London Welsh
New Season New Sponsor
By Dragons' Den
August 1 2013
So the Championship finally finds itself a sponsor, in the form of brewers Green King.The only beneficiaries appear to be the RFU, who now dodge out of paying a proportion of the monies they funded the clubs with last year.Is it fair that the clubs are seeing no net benefit? is it fair that stadium advertising may actually be detracting from existing sponsors profiles?On top of this a deal has been done with Sky to increase the number televised games to 18 with no extra revenue finding it's way to the clubs in addition to the potential loss of match day revenue to those clubs being televised.
The RFU seem to be pretty proud of themselves, with their Commercial Manager bigging the deal up by saying
“We are delighted to have reached agreement with Greene King IPA to become the title partner of the RFU Championship. The Championship has developed significantly thanks to the continued commitment of the clubs and the Union. It has led the way with innovations such as RefCam and live Twitter streaming for fans, which have helped it become the fantastic competition it is today.
“We would like to thank the Championship clubs for their support during the negotiations. We look forward to the new Greene King IPA Championship season, which will also see Sky Sports broadcast 18 live games.”
On top of all this, one gin soaked afternoon down at headquarters the committee were wheeled out in their bath chairs and decided in all their wisdom that it would be a great idea to add an extra fixture. But not any old fixture, opponents would be decided by geographical location and games would be paired at neutral "local" grounds.
I can't help thinking that the RFU are making it up as they go along, trying to copy other leagues but missing the salient point, that these gimicks have to be aclear advantage to the clubs.
What say the masses?
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Discussion started by The Dragons' Den , 01/08/2013 20:08
The Dragons' Den
01/08/2013 20:08
01/08/2013 20:08
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Most of these changes have been suggested by the teams not the rfu.
It's easy in life to be rugby but its a cynical person to criticise additional sky coverage.
It's easy in life to be rugby but its a cynical person to criticise additional sky coverage.
You had better lump me in with the cynics then.
Whilst word on the street is that the clubs did want the extra fixture I am pretty sure that they weren't expecting a format in which they could be playing one of the front runners for promotion, by arrangement, rather than draw and that points for that game could have a detrimental effect on their season. With the only benefit being the revenue from a small ticket sale window.
With regards to the sponsorship and Sky, yes more exposure is good for rugby, but some of the fortune should be trickling down to those providing the platform. Do you also think that the clubs wanted to have more televised games, potentially taking revenue from the turnstile, whilst receiving non of the revenue. Did the RFU just say to Sky " have some extra games, but don't bother giving us any more money"
Whilst word on the street is that the clubs did want the extra fixture I am pretty sure that they weren't expecting a format in which they could be playing one of the front runners for promotion, by arrangement, rather than draw and that points for that game could have a detrimental effect on their season. With the only benefit being the revenue from a small ticket sale window.
With regards to the sponsorship and Sky, yes more exposure is good for rugby, but some of the fortune should be trickling down to those providing the platform. Do you also think that the clubs wanted to have more televised games, potentially taking revenue from the turnstile, whilst receiving non of the revenue. Did the RFU just say to Sky " have some extra games, but don't bother giving us any more money"
I could be wrong (I am sometimes) but i believe this extra funding is not extra funding at all. We did have some funding from the RFU which i believe is now being provided by Green King. the only difference now is that the funding also has a backer namely Green King. As i have said though i could be wrong! PADDYTAF.
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
Quote:paddytaf
I could be wrong (I am sometimes) but i believe this extra funding is not extra funding at all. We did have some funding from the RFU which i believe is now being provided by Green King. the only difference now is that the funding also has a backer namely Green King. As i have said though i could be wrong! PADDYTAF. AIUI you're right. Of course, we could both be wrong...
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
When Sky say the number of televised games will be 18, does that include the 6 games on the "magic weekend"?
With the title of this thread relating to new sponsorship, does anyone know whether Brains are continuing to sponsor the organisation? I read a tweet from somebody at Samurai sports who was extolling the virtues of the design for the new LW kit. With a new kit last year I wouldn't have thought anything other than removing the premiership logo from the arm and replacing it with the championship logo would be appropriate. It seems a lot to ask otherwise, we're not sufficiently successful or well-supported to legitimise a new shirt every season.
The fact that the club were selling-off last season's kit at knockdown prices from mid-February suggests that a) there will be a new kit for this season and b) they were desperately trying to generate cashflow udring the latter part of the season. Don't forget, the limited edition 125th anniversary shirt was still being sold at £55 barely six months ago, so running down stock to make money and create room for new kit must have been one of Tony Copsey's revolutionary ideas that so upset the powers-that-be.
Mark W-J. Udring the new word in place of during. To be honest i think udring the season forth coming, (remember udring is the new word in place of during) we should try and invent as many new words as possible. 
APDDYTAF.
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
APDDYTAF.
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
An acquaintance of mine - and a now former LW season ticket holder - tells me that he hasn't rejoined because the club have so far failed to refund the money he forwarded for international tickets that he missed out on last season. Is the club really that hard up?
That's stranged has he chased it up I got mine back, a little later than billed but it did show up.
as they used to say on 'Round The Horne' - many times, many, many times. One ST holder lost forever it seems....
Quote:Ealingnye
With the title of this thread relating to new sponsorship, does anyone know whether Brains are continuing to sponsor the organisation? I read a tweet from somebody at Samurai sports who was extolling the virtues of the design for the new LW kit. With a new kit last year I wouldn't have thought anything other than removing the premiership logo from the arm and replacing it with the championship logo would be appropriate. It seems a lot to ask otherwise, we're not sufficiently successful or well-supported to legitimise a new shirt every season.
The design of the new Druids kit is very eye-catching. Definitely a break from tradition but looks good.
As for Samurai: The deal with the pro club expired at the end of last season and a new one has been signed. Little wonder they would want to churn out a new version. Some of the stuff they've produced in the past hasn't lasted much more than a season without fading or falling apart!
I face-booked Samurai today asking about new kit etc and they said that they hoped to continue supplying it this season but were still in negotiations as a major sponsor about been lost and that it was holding up proceedings. Struck by the London welsh admin farce it would seem.
Interesting to see that all of the action shots on the official website have ben Photoshopped to remove the Brains logos from the shirts. It confirms what many of us suspected with respect to the three-year deal with our primary sponsors, but also suggests that the relationship has deteriorated to the point where one (or both) of the parties is getting just a bit petty...
Also slightly bemused to see photos from Saturday showing the players wearing kit from the 2010-11 season!
Also slightly bemused to see photos from Saturday showing the players wearing kit from the 2010-11 season!
If this leads to Brains no longer being served at ODP I will be really quite upset.
Can't see why it should - I'm not sure that London Welsh Oxford Ltd have anything to do with the ODP Partnership 
Yup the Pricipal Club Partner space at the top right of the Offy home page is vacant .
With the RFU funding being propped up by GKIPA and GK logos elsewhere one wonders if Brains have turned off the Clubsbeer tap in protest.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:19:15:10:28 by X~Pat.
With the RFU funding being propped up by GKIPA and GK logos elsewhere one wonders if Brains have turned off the Clubs
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:19:15:10:28 by X~Pat.
Quote:X~Pat
Yup the Pricipal Club Partner space at the top right of the Offy home page is vacant .
With the RFU funding being propped up by GKIPA and GK logos elsewhere one wonders if Brains have turned off the Clubsbeertap in protest.
I think you'll find that Brains withdrew a long time before the Greene King deal was signed. Do not underestimate the club's ability to upset their sponsors/ supporters/ stakeholders.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:08:19:15:36:24 by Mark W-J.
I think, if I understand the GK league sponsorship deal, there's some sort of percentage or something if you put IPA on in your clubhouse/stadium (ie you don't have to do it but there's some sort of financial benefit). GK were Mose's sponsors before the league deal though I think.
If G#$€¥ have by default replaced the Brains pumps at ODP and/or The Kassam .....grrrr
You genuinely had me scared then Ian- but I really enjoyed my pint of Brains after training tonight!
Quote:danfc
I face-booked Samurai today asking about new kit etc and they said that they hoped to continue supplying it this season but were still in negotiations as a major sponsor about been lost and that it was holding up proceedings. Struck by the London welsh admin farce it would seem.
We'll let you hold the ball because you haven't got a new shirt to wear.....
Pretty shoddy trophy stand! I know the league is sponsored by a brewery, but that is not a good look!
Did you see the photo of the goodie bags?
Three bottles of beer and a bar mat for each captain!
The club should have found a red shirt for the Tom May to wear. Very odd.
Three bottles of beer and a bar mat for each captain!
The club should have found a red shirt for the Tom May to wear. Very odd.
I agree re a red shirt but Bleddyn was very candid this evening with regrds to whats happening with regards to a shirt sponsor and how close a deal may be and also how Brains and Shepherd Neam deals just didn't work with the lack of pouring rights at the Kassam
So are we not getting a new shirt because they're waiting for a sponsor's logo to be added - which means, allowing for Samurai's legendary lead-times, we could be waiting until Christmas for the new kit to appear?
Are we going to be wearing the black unbranded change strip from two years ago, because all of the red ones had a London Pride logo hastily ironed-on at the end of the season?
And are the club still blissfully unaware of the fact that professionalism means more than just paying players?
Are we going to be wearing the black unbranded change strip from two years ago, because all of the red ones had a London Pride logo hastily ironed-on at the end of the season?
And are the club still blissfully unaware of the fact that professionalism means more than just paying players?
New sponsor announced today, local law firm in Oxon,
[www.london-welsh.co.uk]
Plus new partner in Chippenham....
[www.london-welsh.co.uk]
Plus new partner in Chippenham....
Henmans have been on board for a while now but didn't think they were going to be shirt sponsors. Bleddyn did mention yesterday that there was another fairly advanced negotiation going on with an IT company.
I don't think you can blame the club on this one really attracting a sponsor isn't the easiest thing in the world Brains pulled out for two reasons they would have continued to sponsor as is in the premiership or with pouring rights in the championship. the whole championship brand has only recently managed to attract sponsorship itself. Personally I am seeing a more professional air around the club and a much more targeted approach.
In other news it looks like Hudson is still going to be out until October or November, JB said they wouldn't play him until he was 100% as there is still plenty of season to go even after then.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:04:13:49:15 by chappers.
I don't think you can blame the club on this one really attracting a sponsor isn't the easiest thing in the world Brains pulled out for two reasons they would have continued to sponsor as is in the premiership or with pouring rights in the championship. the whole championship brand has only recently managed to attract sponsorship itself. Personally I am seeing a more professional air around the club and a much more targeted approach.
In other news it looks like Hudson is still going to be out until October or November, JB said they wouldn't play him until he was 100% as there is still plenty of season to go even after then.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:04:13:49:15 by chappers.
New sponsor which will have logo on the back of the shirt, looks like the new shirt will be in stock for the January sales.
Marketing team must have worked hard for the partnership with Solar.
link
I'm not particularly up on these deals. Does money change hands in such a partnership arrangement or is there some sort of mutual voluntary arrangement? If there's cash involved then who pays who?
link
I'm not particularly up on these deals. Does money change hands in such a partnership arrangement or is there some sort of mutual voluntary arrangement? If there's cash involved then who pays who?
Hi ...I went to the launch last night at Malmaison in Oxford...As you may now know club will have office facilities at Henmans and I assumed they were shirt sponsors too...they were certainly co-Hosts last night and the tie-up is the lead story on back page of OM today...
The whole event had a great feel about it last night ...
The whole event had a great feel about it last night ...
I agree it was a good do and there was a good vibe and atmosphere around the place.
Justin Burnell has in the past been accused of being a bit militant in the past, but he seems to have really pulled the team together, some of the old guard I spoke to, such as Rob Lewis, Mike Denbee, Alex Davis etc reckoned there was a better team spirit than in previous years.
From what I can gather is that Justin has instilled an ethos of attendance, both for training and match days. Players will be at matchday whether playing or not, injured players will report in on training days even if they can't train if you want to be part of the team, then you p[articipate in team things.
Justin Burnell has in the past been accused of being a bit militant in the past, but he seems to have really pulled the team together, some of the old guard I spoke to, such as Rob Lewis, Mike Denbee, Alex Davis etc reckoned there was a better team spirit than in previous years.
From what I can gather is that Justin has instilled an ethos of attendance, both for training and match days. Players will be at matchday whether playing or not, injured players will report in on training days even if they can't train if you want to be part of the team, then you p[articipate in team things.
Did, any news on the appointment of a new CEO emerge from either of these gatherings?
There is a guy coming in to take on that role in a shared capacity with Bleddyn, apologies I can't remember his name.
bicesterfan - Any event at Malmaison would have a good feel about it, and so it should.
chappers - good to read that, and it was certainly the case that I met Sunny Parker and Alex Davies doing the rounds of the hospitality boxes and making themselves known at the Scarlets match
I think I was at a Henmans table last season and they seemed nice people (as lawyers always do). Having an office base in Oxford makes sense and it's handy for Kassam, though - wisely probably - not actually in Blackbird Leas.
I cannot see Bleddyn acting as a co-CEO - he may be a perfect Chairman of the Board, and did put in he reckoned a couple of thousand hours for London Welsh last season (unbilled, I sincerely hope as we cannot afford Clifford Chance senior partner rates) but we need a CEO of standing in his/her own right.
chappers - good to read that, and it was certainly the case that I met Sunny Parker and Alex Davies doing the rounds of the hospitality boxes and making themselves known at the Scarlets match
I think I was at a Henmans table last season and they seemed nice people (as lawyers always do). Having an office base in Oxford makes sense and it's handy for Kassam, though - wisely probably - not actually in Blackbird Leas.
I cannot see Bleddyn acting as a co-CEO - he may be a perfect Chairman of the Board, and did put in he reckoned a couple of thousand hours for London Welsh last season (unbilled, I sincerely hope as we cannot afford Clifford Chance senior partner rates) but we need a CEO of standing in his/her own right.
You are right Dan, Henmans are a decent firm who take their role in the community quite seriously and are well known for their support of local sport.
Bleddyn did himself on Tuesday say, tongue in cheek, he has been busier since his "retirement" and that it wasn't what he expected when he signed up as chairman.
He is working for far less than free as I believe he has commited a not so insignificant sum to the club.
Not sure of the exact arangement with the new guy, but I got the impression he wasn't going to be full time.
With regards to the actual do it was good to see the players mingling and actively going up to guests, introducing themselves and talking about LW.
Bleddyn did himself on Tuesday say, tongue in cheek, he has been busier since his "retirement" and that it wasn't what he expected when he signed up as chairman.
He is working for far less than free as I believe he has commited a not so insignificant sum to the club.
Not sure of the exact arangement with the new guy, but I got the impression he wasn't going to be full time.
With regards to the actual do it was good to see the players mingling and actively going up to guests, introducing themselves and talking about LW.
Quote:"chappers
With regards to the actual do it was good to see the players mingling and actively going up to guests, introducing themselves and talking about LW.
A picture says a thousand words
Can I echo Chappers? I spoke to a few of the players. I knew Gordon Ross was a legend anyway, but the number of them that said they really wanted to stick together this season and make time for people after the match was really encouraging.
I had a long chat with Justin Burnell and was very impressed.
Quietly hopeful for the coming season now.
I had a long chat with Justin Burnell and was very impressed.
Quietly hopeful for the coming season now.
As the Captains pose for their photo at this years inaugural GREEN KING RFU Championship not one of them has a smile on their face! Why? Could it be because Rob Andrew is taking the photo! PADDYTAF.
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:06:15:11:18 by paddytaf.
PADDYTAF.
"GIVE THEM NO BALL OR BAD BALL WELSH"
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:09:06:15:11:18 by paddytaf.
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