The Italian Rugby Federation has agreed that it will put forward a proposal for either 4 clubs or 2 select XVs – the more likely option – to join the Magner’s League. While in principle this will be great for Italian rugby (and delight those of our Italian readers with a hankering for all things Mossy) it does create increasing congestion in an already long rugby season. However, the Borders were until fairly recently part of the Magners League fixture list, so you could look at it as the net addition of just one team. This is why I believe two extra teams is the most sensible option in terms of both the fixture list, length of season and added expense of travel to Italy for away games. Another good idea would be to get rid of the EDF Energy Cup which should free up the schedules a bit, or perhaps relegate it to a development/under 21s tournament. None of the big clubs really seem to pay attention to it anyway, unless they happen to find themselves in the final.
The blog may be offline briefly in the next few days as we upgrade our software, but I doubt you’ll notice, such is the efficiency of our technical staff/size of our readership. If we can find a pub to watch it in (not being in Edinburgh on Boxing Day), I’ll be back with a report on the derby match between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Hoepfully it’ll be a spectacle for the neutral in front of a record crowd. Stranger things have happened.
Until then all at Scottish Rugby Blog HQ wish you a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Rory and Al
1 response
We could also free up some time by getting rid of the play-offs, which are nothing more than a shameless cave-in to commercialism.
That won’t happen, of course, so if the Italians do join I guess I’ll have to brace myself for the prospect of Edinburgh once again being forced to play on international weekends with stripped-down teams. And just when we’ve finally got a sensible fixture list too…oh well, it’s not like we’re trying to win the league or anything, eh? ;P