So the Magners League fixtures have been announced – and yet again the Magners League underwhelms me.
This is a league that gets much derision for a number of reasons, for teams not taking it seriously, for a lack of fans, for a lack of interest. But yet again we see just how the Magners League address this issue – they do nothing and hope it works.
Now I do think the Guinness Premiership is an over rated league. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a number of things going for it – not least because they know how to interest the fans.
Double Header
This season, having moved to London, I have ‘acquired’ a Wasps season ticket. Obviously I would prefer to be watching the Ospreys but that isn’t logistically possible. But I look at what Wasps start out with and then I look at the Ospreys fixture list and I am left thinking that maybe watching the GP is the right choice.
Wasps start with the ‘double header’ at Twickenham. I did this last year and it is a great day out, loads of fans, loads of buzz, a lot going on and two great games against traditional rivals. Kicks the season off well.
Compare this with the Ospreys start. Two trips to Ireland, which most fans are going to be unable to get to, and two home games vs the new Italian teams.
Now I know that having a league in so many countries is going to lead to a number of games you don’t care as much about – but there has to be a better way of starting the season off than this!
Why can’t we look at the Welsh teams getting a double header together at the Millenium? Goodness only knows the clubs don’t take the league that seriously anyway so the move of a ‘home game’ to the Millennium will not be too concerning, and will create a lot more interest amongst fans.
Even if that not is the case a local derby to kick us off allows all fans to get to their teams first game of the season, will lead to some sell outs and create a lot of media and fan interest. Surely it is important to start the season off with a bang?
Not in the Magners League though, a whimper is more accurate. But then what else can we expect from a league that doesn’t want good players playing in it.
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When is a league not actually a league? When you have a team who has been top of the league for most of the season and a “final” determines the league winner, theres something odd about that. But then again maybe I’m not understanding the meaning of the term league!
Dervla,
You are right – but at the same time it was something that needed to be done. The end to the Magners League had been something of a damp squib for a few years now. And with so many games having to get pushed around, games played when there are internationals etc it doesn’t always mean the best team wins it.
I have some sympathy for Leinster fans this year – but I know as an Osprey fan (and talking to other fans of different regions) having something to actually play for at the end of the season has increased the interest fans had.
It may not feel right to the team at the top – but it has worked well in the guinness premiership and the Super 14′s, and it started promisingly in the Magners imo.
I agree with your point that it has increased interest towards the end of the season. It just seems a little unfair to the team at the top for most of it! But thats speaking as a Leinster supporter! Not taking away from Ospreys who fully deserved to win the final match. We’ll how it goes anyway. I’m looking forward to the season