By Brian Dick, Birmingham Post
May 7 2009

Ian Smith has added his voice to the largely positive reaction to yesterday’s unveiling of the new British & Irish Cup. The Moseley head coach believes the 24-team competition will bring excitement to the Championship season but has also expressed his concern about funding. The tournament throws together the 12 teams from England’s second tier, six Welsh clubs, Irish provinces Munster, Leinster and Ulster and three teams from Scotland.

While it promises to produce some intriguing match ups, with Moseley and rivals Birmingham & Solihull likely to be in the same six team pool, there could also be some long journeys across the Irish Sea or over the border to face Ayr or and Scotland academy team.

And – to say nothing of the relative lack of strength of the Scottish teams – Smith insists clubs will need financial assistance with playing away.

“Let’s hope we have a bit of common sense about travel expenses. To have it funded properly would be a good idea,” he said. “It depends how the draw goes, if you get Munster at home that’s OK but being drawn away could be difficult. There will have to be a sensible attitude towards how the pools are drawn.

“But overall the whole thing is quite exciting, it looks like a good competition. Playing against Irish, Welsh and Scottish teams is an intriguing prospect which will add a little bit of spice.”

Another controversial aspect could be the structure. As things stand the six-team group stage will be played during international breaks, the first two fixtures coming on November 7 and 28.

Smith concedes it could interrupt the league programme.

“If you are on a terrific run you probably won’t want to stop playing league matches, but if you’re on a bad run it might come as a welcome relief to what will be a very difficult league,” he said.

His counterpart at Sharmans Cross Road, Russell Earnshaw, is also enthusiastic about the new tournament.

“The Welsh, Irish and Scottish rugby cultures are very different to ours so it will be fantastic for our players to be able to experience that,” Earnshaw said.

“We’ve got a few players who have played in Wales and Ireland already so I’m sure that they will be particularly excited about this competition.

“This season was exciting for us because we played a lot of different sides in National Two but the opportunity to have sides from Wales, Ireland and Scotland coming to play at your ground will be something that players and spectators enjoy.”

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Positive reaction to British Cup plan

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 07/05/2009 22:04

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
07/05/2009 22:04

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