Author Topic: Cups and Giggles (Read 2225 times)

Locked Out · **on:** November 19, 2023, 07:30:07 PM

Any cup or other games going ahead next weekend? Just checking out if Yorkshire tournament being taken seriously by anyone, or will the coming week see a flurry of withdrawals and walkovers given up?

Banter welcome - plus any representations directed at YRFU or any one else, constituent body-wise, about size of leagues or value of Yorkie or Pizza Cups welcome.

Bastion · **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2023, 08:11:01 PM

North ribb are hosting Northallerton

Ribbflagman · **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2023, 10:02:12 PM

There will be a warm welcome in the Dales for anyone travelling to the game. Please let me know how many extras will be on the bus and I will arrange a few crumbs etc

Ribbflagman · **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2023, 10:04:15 AM

Mr Locked out,
I think we are all wasting our time by stating what 95% of clubs in Yorkshire said about retaining 14 team leagues. Instead of listening to the clubs they represent the powers that be wiped out 15% of our income by reducing the number of teams in the league stating that they had conducted a survey and that players wanted to play less rugby. Then to compensate for that they introduced a Mickey Mouse cup that very few actually want to be in, hence the very low number of games played. That and the introduction of only 16 team county cups culminating in a "Finals day" at Doncaster (a venue generally agreed is the worst atmosphere in the county) which four teams got to last year without playing a single game means that locally the game is in a desperately poor state. I know the solution but people with their snouts in the trough will not like the reversing of the league team numbers back to 14 at our level. Rarely in my experience do you see people who make decisions accepting they have made the wrong one and then agreeing to reverse them. I suppose its human nature but it takes someone to realise they have been wrong and admit it to make progress.
I dont think given the current regime there is much chance of that.

avinastella · **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2023, 02:40:45 PM

Quote from: Ribbflagman on November 20, 2023, 10:04:15 AM

Mr Locked out,
I think we are all wasting our time by stating what 95% of clubs in Yorkshire said about retaining 14 team leagues. Instead of listening to the clubs they represent the powers that be wiped out 15% of our income by reducing the number of teams in the league stating that they had conducted a survey and that players wanted to play less rugby. Then to compensate for that they introduced a Mickey Mouse cup that very few actually want to be in, hence the very low number of games played. That and the introduction of only 16 team county cups culminating in a "Finals day" at Doncaster (a venue generally agreed is the worst atmosphere in the county) which four teams got to last year without playing a single game means that locally the game is in a desperately poor state. I know the solution but people with their snouts in the trough will not like the reversing of the league team numbers back to 14 at our level. Rarely in my experience do you see people who make decisions accepting they have made the wrong one and then agreeing to reverse them. I suppose its human nature but it takes someone to realise they have been wrong and admit it to make progress.
I dont think given the current regime there is much chance of that.

Agree with everything you say there flaggy, apart from one point, the Finals day at Castle Park was actually quite a successful day, but therein lies the problem. There are some at the top who have only focussed on that day, and not the shambles that led up to it. In essence, papering over the cracks.
Yorkshire cup games were announced on 24th August i think. Over two months after the playing calendar had been released. Youngsters see all those free weekends so they arrange/book other things. Come the cup dates and well, no one about to play them. And don't get me started on the rediculous way the draw was made. Damage done.
I don't envy the Competitions Chairman/committee, they have an unenviable task. But, as you suggest, until someone stands up to the RFU the game at community level will continue to struggle.
There was a conference at Castle Park a few weeks ago. Ostensibly marketed as Yorkshire helping the clubs. It was no such thing. It was sponsored/funded by Doncaster knights. It was nothing but a shameless attempt to get junior clubs to provide all their best youngsters to the Academy and Doncaster.

Ribbflagman · **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2023, 02:54:00 PM

I saw through that immediately and that was why we never responded. Think Doncaster want to be the next "Tykes". They should be careful what they wish for!!!!. Good luck to them anyway.

Locked Out · **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2023, 12:54:12 PM

Well said Flaggy and Stella, shame nobody upstairs is listening or gives a damn. If we are to have a truly "structured season" with leagues of however many clubs and cups - note the top four tiers are hardly consistent with us mere mortals, then the powers that be should publish draws earlier and in line with league fixture confirmation. Personally I'd like to see a return to a 14 club league system and a scope for a national cup competition for each division's champion against their counterparts at the same level, say from level 5 to 8 and all fully funded for travel etc by the RFU. Pigs may fly.

avinastella · **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2023, 03:28:56 PM

Quote from: Locked Out on November 21, 2023, 12:54:12 PM

Well said Flaggy and Stella, shame nobody upstairs is listening or gives a damn. If we are to have a truly "structured season" with leagues of however many clubs and cups - note the top four tiers are hardly consistent with us mere mortals, then the powers that be should publish draws earlier and in line with league fixture confirmation. Personally I'd like to see a return to a 14 club league system and a scope for a national cup competition for each division's champion against their counterparts at the same level, say from level 5 to 8 and all fully funded for travel etc by the RFU. Pigs may fly.

Reduce league games for player welfare but replace them with cup games that few want. So, no, it wasn't player welfare as they were constantly told at the time. It was RFU just hell bent on introducing a National cup competition. You know, one that had been failing in it's last format for years.
With the reduction in league games it is imperative that clubs have home fixtures in the cups. No home game then walkovers are the consequence and so both sides lose out. In fact, with a walkover it is the home side who lose out more due to expenses spent in facilitating the match.
Total shambles.

Bastion · **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2023, 04:48:42 PM

Northallerton are not playing north ribb , don’t know why

Ribbflagman · **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2023, 10:05:59 AM

I can tell you why. After twice confirming in recent weeks that they would definitely be coming. We got the game sponsored and caterers booked etc etc. On Tuesday night they called to say they could not get a team to travel. If that doesnt send a message out to the blazers wherever they reside that teams dont want county cup comps but will fullfill league fixtures I dont know what does. PLEASE LETS GET BACK TO 14 TEAM LEAGUES. If not nationally then in Yorkshire. The semi finals are now five and a half months away and over a month after the final league game. Great planning by whoever and totally out of sync with the vast majority of clubs. I know people say the finals day at Doncaster, with their extensive facilities, was a good event, and to be fair most finals days would be wherever they were held. Its the debacle of getting there without playing a game that is a shambles. Maybe more than four teams will get there this year without bothering their clubs treasurers. Lets see.

avinastella · **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2023, 10:54:18 AM

Quote from: Ribbflagman on November 23, 2023, 10:05:59 AM

I can tell you why. After twice confirming in recent weeks that they would definitely be coming. We got the game sponsored and caterers booked etc etc. On Tuesday night they called to say they could not get a team to travel. If that doesnt send a message out to the blazers wherever they reside that teams dont want county cup comps but will fullfill league fixtures I dont know what does. PLEASE LETS GET BACK TO 14 TEAM LEAGUES. If not nationally then in Yorkshire. The semi finals are now five and a half months away and over a month after the final league game. Great planning by whoever and totally out of sync with the vast majority of clubs. I know people say the finals day at Doncaster, with their extensive facilities, was a good event, and to be fair most finals days would be wherever they were held. Its the debacle of getting there without playing a game that is a shambles. Maybe more than four teams will get there this year without bothering their clubs treasurers. Lets see.

And that's after they received a walkover themselves in the first round when they were at home.

RugbyKing · **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2023, 06:45:24 PM

Any games going ahead this weekend? Or all walkovers?

Oncea9 · **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2023, 12:51:20 PM

Who made Doncaster the centre of Yorkshire anyway?

Ribbflagman · **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2023, 04:15:12 PM

Mr Oncea
Doncaster I think. A smart move with the demise of the Tykes. Finals day makes for a bumper financial day for them as well as seeing the cream of grass roots rugby players that they can then encourage away from grass roots clubs with the promise of salaries on less than minimum wage with all the Jam tomorrow at a soulless Castle Park.
Having said that at least they have'nt done, thus far, a Wasps, London Irish, Worcester, Jersey and goodness knows who else will follow.

Pristine Shorts · **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2023, 12:50:02 PM

Fully agree that we should get back to 14 team leagues, particularly because we were promised that there would be less travel.

Understandably, the RFU can’t see above Watford or Reading, so Ilkley’s “less travel” meant playing Alnwick and two Nottingham sides last season, Paviors and West Bridgford. Unfortunately for them, both were relegated, which evened things up a bit this season, but that’s not the point, is it ?

The Cup comps are all a bit of a joke. Not sure why, but that’s a fact.

I reckon the game we know has less than 20 years left.

Cups and Giggles

Author Topic: Cups and Giggles (Read 2225 times)

Locked Out

Cups and Giggles

Bastion

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Ribbflagman

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Ribbflagman

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avinastella

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Ribbflagman

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Locked Out

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avinastella

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Bastion

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Ribbflagman

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avinastella

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RugbyKing

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Oncea9

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Ribbflagman

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Pristine Shorts

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