there is nothing wrong with the product. Some hugely entertaining games at the weekend.

[Peej]

A temporary suspension is surely harder to coordinate than a full on, seaosn-ending one?

I still think we'll be relegated anyway come the end of the season sadly.

[BlackAndGoldSunglasses]

I think Wuss might only suffer a temporary suspension at the moment. On the broader point there is nothing wrong with the product. Some hugely entertaining games at the weekend.

Decent discussion on how to better market it and develop the "brand" of Premiership Rugby on Rugby Tonight (BT Sport) yesterday evening. All the pundits suggesting a F1 "Drive to Survive*" product showcasing the players would get casuals more invested in the personalities and drive engagement.

Agree with this - the Harlequins pre-season doc by Beno Obano on Amazon is pretty good, but all clubs need to be involved and exposed.

Also co-ordinated and consistent co-operation between the clubs to promote the games, league, players and product. Rare that Austin Healey makes a decent point, but the "old days" of closed-shop clubs needs to go (if it hasn't already) and transparency and clarity of product are paramount.

On the pitch things look pretty good. Although consistency of officiating would help!


* Never seen it, can't be doing with F1.

[Mellie]

Rare that Austin Healey makes a decent point

You obviously haven't taken your sunglasses off since he was a player then. Whatever you thought of him then still sticks.

His game analysis is 2nd to none and he's arguably the best rugby pundit in the media. Most of what he says is a more than decent point. Nowadays he even sends himself up sometimes.

[BlackAndGoldSunglasses]

Rare that Austin Healey makes a decent point

You obviously haven't taken your sunglasses off since he was a player then. Whatever you thought of him then still sticks.

His game analysis is 2nd to none and he's arguably the best rugby pundit in the media. Most of what he says is a more than decent point. Nowadays he even sends himself up sometimes.

Yeah. probably fair I should have said that I rarely agree with him 100%.