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ERC infuriates rugby supporters
By pitprop September 7 2007
So we get the dates for the first four rounds of the ERC, and we are not happy bunnies. It transpires that the ERC have decided that Sky are the most important players and they should get to decide when games are played with no regard whatsoever for the supporters and any difficulties they may face. Pitprop has vented his frustration in an open letter to the ERC...

The following open letter to JP Lux now appears on the ECC forum on the ERC website:-

Open letter to Jean-Pierre Lux

Quote from ERC press release on televising ECC games:-
“The addition of televised Pool stage matches is set to provide a massive boost to the competition and further enhance its stature across Europe.
“This is fantastic news for everyone involved in European club rugby and especially for the players and fans of the 20 teams competing for the European Challenge Cup title,” said ERC Chairman, Jean-Pierre Lux.”

Dear Jean-Pierre
This is not fantastic news for the people who follow teams who have had THURSDAY NIGHT fixtures foisted upon them. You have deprived them
1. of the benefit of watching their team live (not everyone is available at the drop of an employment hat to watch on a Thursday night).
2. of the dubious benefit of watching their team on TV (because ERC have sold the ECC's soul to Sky, and not everyone can afford Sky).
3. of the full benefit of their Season Tickets, which they bought in the very reasonable expectation that two ECC home fixtures that their Season Tickets encompass would take place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Add to that the lesser support for the team from a lesser number of supporters that will form the crowd at these games, and you can see the amount of spin put upon this announcement.
The other outcome from this dreadful decision just underlines the fact that this is a second-rate competition – Sky obviously can't find time to televise the games at the weekend because they'll be too busy showing Heineken Cup games. How do you think that makes supporters of the teams involved in this competition feel?

To steal a metaphor from the round-ball game, “Own goal, Jean-Pierre”.

Do not be surprised if, during the telecast of these Thursday night games, every camera shot shows a placard detailing ERC's and Sky's mistakes in this matter. They may well discuss the parentage of those involved in this dreadful decision.

Fantastic News for the fans – I don't think so. You seem to have little idea of what the supporters actually do want, J-P. But Thursday night games head the list of what is NOT WANTED!.

Regards
pitprop
Sale Sharks supporter


I've also faxed it to 00 353 1 676 9287 - its an Irish number. Why fax? They've closed down their e-mail contact mailbox. Wonder why?

If you feel like adding to the thread over on the ECC Forum, please do, perhaps better than blowing off steam on here:-
ERC Fans Forum
You do have to register to post on there.If you enter via the ERC website, click on Fanzone and then Fans Forum, then ECC.

Should you want to go back to the old-fashioned way. the address is:-
European Rugby Cup,
3rd Floor,
Huguenot House,
35-38 St Stephens Green,
Dublin 2
Ireland
 

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