Euro Rugby Row, who are the players and what are there positions?

English

Who’s running the show: Clubs have, more or less, won the battle with the Union to run their own affairs.

Position:  Want the competition to generate more dosh; then get a bigger slice of that dosh.  Have in fact negotiated more dosh for everyone but didn’t bother to ask if that was alright.  Want a better run second tier with fewer mismatches and more RaboDirect teams.  Want to have a greater say in running the competition.  Bullish about their future and if others don’t agree to the changes then they’ll walk.

Saying: “Give us your fucking money!”

Welsh

Who’s running the show: “Regions” are the ones who employ the players, but Union and international game subsidise them heavily.

Position: Clubs are desperate for cash so are hardly averse to going along with the English, feel a meritocratic RaboDirect might help increase attendances but worried about whether an improved second tier would be the safety net needed.  Also worried about agreeing to a cut in proportion of revenue, once the idea that the split should be changed is agreed the French and English could look at that inch and take a mile.

Saying: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”

Irish

Who’s running the show: The union in all their blazered, gravy soaked glory.

Position: Doing well on and off the field.  See no reason to change and are scared of what competitive qualifying might mean to the playing time of their centrally contracted internationals.

Saying: “I’m alright Jack”

Scottish

Who’s running the show: The union.  More gravy and less glory than the Irish though.

Position: Serious case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) if they introduced merit based qualification.  Also loath to any ideas to improve rugby in other European countries in case their own position is downgraded.

Saying: “Don’t panic Mr.Mannering!”

French

Who’s running the show: Clubs, though the union is more quarrelsome than the current English one.

Position: The English one, but politer.  Want the European competitions to be over earlier in the season so they can spend the end of the season concentrating on their lucrative and historic play offs.

Saying: “Speak softly, but carry a big stick”

Italian

Who’s running the show: The union, but currently in the throes of a power struggle with the Treviso president looking likely to take over.

Position: Worried about losing the exposure of top level competition, also worried about agreeing to a change in dosh distribution.  Would probably prefer countries to keep their own TV cash as it won’t be long before they are up with England and France in that stakes.

Saying: “Don’t you, forget about me”