5 weeks time!

By Paul I
February 16 2025

With one Round 6 tie to be played today, already qualified Newscastle Falcons hosting Sale Sharks later this afternoon , the Quarter-Finals are almost complete.  Sale could claim the last space at the expense of Leicester Tigers .  #TrueNorth ? 

Those already through are Bath, Exeter, Gloucester, Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons, Northampton , with Ealing Trailfinders the sole Championship representative.  So, how do we view Cov's journey through this year's competition?  A win at couldn't be bothered Nottingham, followed up by a surprising but deserved win at The Mattioli Woods Stadium, that's Welford Road to you and me!  Michael Cheika not taking the challenge seriously? 
In between constructing an Ark, we lost to a strong Northampton Saints side.  10 points at the halfway point was a great return.  On the competition's resumption, Nottingham were mauled at the BPA , before, despite a strong opening half, 13-19 at the break,  the dam broke and Saints truly did march in, 50-23 winners. 
On to yesterday , and a strong Tigers side, despite what visiting supporters might state, a side that contains, Wells,  Cronin, Bassett and the returning Will Wand, would always be a test.   And it was.  The sell out 5250 crowd saw an impressive Premiership unit, incisive, creative and just too powerful to claim the BP by the break 28-7 up.  
For Cov , I will take the plusses on show, IMO. The return of Oli Morris from his long-term injury shows what we might have been missing.  The never-say-die attitude of the home 23, claiming their own deserved BP with four of their own tries.  Was always going to be a difficult task.  It was.  For me, despite the absence of games until March 22nd, Cambridge the visitors, it now offers Cov a chance to reset, revive and allow some of the knocks and bruises to heal.  Valuable time and a chance to reappraise where we are, currently.   I still believe that 2nd place can be achieved.   I am a believer and I am not talking about The Monkees song from the 1960's! 
This season still has so much promise for us.

Premiership Rugby Cup - Cov, the highs and lows

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 16/02/2025 11:09

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
16/02/2025 11:09

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:03:16:20:02:20 by Kimbo.

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Wazeroonie
16/02/2025 15:39

I think Championship clubs won 5 and drew 1 of the 40 Prem v Champ fixtures. Well done to Ealing with 2 wins, 1 each for Cov/Bedford/Donny, and Hartpury’s draw. There were a few closely run losses in the mix aswell.

With the possibility of only 6 Champ clubs included in the Cup next season, once again it seems like the Champ clubs having to feed on the crumbs dropped onto the floor by the top table.

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Paul Ingleston
16/02/2025 15:56

Quote:

Wazeroonie
I think Championship clubs won 5 and drew 1 of the 40 Prem v Champ fixtures. Well done to Ealing with 2 wins, 1 each for Cov/Bedford/Donny, and Hartpury’s draw. There were a few closely run losses in the mix aswell.
With the possibility of only 6 Champ clubs included in the Cup next season, once again it seems like the Champ clubs having to feed on the crumbs dropped onto the floor by the top table.

Yes, Wazerooie, the relative paucity of successes in the Cup only highlights the disparity between the Premiership and The Championship.
I suppose the next target has to be a top six Championship finish to be in with a chance of taking part, or should I rather negatively say, being taken apart?
The constantly missing of the self-imposed RFU deadline for the confirmation of Tier 2 participation leads me to suspect things are happening in the background .
Heaven knows what this could be? A rabbit out of the hat at the SGM in March? More distraction tactics? Only in Rugby Union can we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot!
Bye.

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poplarside
16/02/2025 17:23

I can't help feeling that this cup is just a token gesture from the RFU to Championship teams, a sort of compensation if you like for not allowing them in the top flight ever.
Games against Saints and Tigers have been great, and I wonder if Cov could arrange pre-season games with these clubs and not have to bother with this competition?

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pipper
16/02/2025 22:52

Clearly what is obvious to me is that the Premiership have nothing to fear from a home and away play off for promotion.
Unless the new league creates a much higher standard then the only way to go up would be by a straight one up one down.
Even then, it would be a yo yo and straight down again as the chance of signing enough quality players is impossible.
Even more reason for the new league to promote their own league ,sponsors,tv deals ,cup comps etc and let the Premiership slowly go totally bust .
After all ,when the six nations stars are called away for camps and matches plus injuries caused by it ,the punters hardly see the stars playing for their team and a sub standard product.
As against a full blooded P2 competition with plenty of regular Saturday 3pm KO,S Which in a place like BPA would generate massive community support.

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Wazeroonie
18/02/2025 23:00

Quote:

pipper
Clearly what is obvious to me is that the Premiership have nothing to fear from a home and away play off for promotion.
Unless the new league creates a much higher standard then the only way to go up would be by a straight one up one down.
Even then, it would be a yo yo and straight down again as the chance of signing enough quality players is impossible.
Even more reason for the new league to promote their own league ,sponsors,tv deals ,cup comps etc and let the Premiership slowly go totally bust .
After all ,when the six nations stars are called away for camps and matches plus injuries caused by it ,the punters hardly see the stars playing for their team and a sub standard product.
As against a full blooded P2 competition with plenty of regular Saturday 3pm KO,S Which in a place like BPA would generate massive community support.

Unfortunately as the Prem Cup has shown, that ‘sub standard product’ would still beat Championship teams most of the time.

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SunMan62
19/02/2025 11:48

That's the "sub standard product" built on unsustainable debt of course.

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