What iff
Printed From: National League Rugby Discussion Forum
Category: League Rugby - www.leaguerugby.co.uk
Forum Name: National 2
Forum Description: Discuss the 42 clubs in the fourth level of the English game.
URL: http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=18401
Printed Date: 25 May 2024 at 10:39
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: What iff
Posted By: Old Hooker
Subject: What iff
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 16:55
|
Greetings all posters. I trust you and your Families are all well. In the light of the possibility of no Rugby at Nat 2 level until the New year may I pose the question of if we did start as normal, who do you think will do well as we now no the compositions of Nat 2s and 2n. I am delighted personally that Leicester saw enough of us down South to stay with us , and they were a credit to our league last Season. Welcome Hinkley too whom I guess they had no option once Lions stayed South. So I will start the ball rolling for 2 s top 5 Redruth, Henley, Esher, Lions, Worthing. in no particular order.  Stay well all at least we have golf Yipeeeee ------------- another one against the head |
Replies:
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 16:59
|
Golf! I've really been enjoying walking in Home Park at Hampton Court without having to dodge the ill-aimed missiles!! The issue will be whether or not we do a full season starting on 1st January or do a split League - South-East and South-West with play-offs.That way we can finish by the end of April and get ready for a full 14-team season in 2021/22. My arbitrary guess then would be Esher, Henley and Redruth for South-West; Lions, Hinckley and Rochford for South-East.
|
Posted By: Old Hooker
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 17:12
|
Greetings Halliford you can still move fast enough to dodge missile. I am impressed!!!!!. I take your point about restructured leagues , Heaven help splitting the 2 South, where will we all the fun go for great weekends away. I appreciate all the cost implication and potential. !!! I assume you have knowledge of Esher being in SW ? However please stick to the Brief dear boy Chin Chin ------------- another one against the head |
Posted By: Cannon
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 17:24
|
I heard a suggestion that if it the 20/21 starts in January it may only be home or away fixtures. ------------- Rucks and mauls may bust my balls, but whips and chains excite me!! |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 17:28
|
While SW would include Redruth, Banstaple, Clifton, Dings and Henly - who would join them from L&SE - we need three more. Guernsey could if there were flights to Southampton instead of Gatwick. But then which of Worthing, Esher, Barnes, Old Albanians, Leicester, Hinkley? Only Bury St Edmunds, Westcliff, Rochford and Caterbury are definitively East in my view. An alternative would be a single round robin with everyone playing everyone else either home or away - but not both. I know that this gives some teams one more home game than others but needs must. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Old Hooker
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 17:38
|
So Camquin As my original Q was a full season who do you fancy to do well. Wishful thinking I know but it is now wine time. Chin Chin ------------- another one against the head |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 20:27
|
Hey I do not do predictions, I just run the prediction league. I do think Redruth have deep roots so will do well - but do they really want to go up and have those long journeys. Canterbury will regroup and get back to winning ways - but they now know what is needed if they are to challenge at level 3. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Squeeky
Date Posted: 12 May 2020 at 23:20
|
Esher seem intent on getting back to Nat 1 and have made a few decent signings https://www.esherrugby.com/news-blog/winterbottom-stengthens-esher-squad-with-focus-on-top-three-sides.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.esherrugby.com/news-blog/winterbottom-stengthens-esher-squad-with-focus-on-top-three-sides.html The Old Elthamians senior academy scholarship at St Mary’s Uni Has fallen through and they’ve have signed Ciaran McGann from that fallout. A very strong centre. Old Albanians look intent on making a push for honours this season. I believe they’ve signed Andrew Nurse who was outstanding last season at full back for Cardiff Met in the Super BUCS. Be interesting to see how Rochford Hundred and Guernsey fare as they were both streets ahead of the rest in the L&SE Premier last season and that’s assuming that Guernsey get to play in this league? The financial fallout from COVID will have a huge influence on league positions for this coming season. |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 10:22
I thought Wimbledon were pushing Guernsey/Rochford very hard with the rest of the league trailing miles behind. Does this make them strong or was the rest of the league weak or were they just better at winning close games? ------------- RAID ON |
Squeeky wrote:Posted By: Wigwam
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 11:13
Probably all of those reasons  ------------- Pace Power Perfection |
Posted By: sidelined
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 12:06
I believe that you can now fly to Guernsey from Exeter, which would help. So you could put Guernsey in the SW group. I'm sure Worthing wouldn't mind going SW
 |
Posted By: Old Hooker
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 14:25
|
You bet Sidelined, some great weekends away ------------- another one against the head |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 14:46
Personally, I would rather see a half season based on playing 15 games either home or away with a 16th fixture against your local rivals to balance the home/away. I would also suggest only 2 be relegated at the end of the season and 1 going up - I.e. Removing play-offs for this season. starting 1st week in January finishing last week in April - removing the free weeks. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 16:03
|
I think we may have a wholesale reorg after next season - so who knows how many will be promoted or relegated.
------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 16:59
| The smoke signals suggest that the reorganisation for 21/22 is still going to happen. 14 teams at National 1 and 42 in 3 Leagues at National 2. |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 17:12
|
So unless there are changes in the Championship that would be 4 down 2 up from Nat 1. And no relegation from Nat 2 and eight promoted from Level 5 (2 per league). The question is what will they do at levels 5-10? ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 13 May 2020 at 19:39
I may be wrong - I hope I am - but the longer the time before we restart PROPER rugby then the higher the chance of some clubs going to the wall. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Mark W-J
Date Posted: 14 May 2020 at 08:49
Unnecessary travel! What's wrong with the American Golf opposite the dump?
|
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 14 May 2020 at 12:34
Not living there at the moment! Co-habiting with the new partner to save costs! Anyway I'm trying to avoid golf!! Waiting for the EcoPark to open for cardboard, my shed is so full I cant get to the BBQ!
|
Posted By: Old Hooker
Date Posted: 14 May 2020 at 15:26
|
I take it the cardboard is empty wine cases ------------- another one against the head |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 14 May 2020 at 16:37
|
I have a task to shred and soak mine and then add them to the compost. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: backrowb
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 08:47
|
The practicality of Guernsey in leagues must now be in question. Air travel and airports are screwed, clubs will be desperately short of cash. I know it is harsh on them, but they must be worried. Jersey has more traffic, but is it practical for them in the Champ?
|
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 10:51
|
I think rugby would be a porer game if we lose Guernsey and the isle of man clubs. Given that we are a rich sport - due to the TV money from Internationals, there is no reason for the Union not to support the travel costs. (I know they don't but I am not a council member). But of couse we are not in mormal times. It may be that we need to have a season without the island clubs. Assuming we get any season that is. But if we were to do that, I think they should have there league position protected. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: seagoon
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 11:21
|
Does anyone actually know when a decision will be made about 2020/21 season? There seem to be so many rumours flying around  ------------- Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 11:34
Surely, it isn't so much the financial situation (although that is a consideration) but the travel restrictions with Guernsey having a 14 day quarantine period - does Jersey have the same? Will the Channel Islands be subject to our 14 day quarantine period when it is introduced? With quarantine periods in place it is not feasible for any offshore team that isn't fully professional playing in the National Leagues. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 12:04
Of course!!
|
Posted By: Halliford
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 12:06
RFU Council met this week to discuss it but their proceedings are confidential. The AGM is on 12th June, I would expect a decision by then. Strong betting on 1st January restart with a 6-week pre-season allowed before that.
|
Posted By: 'Hopper
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 12:57
Further to that, I don't think any fixtures will be published either, at least until a start date is confirmed. ------------- What if the Hokey Kokey really IS what it's all about? |
Posted By: Intouch
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 13:14
If it is a Jan 1 start What do we play half a season? So some sides will have a major advantage of who they have at home v away Also how can they send the bottom 4 sides of National 1 down having played just half a season. You could lose 1/4 of the league having only played half the number of games
|
Posted By: DICKON
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 13:39
|
On the Rugby Journal Lockdown podcast a couple of weeks back, of which I was part along with Mark Nelson and a couple of others, Stuart Grainger confirmed that the RFU are likely to publish the full fixtures as per normal, but without dates so that different scenarios can be mapped out in line with the round numbers ie, whats the latest date we can start but still play a full season of 26 rounds, and then what gets cut with each month the start is knocked back from September; the fall back is a Jan 1st start with everyone playing each other once, and I have no idea on how promotion/relegation would be sorted, but dont forget many of the leagues operated perfectly well in the past playing each other once, so it is possible. Discussions on the re-org are separate from this, and taking 2nd place in priority just now.
|
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 14:30
It's 30 rounds not 26. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Cannon
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 14:46
------------- Rucks and mauls may bust my balls, but whips and chains excite me!! |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 16:26
Possibly he did, but this is the N2 part of the forum not L6 so I naturally assumed he was in error Agree with you though, if N1/N2 doesn't start by end of September it will be difficult to fit a whole season in. I am sure whatever is decided will not suit everybody. It may be a case of doing the best they can ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Old Hooker
Date Posted: 15 May 2020 at 17:17
Just a thought. If we do not start till Jan, Divide Nat 2 in half with an equal split across league in terms of travel, rather than just east west, then play home and away with no promotion or relegation. (As long as we get to Barnstaple  )------------- another one against the head |