www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ju ... gue-rights So sky it is then. Good for the game with stability and all that.

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/ju ... gue-rights So sky it is then. Good for the game with stability and all that.

£90 million guaranteed over 5 years is a bit of a coup - well done the RFL. £18m a year, up from £16.6m. Was beginning to wonder when there'd be news.

Hopefully The Championship will remain on Sky as well. I do hope that the Challenge Cup remains on the BBC, the sport does need a terresterial broadcaster to give it wider appeal, and there should also be more live internationals on the BBC (or ITV).

or may be no one drops out

does that money include championship if not then id hope the money went up becuase the viewing figures are well up there and the standards and entertainment is quality

Some stuff still to sort so it says,so figure will go up a bit im sure.

15 teams next year IMO

Can't see it tbh. They might put the cap up a little.

100k per season per team extra. Bare in mind 2 sides went into administration last year with Quins also struggling at one point it's not going to change anything dramatically at all. Just a bit extra in clubs accounts to keep solvent!

No chance. Not enough extra cash and the fixtures become a mess. And that's without even starting on the problem of having enough players of a suitable quality.

There's loads of talent going to waste in the Championships isn't there? That's why the quota was brought in!



Quality of the competition isn't fixed though - if the standard drops a bit (which it will a bit I reckon as the imports decrease in quality and the export of our best increases in volume), then there are more players good enough to play SL. That's the magic of market forces.

I am maybe a little negative here but with the NRL almost doubling their salary cap, Rugby Union being able to tempt some bright youngsters over to their sport yet the money coming in to our league doesn't seem to be changing all too much. As stated two clubs this last off season went bust and obviously the strains of running a rugby club is clear when our own club is losing massive amounts year on year.

Now I'm not saying Sky should be responsible or should pay over the odds for the sport but with no sponsor announced and clubs suffering, is 18m a year really the best deal that could have been struck? It is up from 16.66m per year for the past 3yrs so that is nice however I just can't help but feel a 5yr deal is too long at that amount.

Also

Agree entirely on your last point.

Yes, I can imagine the logistical nightmare of having to fit in one more round of matches

It is't as simple as that.
Who receives the week off for minillium (sp) 15 teams = weeks off left right and centre.
15 teams x 27 league games = a nightmare for the fixture makers.

16 teams it is then, either Wakey are out or fax are in.
Will the RFL bottle the decision?

haha Sorry about the Also, I typed it but then deleted it for some reason! Hazards of posting on a nightshift!!!

As for who would miss out on the Millenium weekend - The World Club Challenge should be on the Friday night then have the rest of the games Saturday and Sunday, get a proper good long weekend of rugby. Yes the champions would lose one of their bye weekends but thats the price they'd pay for winning the grand final, I'm sure they wouldn't mind too much!

Probably best to think something through before jumping in with a clever remark.

Whatever