Whos going down?

[Tigersman]

Trouble with Falcons is they don't have that many talented Academy players currently at that level.
Uzokwe and Hodge aside the others he names are either U18 or U19.
Radwan is rumoured out along with those he mentions.

All for supporting the younger players BUT you can't over rely on those names IMO.

Ealing will certainly target Falcons depending on who goes.

[Mellsblue]

The owner is making all the right noises. Let’s be honest, it’s only really between them and Ealing for promotion so, as much will depend on Ealing’s recruitment as Newcastle’s.

[Tigersman]

I think Ealing have signed some handy players already.
If Bell can get over his injury he will be excellent for them.

Willis and Shingler at 10 + 12 could work well also.

[Scrumhead]

Trouble with Falcons is they don't have that many talented Academy players currently at that level.
Uzokwe and Hodge aside the others he names are either U18 or U19.
Radwan is rumoured out along with those he mentions.

All for supporting the younger players BUT you can't over rely on those names IMO.

Ealing will certainly target Falcons depending on who goes.

I don’t think they’ll need to rely on the kids. Without wanting to be harsh, there is a good chunk of their squad that aren’t likely to attract that much interest because they are more Championship standard players anyway.

I’d expect the obvious candidates to go (loan or permanently), but if they can afford to do so, I think Falcons will probably keep their more experienced players. I can’t see too many clubs going after Flood, Mulipola, Goneva and Sinoti (particularly if the latter three are playing at the World Cup).

Also players they’ve signed like Darren Barry are OK Premiership players that will be pretty good in the Championship.

I’d expect them to be there or thereabouts if they can recruit well, but Ealing have made some canny signings and I’d expect them to push very hard.

[Mellsblue]

It will be interesting to see what happens if Ealing finish above Newcastle if ring fencing, in whatever form, is introduced at the end of 19/20. I wonder if two would be promoted to enable the excuse of providing an even numbered top tier.

[padprop]

It will be interesting to see what happens if Ealing finish above Newcastle if ring fencing, in whatever form, is introduced at the end of 19/20. I wonder if two would be promoted to enable the excuse of providing an even numbered top tier.

Surely Ealing couldn’t pass minimum criteria? They get a couple hundred to home games. Also its not like they have the travelling support to up sticks and groundshare either, struggle to get in the thousands.

[Mellsblue]

It will be interesting to see what happens if Ealing finish above Newcastle if ring fencing, in whatever form, is introduced at the end of 19/20. I wonder if two would be promoted to enable the excuse of providing an even numbered top tier.

Surely Ealing couldn’t pass minimum criteria? They get a couple hundred to home games. Also its not like they have the travelling support to up sticks and groundshare either, struggle to get in the thousands.

They do pass min criteria but it would involve a ground move whilst, I think, they upgrade Vallis Way. Whether they’ve a sustainable business plan is another matter.

[Digby]

It will be interesting to see what happens if Ealing finish above Newcastle if ring fencing, in whatever form, is introduced at the end of 19/20. I wonder if two would be promoted to enable the excuse of providing an even numbered top tier.

Surely Ealing couldn’t pass minimum criteria? They get a couple hundred to home games. Also its not like they have the travelling support to up sticks and groundshare either, struggle to get in the thousands.

Isn't that a similar attendance to many Newcastle games?

I'm gutted Newcastle are going down, but I wouldn't offer the defence they draw a substantial crowd

[padprop]

It will be interesting to see what happens if Ealing finish above Newcastle if ring fencing, in whatever form, is introduced at the end of 19/20. I wonder if two would be promoted to enable the excuse of providing an even numbered top tier.

Surely Ealing couldn’t pass minimum criteria? They get a couple hundred to home games. Also its not like they have the travelling support to up sticks and groundshare either, struggle to get in the thousands.

Isn't that a similar attendance to many Newcastle games?

I'm gutted Newcastle are going down, but I wouldn't offer the defence they draw a substantial crowd

World's apart. There National 1 teams that pull bigger crowds than Ealing. Newcastle were also able to pull big crowds at St James's park and at least always got in the thousands on home games I believe.

[Raggs]

How many more will Ealing get in the Prem though. Surely the numbers would go up.

[Mellsblue]

Newcastle regularly sell out, or at least they did last season.

[fivepointer]

Ealing have a capacity of just over 3,000 with a 1,000 seats. Whats more concerning is the low level of support they get. Last season they had the lowest average attendance in the Championship at just 814. Quite how they could support Prem rugby on this, or even double this, i'm not at all sure.
I dont think there has been any major investment in their squad for next season, though they are bound to be one of the front runners.
Coventry are ambitious but are at the building stage and nowhere ready for a push for promotion. Jersey cannot expand, Pirates are still trying to get a new home and most of the rest dont have the money, nor the desire to go up.
Unless Newcastle suffer a serious clear out and cannot do any worthwhile recruitment, i'd be very surprised if they dont come straight back up.

[Digby]

Newcastle regularly sell out, or at least they did last season.

That could mean once a season

Sides who can make case for top flight status purely on crowds for me would be Leicester, Glaws and Saints, and then strong offerings from Exeter, Wasps and Bath

[jimKRFC]

Sides who can make case for top flight status purely on crowds for me would be Leicester, Glaws and Saints, and then strong offerings from Exeter, Wasps and Bath

Average attendances:
Leicester Tigers 20,997
Harlequins 19,303
Bath 18,371
Bristol Bears 16,348
Wasps 16,158
Northampton Saints 15,397
Gloucester 14,378
Saracens 12,204
Exeter Chiefs 11,896
Newcastle Falcons 9,438
Worcester Warriors 8,204
Sale Sharks 6,460

These include the games played at other grounds, so Bath, Newcs, Quins, Saints and Sarries averages are artifically high for the purpose of looking at week in week out supporters.

[Mellsblue]

Newcastle regularly sell out, or at least they did last season.

That could mean once a season

Sides who can make case for top flight status purely on crowds for me would be Leicester, Glaws and Saints, and then strong offerings from Exeter, Wasps and Bath

Well, there were plans to increase capacity - now put on hold, you’d have thought - so I’d guess it was more than once a season.

[Digby]

Sides who can make case for top flight status purely on crowds for me would be Leicester, Glaws and Saints, and then strong offerings from Exeter, Wasps and Bath

Average attendances:
Leicester Tigers 20,997
Harlequins 19,303
Bath 18,371
Bristol Bears 16,348
Wasps 16,158
Northampton Saints 15,397
Gloucester 14,378
Saracens 12,204
Exeter Chiefs 11,896
Newcastle Falcons 9,438
Worcester Warriors 8,204
Sale Sharks 6,460

These include the games played at other grounds, so Bath, Newcs, Quins, Saints and Sarries averages are artifically high for the purpose of looking at week in week out supporters.

I'd quite forgotten about Quins, they're knocking on the door having consistently turned out reasonable crowds

[Stom]

Sides who can make case for top flight status purely on crowds for me would be Leicester, Glaws and Saints, and then strong offerings from Exeter, Wasps and Bath

Average attendances:
Leicester Tigers 20,997
Harlequins 19,303
Bath 18,371
Bristol Bears 16,348
Wasps 16,158
Northampton Saints 15,397
Gloucester 14,378
Saracens 12,204
Exeter Chiefs 11,896
Newcastle Falcons 9,438
Worcester Warriors 8,204
Sale Sharks 6,460

These include the games played at other grounds, so Bath, Newcs, Quins, Saints and Sarries averages are artifically high for the purpose of looking at week in week out supporters.

I'd quite forgotten about Quins, they're knocking on the door having consistently turned out reasonable crowds

Hence the new stadium for Quins.