Sarries Request Cape Town Match
Home of the Stormers
By Andrew Collins
July 26 2011
London based club, Saracens, have made a formal request to move their Heineken Cup clash with Biarritz to Cape Town in an appeal which mirrors that of English Premier League footall clubs…
The Hertfordshire club, who currently play their home games at Vicarage road in Watford, have applied for permission from the European Rugby Board, the Rugby Football Union and South Africa Rugby to move the fixture.
Sarries bosses have said of the proposals,
“The club will consult widely and seriously with season ticket holders and supporters before reaching any final decision.”
Saracens have developed a association with the country, and currently have 11 South African born players in their squad, a number which will grow to with the arrival of Springboks captain John Smit following the World Cup.
But the move has still infuriated many fans, who, if accepted, will miss out on the pools most mouth-watering clash.
However Sarries are not alone in looking to invest in a foreign market. Last season, London Wasps moved their LV= Cup match with rivals Harlequins to Dubai in an unprecedented stadium switch, while the English Premier League recently rejected plans to play a ‘39th Game’ (Link Here - fixed) with the final games of the season tacking place across the world.
Indeed it is the football analogy which holds such resemblance. Since rugby went professional in 1995, the game has always tried to copy it’s more lucrative sporting neighbour, be it the sponsored kits, the transfers and now more recently, ground shares.
With French rugby having a recently monopoly on the worlds best players, is it understandable and acceptable that clubs will look to seek new ways of finding money to pay for the most talented, or is this going one step too far? How would you feel if the Blues (hypothetically *Edit) moved a match to Tokyo or Miami in order to financially deliver the likes of Dan Carter?
It is certainly a contentious subject, but one that wont be going away for sometime.
*Edit: Fixed for CariffSteve!
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Quote:How would you feel if the Blues moved a match to Tokyo or Miami in order to financially deliver the likes of Dan Carter?
I'll feel that Bob Norster has taken up smoking ketamine.
Quote:Above Story
How would you feel if the Blues (hypothetically *Edit) moved a match to Tokyo or Miami...
*Edit: Fixed for CariffSteve!
There you are Steve
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
On a serious note, events like the NFL International series work because there is an interest (and demand) for their product in other parts of the world. A big factor in this demand is no local and equivalent alternative.
Rugby is just not that popular globally and talk of Sarries taking games to areas where a local (and probably) higher quality alternatives already exists just seems very bizarre. As usual, I am sure there are political motivations in the background (they have an outstanding planning application IIRC).
If Cardiff Blues were to do something similar I would not be supportive and it would not make sense. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen!
With Saracens, I'm guessing the logic might be that if they can build their "brand" in South Africa then they can perhaps attract support from South Africans who then move to London for work.
That'd fit in with the saffer heavy makeup of their squad. Plus I think (might be wrong) that one of their owners was involved with the "London Tribe" concept which never got off the ground (a proposed London club which would've targeted southern hemisphere types living in the capital).
I wouldnt be surprised if they're not anticipating making a penny from the game itself.
Anyone fancy an away trip to Sardis?
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Quote:cardiffsteve
Ok, serious response.
With Saracens, I'm guessing the logic might be that if they can build their "brand" in South Africa then they can perhaps attract support from South Africans who then move to London for work.
That'd fit in with the saffer heavy makeup of their squad. Plus I think (might be wrong) that one of their owners was involved with the "London Tribe" concept which never got off the ground (a proposed London club which would've targeted southern hemisphere types living in the capital).
I wouldnt be surprised if they're not anticipating making a penny from the game itself.
same us at sdr then!
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")