The Munster Rugby Thread 2019/20

[BigPapa]

Always thought it would make sense for Cork City to think of using Musgrave when they don't even own Turners Cross anyway. Will never happen but as mentioned above no point in two stadiums of the same size being idle for long periods of the year.

 

[TheRebelRoar]

Yeah, it's a shame. Cork could really use a good, multi-purpose 20k stadium.

No need for it. Cork City wouldn't fill a quarter of it
Munster have their eggs in the Thomond basket with the ten year tickets.
The GAA won't want it, they have two stadiums.

 

[How bad boy]

Always thought it would make sense for Cork City to think of using Musgrave when they don't even own Turners Cross anyway. Will never happen but as mentioned above no point in two stadiums of the same size being idle for long periods of the year.

Musgrave Park is not good for soccer, especially European matches. Understand that you have to have all seater beyond the qualifying rounds but open to correction).

Turners Cross is fully covered and full seating with basically the same capacity as Musgrave, you could probably make a couple of the old terraces convertible to terracing to up the capacity to the old 12k without too much pain. Even if you couldn't, you're much more likely to get a full house if you have a roof.

It's Pairc Ui Rinn is the one that doesn't make an enormous sense to me, but no doubt the GAA find it useful.

 

[BigPapa]

Very true regarding the full covering of Turners Cross, thats a big plus.
I wouldnt be so sure about Pairc Ui Rinn. Pressure will come on Cork GAA to develop a centre of excellence down the line and as they're stone broke might make sense to sell PUR. Kevin O Donovan has already come out a few months ago saying if the new bus connect plan goes ahead it'll be hard to play games there as it'll wipe all street parking.

 

[Jukka]

There's a massive shortage of land for sports and leisure in Cork (bear in mind the scale of population growth projected) so the City Council would be very cagey about okaying Pairc Ui Rinn being completely rezoned.

Musgrave really is an ideal location for a communal municipal sports ground, with a 15K all seater capacity. That'd be the natural solution. Munster themselves would run with that I reckon if the GAA and CCFC pitched in, it's Dolphin and the Well that would kick up stink. If City actually the cross and stood to gain from selling it then you'd think they might look at it too.

In other countries local government is far more prominent, and has more control and influence over investment in these type of things, which is why municipal sports stadiums are much more common. Politics and government are so centralised in Ireland that common sense solutions at a local level are hard to implement.

Something I looked up after the Olympics - if PUC was 10m longer it would be the only stadium Ireland capable of holding a full track and field event. Seeing as everything was demolished in the end, it's a big shame that wasn't baked in. Still could be with some work to the central lower terraces if the opportunity ever arose to host an event of significance.

 

[Meridian]

Events on the TV front, are Premier Sports on Sky, does anyone know ?

Premier Sports has agreed a three-year contract to become the lead broadcaster of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in Ireland. The deal, which also covers the UK, runs until the end of the 2026/27 season.

TNT Sports, previously known as BT Sport, had been the main broadcaster in the UK and Ireland under the previous deal. That deal also incorporated games being shown free-to-air on RTÉ.

Though the statement from the EPCR announcing the new deal does not mention games being shown on terrestrial TV, RTÉ confirmed to the Irish Examiner that it "has rights for the upcoming Champions Cup season". No further details were available on the arrangement.

In a statement, the EPCR said Premier Sports will "cover all 63 Investec Champions Cup matches, as well as two EPCR Challenge Cup pool matches per round, two EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16, and all matches in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final."
The subscription broadcaster, which also shows every URC game and more than 100 Top 14 games, plans to "create the first 24/7 rugby channel".
“Premier Sports has huge ambition to become the home of club rugby in the UK and Ireland, along with their rights to TOP14 and URC competitions," said EPCR CEO Jacques Raynaud.
"We are delighted to join them on this journey and tremendously excited to help them reach new heights by bringing the very best of elite club rugby to UK and Ireland audiences.
“In addition to the match day coverage, the creation of a 24/7 rugby channel represents a step-change in Premier Sports rugby coverage. The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will be at the heart of this new offering, led by key rugby personalities including Stephen Ferris, John Barclay, Tom Shanklin and Ryan Wilson.
“Furthermore, we have been able to work with Premier Sports to ensure new fixture times for English clubs, avoiding clashes with Premier League football to maximise viewing."
Munster's 2024/25 Champions Cup campaign gets underway on December 7 when they face Stade Francais at Thomond Park.

 

[Meridian]

There's a massive shortage of land for sports and leisure in Cork (bear in mind the scale of population growth projected) so the City Council would be very cagey about okaying Pairc Ui Rinn being completely rezoned.

Musgrave really is an ideal location for a communal municipal sports ground, with a 15K all seater capacity. That'd be the natural solution. Munster themselves would run with that I reckon if the GAA and CCFC pitched in, it's Dolphin and the Well that would kick up stink. If City actually the cross and stood to gain from selling it then you'd think they might look at it too.

In other countries local government is far more prominent, and has more control and influence over investment in these type of things, which is why municipal sports stadiums are much more common. Politics and government are so centralised in Ireland that common sense solutions at a local level are hard to implement.

Something I looked up after the Olympics - if PUC was 10m longer it would be the only stadium Ireland capable of holding a full track and field event. Seeing as everything was demolished in the end, it's a big shame that wasn't baked in. Still could be with some work to the central lower terraces if the opportunity ever arose to host an event of significance.

To be fair now, it's more the stranglehold that the GAA has in this country is the reason local Government is not really involved in Sports

 

[nelly sham]

Events on the TV front, are Premier Sports on Sky, does anyone know ?

Premier Sports has agreed a three-year contract to become the lead broadcaster of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in Ireland. The deal, which also covers the UK, runs until the end of the 2026/27 season.

TNT Sports, previously known as BT Sport, had been the main broadcaster in the UK and Ireland under the previous deal. That deal also incorporated games being shown free-to-air on RTÉ.

Though the statement from the EPCR announcing the new deal does not mention games being shown on terrestrial TV, RTÉ confirmed to the Irish Examiner that it "has rights for the upcoming Champions Cup season". No further details were available on the arrangement.

In a statement, the EPCR said Premier Sports will "cover all 63 Investec Champions Cup matches, as well as two EPCR Challenge Cup pool matches per round, two EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16, and all matches in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final."
The subscription broadcaster, which also shows every URC game and more than 100 Top 14 games, plans to "create the first 24/7 rugby channel".
“Premier Sports has huge ambition to become the home of club rugby in the UK and Ireland, along with their rights to TOP14 and URC competitions," said EPCR CEO Jacques Raynaud.
"We are delighted to join them on this journey and tremendously excited to help them reach new heights by bringing the very best of elite club rugby to UK and Ireland audiences.
“In addition to the match day coverage, the creation of a 24/7 rugby channel represents a step-change in Premier Sports rugby coverage. The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will be at the heart of this new offering, led by key rugby personalities including Stephen Ferris, John Barclay, Tom Shanklin and Ryan Wilson.
“Furthermore, we have been able to work with Premier Sports to ensure new fixture times for English clubs, avoiding clashes with Premier League football to maximise viewing."
Munster's 2024/25 Champions Cup campaign gets underway on December 7 when they face Stade Francais at Thomond Park.

They are. It's a bolt on service.

 

[nelly sham]

Felix Jones resigned from the RFU back room today. "Unstable working conditions". They'd bumped him up to second in charge effectively. Aled Walters left last week. Something is rotten in Twickers.

 

[jeepers]

Felix Jones resigned from the RFU back room today. "Unstable working conditions". They'd bumped him up to second in charge effectively. Aled Walters left last week. Something is rotten in Twickers.

There's a serious issue there. There is no need for him to be putting up with a shit show, he's dead right to go.