Regional Teams in the ERC

[Puja]

The Celts are making noises about England's allocation and, frankly, they're probably right. 8 teams from a 10 team league is not a competitive qualification process, especially since they get 8 teams from across 5 nations and 16 teams. I wouldn't be sad about it going down to a 20 team format (5 English, 7 French, 8 URC) and could even see an argument for it being a 16 team tournament to have it be the elite (4 English, 6 French, 5 URC, 1 spot for Champion/Challenge Cup Winner).

In an ideal world actually, I'd be happy with it being a 16 team tournament, played in a block at one chunk of the season, and have the four English representatives be all EQP regions. That way we could still have the Premiership and the club rivalries, but we band together at the end to kick the crap out of Jonny Foreigner.

So, I posted this earlier and was quite taken by the idea of us forming regional teams to compete in the ERC (preferably with it all being in one block of fixtures at the end of the season), and decided to play around with what that would mean, given current squads.

North

Rodd
LCD
Schonert
Hill
Coles (on loan from Midlands)
BCurry
TCurry
Chick
Quirke
Ford
Reed
Tuilagi
James
Radwan
Carpenter


Midlands

Waller
Langdon
Cole
Chessum
Martin
Lawes
Pearson
Ludlam
Mitchell
FSmith
OHC
Kelly
Freeman
Watson
Steward


South-West

Genge
McGuigan
Stuart/Balmain/Sinckler/Painter
Ewels
McNally
Barbeary
Underhill
Mercer
Spencer
Skinner
Ibitoye
SAtkinson/Ojomoh
Slade/Lawrence
Cokanasiga
Malins


London

Marler
George
Collier
Itoje
Launchbury
Earl
Evans
Dombrandt
Care
MSmith
Daly
Hartley/Lozowski
WJoseph
Murley
Goode
(so, in real life, it'd probably be Farrel@10 and MSmith at 15, but I prefer this balance)


You'd fancy most of those teams' chances against any comers in the club or province game - the North's a bit weak in places and the depth isn't great, but it's still a damned good side. More importantly, it would give players a chance to be practiced in combinations which could then be carried across to international level, as well as increasing competition for players looking to state their case - the winners to the Midlands' second row jerseys will have definitely earned their places, the same with the South West props and centres.

None of this would ever happen, because of entrenched politics and money and things, but it'd be the best route to make England players to my mind. Still have a broad base of 10 teams gathering in talent, not be throwing away the history or the existing brands, but then have these concentrated quality outfits for playing in Europe.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

25 years ago, I quite liked the idea.
In the same way as (at the time) the Super Rugby teams were combined efforts from 3-4 clubs.
The horse has well and truly bolted, and Super Rugby also shows the folly of that approach.

[FKAS]

Aside from the fact at being faintly appalled that Waller (either of them) would be considered the best bet at loosehead for the Midlands it's a nice idea. No chance of it working but a nice idea.

The South West teams would not appreciate sharing their allocation of games around four stadiums whilst the others clubs share the same number of games round two.

[Mr Mwenda]

Quite saddened that the southeast has totally lost its identity to lunnen

[fivepointer]

The divisional championship resurrected! I actually like the idea but trying to pull it together is really a non starter.

[Tom Moore]

Love this. Southwest need to send Midlands a tight head, and would be ideal to shuffle other players to get more young players in for those already in international retirement or who likely won't play again (off the top of my head, CCS to Midlands to play 6), but think it's great. Always loved the Divisionals and the games against tourists.

[Banquo]

Love this. Southwest need to send Midlands a tight head, and would be ideal to shuffle other players to get more young players in for those already in international retirement or who likely won't play again (off the top of my head, CCS to Midlands to play 6), but think it's great. Always loved the Divisionals and the games against tourists.

when was the last divisional game I wonder?

[Tom Moore]

Love this. Southwest need to send Midlands a tight head, and would be ideal to shuffle other players to get more young players in for those already in international retirement or who likely won't play again (off the top of my head, CCS to Midlands to play 6), but think it's great. Always loved the Divisionals and the games against tourists.

when was the last divisional game I wonder?

Last divisional championship 1994/95, last game against touring teams seems to have been 1996/97 season against Western Samoa.

[Oakboy]

Love this. Southwest need to send Midlands a tight head, and would be ideal to shuffle other players to get more young players in for those already in international retirement or who likely won't play again (off the top of my head, CCS to Midlands to play 6), but think it's great. Always loved the Divisionals and the games against tourists.

when was the last divisional game I wonder?

Did Beaumont's lot not beat the ABs one year or is my memory playing tricks?

[Tom Moore]

1979 I think, 21-7 at Otley

[Banquo]

1979 I think, 21-7 at Otley

my father in law was a north selector for that match.

midlands did em in 83 ish too, welford rd, I was there.