Cardiff Blues
Why We Should Welcome the Scorpions
South Wales Scorpions
By Andrew Collins
July 11 2014
A recent post on this message board from South Wales Scorpions’ fan Rogero got a surprisingly negative response from our regulars…
I’d like to start by stating that I am not a Rugby League fan. I’ve never been to a match live and have only watched snippets on TV. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full match from start to finish. It’s not that I particularly loathe it in any way, it’s just that I’ve never taken the opportunity to give it a fair go. Or perhaps I’m just a stubborn union fans who discredits it because it’s not as ‘complex’ a game as Union (as in no scrums, line-outs, rucks or mauls).
All of this, however, is largely irrelevant to my argument.
The news that the Scorpions will be playing one game at Cardiff Arms Park strikes me as an excellent opportunity for the Cardiff Blues.
Thanks to the new artificial surface at CAP, we have literally no limit to how many activates – sports or commercial events – can be held at our venue. That poses huge potential from a revenue point of view, and it’s fantastic to see the Blues actively pursuing as many income revenues as possible. If the Scorpions don’t mind having 3rd dibs on the pitch after the Blues and RFC, then I would welcome them to make CAP their permanent home. The cost of hiring the venue, plus the revenue made from bars and food outlets makes their presence nothing but positive.
Secondly, I believe the Cardiff Blues should have a close relationship with the local League side. Lord knows how massive an influence Rugby League has had on union over the past decade – and in particular the past 5 years. A huge number of coaches, including Wales’ defence guru Shaun Edwards, have made the successful code switch to Union and have gone on to be extremely successful. Just this week, England’s former cross-code star Alan Tait has applied for the vacant Leeds Carnegie (union) job.
Likewise with players; yes of course there have been hits and misses, but why would you ever shut your doors when the next Jason Robinson could be playing League on your doorstep!
The opportunity to work closely with a Rugby League side can only be a good thing for the Blues; potential for join training sessions, coaches sharing ideas and collaborating on common themes such as defence and conditioning and the obvious possibility for players to try out at both sports and perhaps even arrange a loan or trial to see how they get on. With the Blues being the more affluent of the two, it’s fair to say that we could afford to ‘pinch’ any future union star from the Scorpions – a huge bonus for us! – while it works both ways, with many examples players who failed to make the cut in Union having gone on to be top level League players; see Elliot Kear as a casing point!
Finally there’s the potential for high profile joint advertising; Sale Sharks’ pre-season cross-code fixture against Salford Red Devils had drummed up real interest, although the match has since been postponed.
Though something of a gimmick, these sorts of fixtures offer both clubs a real opportunity to attract fans from outside the normal group – as I wrote previously, I’ve never really given League a chance, but if I liked what I saw and a joint season ticket were an option, well, who knows. They could convert me yet.
If you would like to read or comment on the original post from Rogero, follow this link http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s170.htm?221,14817190
UPDATE: Many thanks to South Wales Scorpions, who sent us this interesting link by Twitter - bit.ly/1nkvNbo
If you'd like to buy tickets to see see the triple header event at cardiff Arms Park, featuring the South Wales Scorpions, following this link - bit.ly/1n4vXVP
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Stumbleupon11/07/2014 11:47
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What if we do what harlequins did and get South Wales Scorpions to rebrand as.... Cardiff Blues?
They then use CAP through the summer (for a suitable fee...) whilst being more likely to get in people who watch Cardiff the rest of the year?
Unlikely. And ATTR might have an aneurysm.
But if we could work out a deal they can afford to allow them to base themselves there through the summer, I wouldnt be opposed.
Brings in money, hopefully we're keeping the bar takings too.
Realistically, closely aligning union and league sides has been tried before.... not sure what benefits there actually were at Quins etc.
I think we should embrace RL as a lot of their players also play RU so there is a cross over. I like RL so no problem them being there long term if they wished.
Thanks again...
cooperation but as admin points out there are sizeable revenue advantages. so, lets welcome the scorpions playing a match on btsprortarmspark-i know i do-its a sprat to catch a mackeral of a future deal or possible rental income for our artificial pitch. i would say to detractors that any dosh for us is welcome.
In fact this is EXACTLY one of the arguments some of us old CAP dinosaurs made about the move to the SdR. CAP could be used 365 days a year to earn us money. Now we have some intelligence in the marketing department and the dreadful Tina Tew is long gone (Sorry Ospreys!) we are realising that asset. The more people that want to pay to use CAP the better. t don't care whether I like their sport or whatever they do. Their money is good to us and can help us grow.
Let RL, American football, Tiddly winks etc all come and pay us MONEY. They are welcome. However, I do think people are allowed (can the thought police check this one) to say we don't like their sport. It would be a boring world if we all liked the same stuff.
13/07/2014 22:34
Penallta have quality in their Youth set up. I think that may be more to the point.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:13:23:08:37 by ATTR.
I myself am involved with one of the local amateur rugby league clubs in Cardiff. Ex players of our side include Gethin Jenkins & Andy Powell, you may have heard of them?? So if anyone at the Blues would like to help us out with sponsorship, promotion, coaching, players or anything else I am all ears!!
Just shows we can be different and work together. Now there' a thought. Hmmmmmmmm.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:27:23:21:24 by ATTR.
It's the same with the 7s game. We can work together well as long as the dafter "integration" nonsense is ignored.
On a different topic. What did the players think of the playing surface?
also hope that The Scorpions agree to return
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
What's not to love.
