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cobbler
World Cup Winner Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Derby Status: Offline Points: 493 |
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Posted: 02 Apr 2024 at 18:59 |
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This is a sphazelnutly used section of the forum, but I thought
I would try to trigger some interest! The Regional One Midlands league already has a “centre of
gravity” well towards the South West of the area covered by the traditional
Midlands Constituent Bodies. Northern teams SKiwifruithorpe and Leek are playing in
the Northern leagues and Eastern teams Bedford Ath, Oundle and ONs are playing
in the South East league. Two teams from Oxfordshire are currently in the
league instead. With one team promoted and two relegated that is three teams
out. Three level 6 leagues feed the league and it looks like Long Eaton
(Derbyshire) although Lichfield could pip them, Silhillians (Warwickshire) and
Nuneaton (Warwickshire) although in theory Lutterworth or Market Harborough
could pip them, will come up. The level 4 Midlands teams all play in N2W and,
guess what, the bottom three places are currently filled by Midlands teams
(Dudley KW, Newport and Bournville). Bourneville could still escape, but if
they do not that is 6 teams trying to go into the Midlands level 5 league. With
most of the incoming sides being close to the Birmingham area (where that “centre
of gravity” roughly sits, I can see 2 or 3 of the more Northerly teams heading
for the Northern leagues (Stoke, Derby and Long Eaton). That wouldn’t be so bad
if the 2 Northern level 5 leagues were split North / South, but the East / West
split of those leagues (chosen presumably due to the M1/A1 and M6 main roads in
the region) means there would be some very long journeys involved. |
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Robb
World Cup Winner Joined: 24 Jan 2017 Location: South East Status: Offline Points: 1562 |
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Its a very good point because I forsee similar issues in the South because in South Central Horsham and Bournemouth going down and Havant going up, coming into the league it looks like Jersey, Amersham/Chiltern and Alleynians or Battersea with Wimbledon coming down. Even more complicated is that Royal Wootton Bassett who were in the league last year are also coming up from 2 Severn
Given South East seems to be turning into Eastern Counties/South-Midlands (since it seems the RFU don't like paying Dartford Tolls), I guess you may find some of the southern Midlands teams ending up in South East. (Nuneaton being the obvious candidate?)
Edited by Robb - 02 Apr 2024 at 19:48 |
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Camquin
World Cup Winner Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 11408 |
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The RFU do retain the right to completely redraw the leagues each year.
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Sweeney Delenda Est
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cobbler
World Cup Winner Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Derby Status: Offline Points: 493 |
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Yes I'm aware of that. And rename them accordingly too if necessary! P.S. I took the time to check my spelling and typos but forgot the curse of the team from North Lincs and should have said "infrequently"
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Glasshouse
Academy player Joined: 18 Aug 2022 Location: Warwickshire Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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Could see Stoke move North and Banbury move back to South East to make space for promoted sides and relegated Midlands teams from Level 4?
Next team closest to SE is probably Kenilworth as opposed to Nuneaton? So potentially Long Eaton or Stoke to North Banbury to South East Broadstreet & Old Hales relegated Oxford promoted (but to Level 4 East?) Regional 1 Midlands Nuneaton (promoted) Silhillians (promoted) Dudley Ks (relegated) Newport (relegated) Bromsgrove Bridgnorth Derby Burton Stourbridge Syston Kenilworth Long Eaton or Stoke (or Banbury!) |
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cobbler
World Cup Winner Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Derby Status: Offline Points: 493 |
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Ah yes I had not seen that SE contains clubs wholly North of the Thames, but yes that league is skewing North Eastwards! North Walsham probably coming down into that league from above. Maybe Syston to shuffle over? We are playing them on Saturday, I might mention that possibility to a few of their guys !!
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cobbler
World Cup Winner Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Derby Status: Offline Points: 493 |
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So many possibilities! And as pointed out by Robb, there are similar issues in other areas.
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Halliford
World Cup Winner Joined: 17 Feb 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4242 |
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As the song said:
All we need is a great big melting pot!
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WEvans
World Cup Winner Joined: 08 Dec 2016 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1456 |
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More like the RFU retain the right to do exactly what they like when they like and bu**er everyone else!
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Archangel
First XV squad Joined: 24 Apr 2023 Location: East Midlands Status: Offline Points: 41 |
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Regional 1 South East which worked very well this season, should have been be relatively simple: Colchester go up to L4 to replace North Walsham coming down, Westcliff & Rochford Hundred go down to L6 with Southend Saxons coming up along with Amersham & Chiltern (very close to Tring etc) ... but that was before they go and lose to Belzise Park!
Therefore before it is no doubt changed by our TW masters should look like:
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Too old but young enough to learn
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Mark W-J
Coaching staff Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3680 |
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That's fine in isolation - but if there are lots of Midlands teams at L5 and a big hole across West Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset (as alluded to above) then the boundaries could all be shifted anti-clockwise by 30 degrees to redraw the line of best fit.
Edited by Mark W-J - 03 Apr 2024 at 15:51 |
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Kimbo
World Cup Winner Joined: 31 May 2007 Location: 'incleh Status: Offline Points: 6416 |
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Nuneaton is the most central of Midlands rugby clubs (if you accept the newer thinking of Lindley Hall Farm being the centre of England). (And if you don't, and still consider my Gt Grandfather's birthplace, Meriden to be the centre, it's north of that).
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Our Club |
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Kimbo
World Cup Winner Joined: 31 May 2007 Location: 'incleh Status: Offline Points: 6416 |
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Double post
Edited by Kimbo - 03 Apr 2024 at 17:12 |
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Golden Jackal
British and Irish Lion Joined: 18 Apr 2020 Location: E Anglia Status: Offline Points: 160 |
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So do we think the RFU responding to clubs at Lower Levels by flattening the pyramid at the top (i.e 3 Leagues at L4, 8 at L5 etc) has helped our clubs??? To me it seems far more complicated now and for those clubs that "border" other regions it must be very disconcerting... What was wrong with London 1, Nat 2 South, Nat 1 for example...you knew where you stood and the likely distances involved!
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cobbler
World Cup Winner Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Location: Derby Status: Offline Points: 493 |
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Well there were always instances in the past of teams being moved away from what might be considered their "natural" league (used to be called level transfers). But with this setup up: 3 L4 leagues - none specifically for midlands 6 level 5 leagues - only one specifically for midlands (i.e. labelled as such) 12 level 6 leagues - 3 specifically for midlands The chances seems to be much higher.
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Dagfish
World Cup Winner Joined: 22 May 2009 Location: Solihull Status: Offline Points: 315 |
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My understanding was that it is not a case of promotion / relegation between the specific leagues, but completely re-drawing the leagues every year once the 72 teams at Regional 1 level are known.
In practice, the leagues may look similar from one season to the next, but in theory they could come up with a completely different geographical split each year. So in reality, looking at how any specific league may look next season is not really a valid proposition until after the end of the season.
Edited by Dagfish - 03 Apr 2024 at 18:11 |
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islander
World Cup Winner Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Location: jersey Status: Offline Points: 7584 |
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Agree with those who point out that a 'whole country' solution is needed at each level, with the total number of clubs divided equally into 3 leagues (at L4), 6 (L5) etc. And some form of rebalancing (via level transfers) will always be something liable to be necessary with a pyramid system, however broad or narrow it is...
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Robb
World Cup Winner Joined: 24 Jan 2017 Location: South East Status: Offline Points: 1562 |
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In theory, everything should work out fine like that. But I do suspect there may be issues in Central/SW with Woottoon Bassett returning because in Central it should be Havant up/Wimbledon down and Horsham/Bournemouth down and Jersey/Alleynians or Battersea up. I guess RWB'll just have to fight with Marlborough to decide who goes to Kent and who has to go to Cornwall at the longest trip. (Looking at Google Maps, I think RWB will go SW and Marlborough stay in Central). But, as you say. Its not up to our logic, its the powers that be at Twickers who decide the fate and travel of so many clubs.
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Greg
First XV regular Joined: 30 Jan 2020 Location: Norfolk Status: Offline Points: 110 |
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Help please.
Does anybody know how many teams will be relegated from Level 6 (Regional Anglia 2)? Living in Norwich, my two local clubs - North Walsham and Norwich - are both facing relegation from their respective leagues. North Walsham will certainly be relegated but Norwich might survive if they can win on Saturday - but only if one team is relegated. It's not been a great year over here - Norfolk County Cricket Club were also relegated at the end of their season. Horatio Nelson - your county needs you!
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Robb
World Cup Winner Joined: 24 Jan 2017 Location: South East Status: Offline Points: 1562 |
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I think according to the RFU's table, it looks like Norwich are out of contention for the "lucky loser" spot. Sorry.
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