Premiership Suspended

[Mellsblue]

Primary school kids keeping their distances? Lol.

We’re meant to be back to nursery but it’s been delayed because a nursery teacher got a sore throat so got tested. But we’re meeting the other nursery kids 3 times a week at the moment, can’t cope otherwise. And we’re not in lockdown anyway

My primary school kids are absolute naturals at social distancing now, sadly. When you’ve 6 kids and half a rugby field to play with, social distancing shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
All of that is before you take into account the numerous studies that show primary school aged kids very rarely pass the virus on, rarely suffer any symptoms and that passing on the virus outside at distance is also incredibly rare to almost impossible.
The science I’ve read shows that requiring primary school ages kids to social distance, particularly outside, is a red herring.

We’re in agreement, then.

Yep. Wonder how long our ban will be.

[Stom]

My primary school kids are absolute naturals at social distancing now, sadly. When you’ve 6 kids and half a rugby field to play with, social distancing shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
All of that is before you take into account the numerous studies that show primary school aged kids very rarely pass the virus on, rarely suffer any symptoms and that passing on the virus outside at distance is also incredibly rare to almost impossible.
The science I’ve read shows that requiring primary school ages kids to social distance, particularly outside, is a red herring.

We’re in agreement, then.

Yep. Wonder how long our ban will be.

Quick, call me a racist, that’ll solve it.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

You’ve got to hope that’s wrong. Where’d you hear this? Given all U.K. govts are for Sept return to school at a min this seems out of kilter.
If this is true, the youth real are getting f**ked over.

2 different sources Mells, 1 is a head of rugby at a school and also on the CB committee and the other was from another fella who'd been told it by a Vice Principal of school. Dont shoot the messenger, I hope its not true as the impact will be massive on sports clubs.

[Mellsblue]

You’ve got to hope that’s wrong. Where’d you hear this? Given all U.K. govts are for Sept return to school at a min this seems out of kilter.
If this is true, the youth real are getting f**ked over.

2 different sources Mells, 1 is a head of rugby at a school and also on the CB committee and the other was from another fella who'd been told it by a Vice Principal of school. Dont shoot the messenger, I hope its not true as the impact will be massive on sports clubs.

Not shooting you, buddy. Sorry if it came across that way. Thanks for the info.
Beyond kids getting thicker, fatter and less disciplined due to lockdown, I too worry about sports clubs, and rugby clubs are a particular worry. My two are back at golf and tennis lessons, kids will have been kicking a football around at home and in the park with parents. Age grade rugby looks a long way from starting, couple this with its physical, close contact nature and you begin to wonder how many age grade players will be back even if they don’t have to wait until Easter?

[Peej]

So the plan is for the Premiership to resume on 15 August? I'm not sure the point of that. Would it not be better to abandon this season and just start afresh in September, thus preserving autumn internationals etc that do so much for grassroots money?

[Mellsblue]

RFU adamant that the autumn internationals, or the first half of a home and away 6N, will go ahead. An argument is coming down the road.
I wonder if they’ll finish this season’s Prem in early October and then play the AIs in whatever form....and then we start the aligned calendar in 2021 of 6N & Rugby Champ Feb, March and April, follow with domestic rugby through to end of summer and home and away tours in October and November.
I’m sure if WR/RFU throw enough money at PRL they’ll find it in their hearts to accommodate. The Top14 on the other hand.....

[Puja]

So the plan is for the Premiership to resume on 15 August? I'm not sure the point of that. Would it not be better to abandon this season and just start afresh in September, thus preserving autumn internationals etc that do so much for grassroots money?

The thing is that, if they cancel the end of this season, they're legally obliged to give the last tranche of television money back to BT. And they don't have those funds right now.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

So the plan is for the Premiership to resume on 15 August? I'm not sure the point of that. Would it not be better to abandon this season and just start afresh in September, thus preserving autumn internationals etc that do so much for grassroots money?

The thing is that, if they cancel the end of this season, they're legally obliged to give the last tranche of television money back to BT. And they don't have those funds right now.

Puja

With the need for COVID secure arrangements, mostly testing, and paying 100% salary once training or games resume, different clubs have different arrangements, a lot of the clubs are saying that finishing the season will make no odds financially. Some are saying it’ll lead to losing more money than just cancelling the rest of the season.

[twitchy]

I completely forgot that the 6N didn't finish.

[Peej]

So the plan is for the Premiership to resume on 15 August? I'm not sure the point of that. Would it not be better to abandon this season and just start afresh in September, thus preserving autumn internationals etc that do so much for grassroots money?

The thing is that, if they cancel the end of this season, they're legally obliged to give the last tranche of television money back to BT. And they don't have those funds right now.

Puja

I thought BT had committed to fulfilling their obligations money wise anyway?

[Mellsblue]

You’ve got to hope that’s wrong. Where’d you hear this? Given all U.K. govts are for Sept return to school at a min this seems out of kilter.
If this is true, the youth real are getting f**ked over.

2 different sources Mells, 1 is a head of rugby at a school and also on the CB committee and the other was from another fella who'd been told it by a Vice Principal of school. Dont shoot the messenger, I hope its not true as the impact will be massive on sports clubs.

Just spoken to someone high up in Eng RL. They’re hoping to get age grade training up and running in the next couple of weeks....

[Mellsblue]

[Mellsblue]

Sinckler will be joining Bristol on the 1st July and not be returning to Quins prior to that.

[Puja]

Sinckler will be joining Bristol on the 1st July and not be returning to Quins prior to that.

Makes sense - there's no other way it could work. Bristol will be paying his wages from then and, even if some convoluted loan-back system were to be arranged, it's understandable that he might not want to risk getting injured playing for a club that he's already left.

Puja

[Peej]

Some interesting news regarding the PRL completely ballsing up the TV broadcast contract doing the rounds

[jimKRFC]

Some interesting news regarding the PRL completely ballsing up the TV broadcast contract doing the rounds

The PRL CEO will have some explaining to do. The Rugby Paper reported that BT offered a 10% increase and it was rejected s not needed on the belief Sky would pay more - they declined to bid.....

Also, the Telegraph saying that Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Saracens, Northampton, Sale and Harlequins are in the process of signing up key players to 4 year (2+ 2yr extensions) to get them tied up and under the newly agreed allowance exemption.

[Mellsblue]

Sale Sharks statement:

https://www.salesharks.com/2020/06/17/s ... atement-3/

[Mellsblue]

[Puja]

Saracens looking to play in the Champions Cup at the same time as playing in the Championship.

Puja

[Digby]

I would have thought Sarries were not eligible to play. Ah well, wrong again

[Mellsblue]

I’d put some dosh on RFU controlled rugby, ie Champ downwards, not starting until Dec/Jan (notwithstanding the possibility of the dreaded second wave).

[Digby]

Anyone know where we are now with a return for the Premiership and what the clubs are up to in training?

[Mellsblue]

They’ve pencilled in mid-August, I think. Will require mid-week games or dropping a number of rounds. Last I heard, they were still on phase 1 - no contact, small group training. Wouldn’t put any dosh on any of that, though.

[Digby]

That's the last I heard

I remain very concerned the front rows are in doing weight training and are not able to practice actual live scrum stability. And we're maybe 6-7 weeks away from actual games. Not being a front rower, and certainly not one with an idea of what it takes with the forces at play generated at the senior domestic level this causes me concern. I don't know how much training is needed for 6 front row players all returning to live scrums, but we do seem a bit like Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 saying the Earth's getting awfully big in the window

So are clubs actually doing live scrums and just not telling us, or are we cutting this very close now, or are my safety concerns not warranted? Because at this point I'd rather uncontested scrums for the remainder of the season than taking a chance

[Doorzetbornandbred]

I’d put some dosh on RFU controlled rugby, ie Champ downwards, not starting until Dec/Jan (notwithstanding the possibility of the dreaded second wave).

Rumour(yes its a rumour but hey ho nothing else to go by) was/is down to National 1 will start on time as near as possible everything else later even as late as January meaning playing all other teams only once either home or away. If Championship and National 1 don't start till January they will play a full league and finish late June. hold club award dos and straight into pre season games for 2021/22 season...
Theres 4 scenarios apparently start September, October or January and also the one we don't want no rugby at all!