Sport That Matters

Elite Sport in 2015 Ireland

2015-01-07T16:09:00.006-08:00

2015 is set to be Irish elite sports most successful year financially through a combination of home events as well as possible success for Irish teams and athletes abroad. Below are 12 sports where athletes and federations will be predicting a bounce in 2015.

1. UFC
Conor McGregor after a relatively short career in the UFC appears set for the biggest payday of his life, should he manage to take out the lowly ranked Russian Dennis Siver in January. The smart money is suggesting McGregor will be given the opportunity to fight Jose Aldo for a world title in May. McGregor the most effective self publicist that sport has ever seen has consistently mentioned a stadium fight in Dublin, and despite concerns regarding pay per view ratings for GMT events both the Aviva and Croke Park appear to be real contenders. Last Julys event in the O2 showed Ireland to have a serious under card of fighters and all of those Dublin trained fighters would be likely to enjoy a slice of the pie.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 5/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 5/5

2. Professional Boxing
Eddie Hearns initial proposal to host 2 big Sky boxing nights in the Republic of Ireland in 2015 received a massive fillip in December with Andy Lee's stunning knockout of Matt Korobov for the WBO title. With a first title defence now touted for Thomond Park on St. Patricks Day both Lee who is likely to quadruple his largest pay check thus far and the local economy are likely to benefit significantly. All going to plan another home defence in October would be Lee & his manager Adam Booths plan for the year. Up North Carl Frampton has established a consistently large and vocal following in the Oddyssey arena. He defends his IBF world title against Chris Avalos in February and all going to plan will bring a much bigger fight to Belfasts Oddyssey Arena later in the Summer.
Young Irish fighters such as John Joe Nevin & Jason Quigley should benefit uniquely from the undercards, while also increasing the interest in the fight nights themselves. Both Nevin and Quigley are hoping to fight for world belts in 2016, so the undercards to Frampton and Lee have the potential be very entertaining.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 4/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 5/5

3. Football
Football largely due to a fortuitous run of fixtures for the senior men's team means John Delaney can afford to forecast some reasonable numbers for the first time since an ultimately mixed 2012. The potentially profitable qualifiers are home games against Celtic rival Scotland, large migrant population nation Poland & should Ireland remain competitive to the end a September home fixture against world champions Germany. Aside from this, there is a juicy friendly (the first in almost 20 years) against England and the possibility of a playoff in November should they finish 3rd, something they'd probably rather avoid. The probable prize for qualifying should everything go to plan may actually be the same as the €8 million received for 2012 despite the increase in the number of teams participating. This figure is based on the 50% increase in sponsorship revenue which has already been announced by UEFA. Away from the senior side Stephanie Roche's superb goal for Peamount United will hopefully offer some sort of a fillip to the crowds attending the senior womens teams home European Championship qualifiers next September.
North of the border things are also looking pretty rosy in the new year having taken 9 points from 12 in their qualifying campaign. While there isn't the same scope in an increase in revenue through attendances or glamour friendlies, qualifying for Euro 2016 would certainly provide a huge bounce for the association.
Aside from International football, Shamrock Rovers return to European competition since their successful Europa League campaign coincides with a lucrative friendly against LA Galaxy in February & a pair of Irish internationals, Keith Fahey and Stephen McPhail marshaling the centre of the park. They along with Cork City and Dundalk look best equipped to earn some revenue from a positive run.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 4/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 3/5

4. Cricket
After one of the quietest years at home, Cricket Ireland will consider 2015 to be a genuine opportunity to secure record revenue while also proving to the ICC that they deserve their place at the top table.
Taking first of all the World Cup in February the bounty of $45000 per group match won combined with the $300,000 available for reaching the group stages are both considerable improvements on previous world cups. Ireland will target fellow associate (I despise this word) UAE as well as Zimbabwe and at least one of the West Indies & Pakistan to make the last 8. Beyond the World Cup there certainly appears to considerable value for season ticket holders in Ireland. One Day International fixtures against both England and Australia have already been confirmed (Normally Ireland would expect one of the 2 to visit). The country will also jointly host a T20 qualification tournament for the 2016 T20 world cup. In addition to this 1 round of the World Cricket League and Intercontinental cup is likely to be scheduled for Ireland in August. This is more significant news than usual given that it will be the teams first opportunity to fight for a place in the Test Challenge in 2018. History has thought me not to be optimistic about fixtures but there are rumour's of New Zealand visiting this Summer also. Given this activity the announcement of a new sponsor combined with their academy sponsor Shapoorji Pallonji should also provide a boost to the coffers.
Away from the national team Irish players have continued to earn their corn in County Cricket including two captains. Kevin O'Brien will be hoping to finally secure an opportunity in the lucrative Indian Premier League. His form in T20 leagues in the Caribbean, England and New Zealand in 2014 will hopefully present O'Brien with the opportunity to debut in April.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 3/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 3/5

5. Rugby Union
While the provinces haven't had the best of seasons in the Champions Cup their league positions 3rd to 6th offer a unique opportunity for all four to qualify for next season tournament. Something entirely unexpected when qualification for the new tournament was declared.
The other potential gain concerns the national side and the combination of their current form and a Six Nations Campaign which includes home fixtures against France and England and a Northern Hemisphere World Cup. A successful year, a Six Nations title (something which can never be underestimated) and a world cup semi final would have a much needed ripple effect across the provinces budgets.
Away from 15 aside rugby, a close eye will be paid to the success of the World Club 7's Series in Thomond Park in August and the form of the Irish men's 7's side on their reintroduction to international 7's in the European Championships in June. Many in Irish rugby circles will be hoping this return can evolve into the hosting of an international 7's event over the next few years,
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 3/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 2/5

6. Golf
The major bounce for elite golf in Ireland in 2015 will come from the Irish Open being held in Royal County Down, and effectively hosted by Rory McIlroy. The major benefit of this will be a much improved field, Rickie Fowler being the first unexpected star to declare his intentions. Ultimately this will positively affect the crowd which attends the event, the TV interest across the Atlantic and the purse available to those players competing. This lift will hopefully bring the recently stagnant Irish Open back into focus internationally.
Away from the Irish Open Rory McIlroy being the World number 1 and chasing a career grand slam in April suggests at least one Irish golfer will have a good financial year. Shane Lowry joining the worlds top 50 will naturally improve his financial potential as he finds himself playing a similar tournament schedule to McIlroy and McDowell.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 2/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5

7. Athletics
Athletics Ireland buoyed by an excellent sponsorship fit in Glohealth and a talented group of young athletes will look forward to a lucrative 2015. The key 2 events are the AIT International Arena Grand Prix in February and the National Championships in Morton Stadium in August. That the Championships will act as a qualifier for the world championships should mean a bumper gate in Morton while Asafa Powell's presence in Athlone is a genuine wildcard which will hopefully attract an enthusiastic crowd.
Individually Mark English looks to be the pick of the Irish athletes and the most likely to make hay in this Summers Diamond League.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5

8. GAA
Typically suggesting an above average year for GAA finances is extremely difficult given the effect replays can have on the final figures. That said there are a number of reason to suggest a good year awaits. Firstly the Australian victory in the 2014 International Rules series has ensured a 2015 2 game series will take place while a strong Australian team and closer contest is more likely due to the 2014 game.
Secondly the emergence of a Kerry as a rival to Dublins previously assumed dominance should mean negative thoughts about the football championship will not be as present in the media in the early stages of this years championship to the same extent as they were last year. Finally Sky Sports 2nd year in GAA will hopefully result in an increase in viewership outside of Ireland following last years very positive sample.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 0/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5

9. Snooker
Snooker features on this years list due to the four Irish players in the top 50 of world snooker. Mark Allen especially, but also Fergal O'Brien, Ken Doherty and recently David Morris have shown the possibility of winning a ranking event in 2015. Young Celbridge cuer Josh Boileau should also be closely followed in 2015 with qualification for the main tour very much on the horizon for last years World Under 21 finalist.
Unfortunately a ranking event in Ireland does not appear to be on the horizon with World Snooker focusing on newer markets in 2015.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 0/5

10. Showjumping
The principle reason showjumping features on this list is the 2014 form of Wexford competitor Bertram Allen who at 18 years of age has reached 15 in the world rankings. Germany based Allen has continued to improve in 2014 and with an impressive schedule in 2015 the world seems like his oyster.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 0/5

11. Hockey
Both the Irish men and women will look to use 2015's FIH world leagues as spring board towards Olympic qualification. The womens 2nd round group is scheduled to be held in UCD offering an income opportunity to the Irish federation.
Away from the national teams Davy Harte's $51,000 purchase by Dabang Mumbai of the Indian Hockey League represents a significant amount of money in hockey terms. His brother Conor has also been picked up for $10,000 and will join him in India in January.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 0/5

12. Tennis
Tennis' presence on this years list is based on the current rankings of Ireland's male tennis players as well as the home Davis cup draw against Belarus in March. A positive and likely year might see James McGee firmly establish himself inside the worlds top 150 through a grand slam victory and Sam Barry to permanently break into the top 300 in the world. The genuine hope for the Davis cup team would be to achieve 2 victories and play a second home tie in September. Should all of the above occur increased sponsorship for the Irish Tennis Open currently a Futures event will become more likely.
Elite Sport $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5
Economy $ Effect vs Normal : 1/5

Matt O'Gonner

2014-12-30T17:00:00.004-08:00

Since rugby union went professional, fans have often scoffed as their sport gradually took up some of the less desirable habits of their rival association football.

Crazy salaries or football money as the fans would say has become commonplace in France (Dan Carter is soon to become the first €1 million per annum player) and with the pressure on the salary cap in the Aviva Premiership the same will probably begin to occur in England also. Transfer fees while not common place have begun to raise their head with George Norths' move to Northampton & Steffon Armitages' proposed move to Bath being 2 of the more noteworthy examples of late. There are other examples with Bryan Habana recently accused of diving in an attempt to con a penalty from the referee and that's without comparing 'Bloodgate' to the many tricks football managers are accused of orchestrating from the sidelines.

One ‘Habit’ which up until now has not become the norm in rugby is the release of managers and head coaches mid season. Thankfully one might say Irish rugby fans have been able to look down their nose at those across the channel and the Irish Sea who are making their game more like soccer with their high wages and transfer fees. Alas the next football ‘Habit’ seems about to rare its head in club rugby for the first time only this time it might begin in Ireland.

Club football managerial dismissals across the world have been characterized by fan pressure and mid season dismissals. The reasons generally being a concern for the short term future of the club be that because of relegation or failure to qualify for European competition possibly combined with an uninspiring transfer policy and a style of play which is not aesthetically pleasing.

Until now financial cliff drops due to relegation or competition qualification requirements have not been a feature of rugbys premier domestic and international competitions with the French Top 14 the only real exception (Premiership Rugby has financially protected its founding members during relegation so they don't quite qualify) . However with a new system of qualification and seedings for the Rugby Champions Cup ( Europe's new premium rugby competition) a middling Leinster league campaign may suddenly result in a season where Leinster are very much out of the limelight and possibly a loss making entity when one considers the disparity in income between the Guinness Pro 12 & the Champions Cup. In addition to this reviewing the much reduced media profile of the lower level of European competition will not generate much positive chatter around Donnybrook. On current form Leinster could find themselves competing in that competition next November should their pattern of under performance continue to the 6 nations when they will become shorn of many of their first choice players.

For this reason their January 3rd clash with Ulster (who through IRFU mismanagement have been left in a coaching middle ground themselves) has suddenly become very important. While patient and loyal with many of their former coaches (yes I include Declan Kidney and Eddie O'Sullivan in that observation) the union may well peer at managerial sackings in that other code and decide payoffs and mid season dismissals aren't such nasty words after all. When the bottom line is affected ,being holier than their stadium co-tenants should suddenly become very unimportant.

Sport & Tourism: Tennis

2014-08-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

With Operation Garth Brooks reportedly having a dramatic impact on Ireland's potential to attract large concerts and musical events in the coming years its seems like an optimum time to look at sport in Ireland and consider its potential or lack of to host successful events in the future which will ultimately attract tourists and revenue to the country.
Tennis a sport with a relatively low profile in many parts of the country has definite potential towards increasing the quality and number of professional sports events held in Ireland over the next few years.

While the number of events liable to gain revenue from ticket sales is unlikely to change dramatically the current curve in the fortunes of Ireland's best tennis players combined with a more business savvy approach to hosting these events from Tennis Ireland could definitely result in domestic growth.

The events Tennis Ireland must target are their 1 and possibly 2 home legs of the Davis Cup as well as ensuring that the Irish Tennis Open the 2nd oldest tennis tournament in the world is upgraded to a Challenger Tour event within the next 3 years. Looking first at the Davis Cup a competition which up until now has attracted reasonable crowds promotion from Europe/Africa Division 2 to Division 1 seems entirely possible with Ireland currently having two player hovering around 200 in the world (Louk Sorensen & James McGee) as well as another seeking to break into the top 300(Sam Barry) and a doubles player who is inside the top 200(James Cluskey). In addition to this there are several young players notably Peter Bothwell, John Morrissey & Daniel Glancy making their mark in junior, league & collegiate tennis. The key to Tennis Ireland hosting successful events would seem to be securing the strongest possible team something which could be aided by the second important aim of hosting a Challenger event.
The carrot for the players is obvious given the level of quality opposition in division 1. The drawback to Davis Cup Tennis would be the lack of payment for the players who may well be missing out on a rare cheque by opting to compete. Upgrading the Irish Open to a challenger event essentially trebling the prize money would most likely be enough of a carrot to field a strong Davis Cup as it would provide Ireland's two challenger players with a home tournament which could not hurt their ranking as well as providing an unlikely wildcard opportunity for those Irish players operating at Futures Tour level. FBD who have diligently supported the tournament in recent years would realize the likely increase in publicity, standard of play as well as the direct ticket income which could be developed from such a tournament could offer them more bang for their buck with an opportunity also becoming available for a second sponsor due to the scale of the tournament. A Challenger level tournament with a strong field and the right dates selected could attract a significant Irish crowd with Castleknock the club best equipped to cope with the demand. Events such as the Dublin Horse Show, Irish cricket internationals & the Morton Games provide proof that summer minority sports can prove popular in my opinion. Ultimately were 2 or 3 paid home events in a season to become a reality diversification of the venue would become a necessity in order to maximize the potential crowds. Taking a Davis cup tie to Limerick would seem to be the most risk free strategy for this scenario taking account of that city's reputation for supporting sport and that it is Sam Barry's home town. Irish players continuing to be successful would be an obvious reliance if spectators were to be realized however doing nothing only ensures a benefit is not taken. Doing something could yield a tournament which better equips Irish players financially & competitively for the tour , while also attracting visitors who would ordinarily never play in Ireland over the course of their career with the final possible advantage being the boost in Tennis Ireland's coffers.

Munster Cricket A Must For Cricket Ireland

2014-05-10T19:38:00.003-07:00

Mils Muliaina's confirmed transfer to Connacht Rugby the IRFU's development province combined with the disappointment of the Irish cricket teams second one day international against Sri Lanka being rained off further confirmed my belief that a fourth Interprovincial cricket team based in Munster needs to be made a priority if the sports potential in Ireland is to be properly maximised.

I'll explain myself. While I believe Connacht rugby does not and probably will never have sufficient grass roots rugby activity to support a professional rugby team to the same degree as the other three provinces they are very definitely a positive facet of Irish rugby as they provide the opportunity of professional rugby to those good enough within the province as well as an excellent development platform for those players outside of Connacht who are good enough for professional rugby but are not enjoying gametime in their own provinces. As well as improving the overall quality of the group Muliaina by playing in Connacht will develop their group of players in the same way Paul O'Connell , Brian O'Driscoll & Rory Best have in their respective provinces. The fact that Connacht are able to sign one extra non Irish qualified player compared to the other provinces and appear to have extra flexibility albeit with a smaller budget is also entirely positive for Irish rugby in my view as it gives those Irish players with Connacht a greater chance of success despite their obviously shallower resources.

Returning to cricket and the prospect of a Munster side competing in the interprovincials let me first of all say that what the Sri Lanka ODI being rained off magnified for me at least was the lack of top quality cricket our international cricketers plying their trade in Ireland face. The interprovincials which currently include three teams and are limited to Irish qualified players are the only current domestic opportunities where form can realistically be considered with International selection in mind. That many players particularly in Leinster but also in the other 2 provinces (the North West and the North) do not have the opportunity to compete due to their being too few games for rotation to be a realistic opportunity serves to limit international selection to a relatively small group of players. My opinion is that a 4th side 'Munster' could provide an opportunity for some of these players, Munsters best cricketers and if required could be topped up by professional cricketers playing in Ireland who are currently ineligible for the series.

There are several advantages to this proposal and they would most likely easily outweigh any potential drawbacks. Looking first of all at the infrastructure required there is a very obvious home ground for Munster Cricket that being the picturesque Mardyke ground (Pictured Above) the home of Munsters most Successful Club Cork County Cricket Club. Locating the team in Cork also has a number of advantages the first of which is that the city following for both hurling and association football (Cork City FC) is among the highest in those two sports in Ireland. The fact that Munster Rugby has in recent years copper fastened its commitment to Limerick may also present an opportunity to fill a sporting void. One other advantage which is entirely presumptuous is that Denis O'Brien a generous benefactor towards sport in this country (just ask Giovanni Trapattoni) hails from the city and already has strong links to cricket through his companies sponsorship of West Indies cricket. With RSA removing itself from cricket in Ireland at the end of the current year it may be the most important advantage listed so far. Finally having a firmer location in Cork would mean that the 4 largest urban centres on the island of Ireland are either the locations for or located close to (in the case of the North West Warriors) the 4 provincial sides something potential international sponsors are sure to be pleased with.

The sporting arguments for the side are also quite convincing. In recent years Munster underage sides have recorded sporadic victories over their provincial rivals. A senior side could potentially provide the motivation required to make these victories a little more than sporadic. Incidentally outside of Cork County's players many other formerly prominent Munster youngsters are now playing cricket in Leinster due to this being the only way they can currently access a higher class of cricket. Ruadhan Jones of Terenure and Cork Harlequins being one prominent example. Aside from these underage victories, Cork County Cricket Club are enjoying something of a purple patch having been promoted to Leinsters 2nd division as well as yesterday beating a North West side Donemana which included Irish international Andrew McBrine in the Irish Senior Cup. As discussed above some prominent underage cricketers are failing to get their game for their provincial teams similar to what occurs in rugby it may make sense for players like Shane Getkate to lineout for a Munster side. If further padding was needed the competition rules could be relaxed to allow non Irish qualifying professionals such as last years revelation Obus Pienaar to improve the quality on show in the competition as well as the standard of the 4th side. As with Muliaina in Connacht this could also improve the next crop of cricketers produced in Munster. That it would increase each teams fixtures by 50% should be seen as an advantage to everyone including the national selectors. Mentioning Graeme Smiths house in Cork, or Gary Wilson's Cork wife seems trivial compared to these positives.

In my opinion the potential drawbacks amount to the following. The cost of the team and the risk that the team could reduce the quality of the competition ,the potential increasing inter provincial fixtures may have on Cricket Ireland's relationship with clubs on the ground due to the availability of their best players & a fear of competing in other sports perceived territories. Of the above cost is the most understandable concern. Concerns about the appetite for the sport in the province should be seen as an opportunity and not a concern. Waiting till the 2016 season to enter the T20 competition could well be missing the boat for players both inside and outside Munster who either require some cricket or more cricket.

In any case if Cricket Ireland are serious(And I believe they are) about their Cricket For All mantra none of these reasons deserve to be a stumbling block.

Humility Is Not The Question

2014-05-04T12:45:00.001-07:00

Sipping on my espresso this morning (Or slurping tea if I was to live up to Stephen Jones Munster supporter caricature) I stumbled upon a minor internet storm. Mr Jones in a predictable enough move had wrote a piece suggesting Munster Rugby might ultimately benefit more from their defeat in the State Velodrome than the victory that never came.

His reasoning conveyed in a fairly blunt hap hazard fashion in my opinion was that Munster and their cohort of fans could benefit from another barren season in Europe primarily because they could do with a little more humility. This despite the fact that the province has in recent years become accustomed to record low international representation as well as not being victorious in Europe since 2008. Our keyboard warriors must be working Mr Jones too hard as in almost the same breath Jones criticized the underdog tag assumed by Munster fans in the south of France against what are the current European champions.

Jones contempt for Munsters jovial away support was barely contained as he attempted to argue that their vocal away support was uneconomic and had contributed to unrealistic expectations of the side. His assertion that individuals of quality both coaches and players have hightailed out of town quickly is wholly untrue also. That no example is given on the playing side reveals the empty vessel otherwise known as 'Stephen Jones pre report analysis'. His observation regarding the ability of this Munster team and in particular their back division fails to account for a side which are second both domestically and in European competition for the number of tries scored this season. His guess regarding Munsters poor recruitment in the backs can be routinely dismissed when one realizes Doug Howlett, Jean De Villier & Casey Laulala were not as good as they were supposed to be in Jones estimation.

Finally the fulcrum of the article appeared to suggest union controlled teams will shortly come to an end in Europe partially due to their immoral nature. Curiously private investment has failed spectacularly in both Wales and Australia 2 countries who like Ireland cannot support their own professional competition is naturally enough not mentioned. That Munsters finances are in poor shape is undeniable. That private investment is the best solution as opposed to improved marketing of league games and season tickets is ludicrous when one considers the basket case Welsh regional rugby has evolved into and the balance of income made from international rugby in countries like Ireland.

It seems there are 3 certainties in life, taxes, death & Stephen Jones producing drivel on a Sunday.

Impetus For European Expansion Still Lacking

2014-04-09T15:53:00.001-07:00

One of the arguments proffered by the PRL, the umbrella organisation of the English premiership rugby clubs is that the ERC have failed to properly spread rugby throughout Europe. While it is difficult to disagree with this suggestion it is worth noting that nothing from the PRL's governance suggestion, The Six Nations Committee to their proposals for financial distribution indicate that rugby nations outside of the big six in Europe would be any more sure of how to progress towards the top European Club Competition or indeed how to maximise the revenue they can make from European competition in the land of the Rugby Champions Cup.

Currently the Amlin Challenge Cup offers 2 places for non 6 nations countries, one being the Bucaresti Oak's a combination of the best club players in Romania and the second being either the champions of Spains Division of Honour or a Portugese team made up of the best domestic players called Lusitano's XV. The competition also includes the 4 best teams from Italy's Super 10 with all of these teams having extremely poor records against France and Englands weaker top division sides. On the face of it at least it seems the ERC have pushed the agenda of teams outside of the 3 most prominent league to a point where a neutral observer may opine that they have been a contributory factor in the downfall of the second competition.

With all of that in mind why would I suggest an expanded European Competition could be profitable? Put simply I don't believe the ERC have explored the possibility of expanding their competitions beyond the current frontiers correctly. Taking first of all the example of Romanian rugby the Bucaresti Wolves managed by the national coach Lyn Howells seems at first, second and third glance a poorly thought out solution to a country where professional rugby along with the general economy have made massive strides in recent years. Prior to explaining the benefits of selecting teams from Romania's Professional Rugby Championship for European Rugby let me explain why the Wolves despite some notable victories against Italian Super 10 sides are not the best solution. Within the National Championship Bucharest sides such as Dinamo, Steau & CSM have drifted backwards in terms of quality meaning that they do not form a significant part of the Bucaresti Side. This has a number of negative impacts on the side principally that rugby supporters in Bucharest fail to build a raporte with the side and also that the side do not train together as often as is required to gain the chemistry needed to succeed in a pan European club competition. The latter reason is key and as demonstrated by teams such as The Barbarians rugby is a game where team chemistry is more important than the sum ability of players.

Romanian club rugby at the highest level has begun to show signs that it could compete at least as well as some of the Italian Super 10 teams with the promise of a genuinely new financial market for the ERC or whoever governs the tournament next year. One of these signs is the reported budgets for the top 2 teams in the league RC Timisoara & Farul Constanta being north of €2.5 million per annum a similar level to many French Pro D2 clubs as well as clubs such as Connacht and Zebre. Similar to many French & English clubs their new found wealth is built on generous benefactors however the extra investment has resulted in an increase in interest in the local league as well as an improvement in the quality of those players and coaches signed by Romanian clubs. Chester Williams of South African World Cup Fame recently coached Timisoara to back to back titles. The competition these clubs play in also has a title sponsor CEC Bank & has recently begun to use Television Match Official's to adjudicate on key decisions similar to many of the top leagues. Crucially all games in the tournament are broadcasted on online stations or Romanian terestrial TV. One proposition in incorporating some of these clubs into European competition could be the formation of a league with Italy's Super 10 sides who have drifted backwards since Italian involvement in the Pro 12 . With a large Romanian diaspora in many of Italys rugby cities combined with cheap and short flights between the two countries a successful league aligned with a European Competition is less pie in the sky than many would believe.

Outside of Romania , professional rugby structures exist within Russia with massive budgets and the promise of international rugby attracting players from Super Rugby. While in Georgia forwards are exported to French Top 14 clubs every year without fail while the national team can attract crowds as big as 50,000 to their most important home internationals. In both of these cases geographical location as well as in Russia's case a particularly harsh winter have meant that introducing these powers of the East to club as well as (top level international rugby) has been considered to be too much of an organisational challenge rather than a growth opportunity. In addition to natural options such as these rugby is increasing its profile in several other European countries where with the correct competition structure and funding organic growth of professional rugby sides could easily occur. Belgium and specifically Brussels which has hosted the Barbarians as well as Heineken cup games has the potential for a successful franchise with the correct encouragement.

Alas the suggested route to competition for these clubs and potential clubs appears to be a qualifying tournament in September & October taking in teams from the 6 or 7 countries who may have a desire to enter European rugby's top flight with 2 moving on to feature in Europe's 2nd competition. The primary issue with this is the level of financial risk in terms of the considerable costs associated with travelling to compete in such a tournament compared with the reward where 2 teams are brought forward to compete with diluted and lowly ranked European clubs who will have already secured a much greater slice of the pie in terms of competition revenue. Consider the scenario of a Russian club travelling 4 time zones to Spain to compete in front of a few hundred in a 'Tournament' that will most likely not be given sufficient profile or prize money for a 1 in 4 chance of playing the Newcastle, Zebre & Bordeaux reserves with your expenses and time unlikely to be valued the same as those you are competing with.

The rich will seemingly get richer , while the poor or in this case the unaffected are liable to stay, well unaffected.

Cricket Ireland : What About Some Cricket

2013-12-20T18:38:00.001-08:00

As if looking to grow the popularity of cricket in Ireland (and shift €149 season tickets) wasn't a difficult enough task already, the Irish cricket team have been left in the position of having no firm home fixtures for the Summer of 2014.
There are various reasons for this but needless to say full members of the ICC do not have the same worries given that their fixtures both home and away are clearly mapped out up until 2020. Ireland on the other hand, who are undeniably the strongest associate team in all formats of the game given their 2013 treble are left relying on full members having the goodwill and appetite required for very few ranking point and some very competitive cricket in surroundings they may not be all that familiar with. Bangladesh's' initial interest and ultimate refusal to partially fill a six month gap in their calender in 2013 demonstrated the difficulty in coercing full member nations into tour Ireland. Other issues include being unable to televise games if the England Cricket Team are playing on the same day as well as managing the relationship with county championship clubs who employ many of Ireland's senior players. Regular home games against the elite global nations are crucial if Cricket Ireland are to take advantage of the ever increasing population of casual cricket fans in Ireland. A combination of 3 of the below would seem to be desirable this season.

1. India
High on the list of probables rather than possibles will be the number 1 ODI side in the world India. Given that they will be in the UK from Late June to early September, Cricket Ireland will certainly be enquiring about their availability to play in Ireland. India have previously played in Ireland in a one off ODI in 2007 and while this was poorly attended a repeat visit would likely see the highest match attendance of the season. One obvious drawback would be the condensed nature of their schedule as things stand(India are currently scheduled to play in Bangladesh in June). The main possibilities would seem to be one off games in either June or September. The most likely venue would be Malahide given the hugely successful attendance against England on a Tuesday last September. As with South Africa in 2012 a reserve side touring Ireland during the first teams tour of England may be a distinct possibility given the obvious advantages to the touring side.

2. Sri Lanka
As sure as night turns to day when a side is scheduled to tour England they immediately arrive on Cricket Ireland's radar in terms of suggesting fixtures. While Sri Lanka may not be the same draw as India to the average Irish cricket follower their current schedule leaves them in a more comfortable position to play a number of games in Ireland. The teams were scheduled to play a one off ODI in Edinburgh in 2011. Unfortunately this was rained off at the time with the Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan drawing the ire of some Irish players that day for seeming less than eager to play a game that day. The most likely suggestion from Cricket Ireland may be 2 to 3 ODI's in the final week of June. ODI's would seem preferential to T20's given that the one day world cup will be 6 months away at this point. Multi day cricket while desirable for Ireland has generally proven to be difficult to arrange with full members due to the lack of advantages to the full member team, Ireland's inability to field county based players and the daily cost of hosting the touring side.

3.Pakistan
Pakistan 'Friend of the Associates' will most likely be contacted by Cricket Ireland given their fixture less 6 months from April through to September and their previous willingness to tour Ireland, play games on a weekend and visit local schools for coaching sessions. The exciting finishes to the games played last year as well as the colour and noise of the Pakistani supporters would surely attract an even larger crowd should a tour be agreed. The obvious downfall would be the cost of such a tour. Last year the games were arranged immediately after a Pakistani tour of the West Indies. With no such tour currently existing to cushion the travel costs projected revenues would need to be larger. A workable solution may be arranging a European tour involving the Netherlands and Scotland (Both of whom lack fixtures) for the Pakistani team thus dividing the cost of the tour to a more manageable level. 2 ODI's & a T20 in Ireland followed by an ODI in each of Scotland and the Netherland may prove profitable to all concerned. But what would Pakistan say...

4.Bangladesh
With Bangladesh due to tour the West Indies during the month of August a short series of Warm up games in July or alternatively a stopover en route to Asia in September ala Pakistan in 2013 may be a genuine possibility. Intriguingly the North West Cricket Union who had been earmarked to host Bangladesh in 2013 have moved their cup final forward by one weekend with the rumour locally being that this is to accommodate an International fixtures. Could that be the return of the Bangladeshi's. To those who fully understand the current plight of Cricket Ireland this tour would be as exciting as they come given the opportunity to knock off a full member. Conspiracy theorists would have you believe playing Ireland in a 50 over match wouldn't tickle their fancy much. Hopefully those theorists are wrong. Should a tour be arranged 2 ODI's and 1 T20 or vice versa would seem most likely. The venue for such games could well be Bready.

5. New Zealand
While the Kiwis are due to tour in the West Windies in June & July a stopoff in Ireland either on the way to or the way back seems highly unlikely. Having only played the Blackcaps once outside of World Events in Aberdeen in 2008 no real relationship or rivalry has ever been developed on the cricket field at least. Given that the Kiwis will be coming off a long West Indies tour as well as their own bumper home schedule rest and recuperation will most likely be their teams orders come the end of July.

6. Scotland & The Netherlands
Although not the first choice for many punters, given the fact that all three teams may well be without fixtures tri-series could easily prove attractive to the coaching set ups if no one else. One peculiar advantage would be county players lack of availability for the fixtures could provide Phil Simmons an opportunity to cast his eye over some of the talents on the edge of the setup. Another advantage would be to schedule a game in the first class format as a reminder to the ICC of where this team ultimately wants to play.

7. Zimbabwe
The phrase 'Wild Horses Couldn't Drag Me Away' comes to mind when considering the possibilities of this tour. Only I mean Zimbabwe couldn't be dragged away from Zimbabwe. Despite a gap of 7 weeks in May and June a tour is highly unlikely given the current financial situation in Zimbabwe, the commercial unsuitability of the fixtures and the lack of sporting incentives for the Zimbabweans to comply. In this relationship the most likely fixtures may be in Harare at some stage in the future.

Beyond these 7 potential tours it must be said the prospects look slim. England who will most likely be in Ireland in 2015 for a game will be fulfilling their duty to associates in Europe against Scotland this year. In fairness their schedule is also jam packed. Australia and South Africa by virtue of the fact that they will not be in this hemisphere during the summer can almost certainly be ruled out. The West Indies who have been very generous to Ireland indeed this winter would almost certainly not be asked to tour all though they may well consider it in the future should Ireland continue to improve.

An extremely desirable fixture list may look something like this:

May
24/05 ODI/T20I vs Netherlands, Netherlands, Potential Attendance N/A (Tri-Series)
26-29 First Class vs Netherlands, Netherlands, Potential Attendance N/A (Tri-Series)
June
21/06 ODI Vs India , Malahide , Potential Attendance 10,000 (TV)
27/06 T20I vs Sri Lanka , Malahide , Potential Attendance 4,000 (TV)
29/06 ODI vs Sri Lanka , Malahide , Potential Attendance 4,000
July
23/07 ODI vs Pakistan , Stormont , Potential Attendance 2,500 (TV)
26/07 ODI vs Pakistan , Stormont , Potential Attendance 4,000 (TV)
August
16/08 ODI/T20I vs Scotland, The Mardyke, Potential Attendance 400 (Tri-Series)
18-21 First Class vs Scotland, Clontarf, Potential Attendance Cumulative 600 (Tri-Series)
September
04/09 ODI vs Bangladesh , Bready, Potential Attendance 1,500
06/09 ODI/T20I vs Bangladesh , Bready, Potential Attendance 3,000 (TV)

Mandatory Challenger's Must be Given Games

2013-06-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

One outcome from this weeks ICC's Annual Conference appears to be limiting the number of participants in the One Day and Twenty 20 to 10 team's with the 8 highest ranked teams in the world qualifying automatically for both competitions and the remaining 2 places being earned through qualification competitions.
All of this makes Irelands stated aim of being ranked in the top 8 of world ODI cricket by 2015 even more important. While in principle I have no major issue with the equity of such a qualification system (though I do believe the Twenty 20 competition should include 16 teams) the current fixture list makes changes in rankings between positions 12 and 8 and more especially 10 and 11 in ODI cricket about as likely as penguins migrating to Mexico or Bangladesh for that matter.
As long as Ireland and other associates are only scheduled to play themselves and rely on full member nations to accept fixtures which may impinge on their own funding or ranking, breaking into the top of eight of either game format will likely prove an impossibility for associate nations. What I'm referring to indirectly is the unwillingness of lower ranked full member countries to grant tours or host tours with associate nations which may have a detrimental effect on their own rankings and cases for future ICC funding. An example of this behaviour would be the Bangladesh Cricket Board's refusal in 2012 to include ODI's in their tour of Ireland and their outright refusal in 2013 to tour Ireland despite a gap in international fixtures of almost 6 months. Zimbabwe for their part have also consistently refused to tour or host Ireland an inexplicable situation given their own lack of fixtures on the future tours program. Cricket Ireland judging by the confidence expressed in their own media releases on the subject appear to have had the phone ring out one time too many when it comes to arranging fixtures with the two full members mentioned above.
A solution to the impasse which may suit full members and associates alike would be for tours with sides immediately above or below a ranked side to be mandatory within a 2 year period. These tours could be scheduled each August (when the ICC rankings are updated) but not necessarily in August with tours in the first year being given to sides ranked in even numbers and tours in the second year being given to sides ranked in odd numbers. A minimum of three ODI matches and one Twenty 20 International could be the suggestion with these mandatory fixtures occurring in years where major ICC one day competitions are not scheduled (eg. 2017,2018,2021,2022).
The carrot for a nation like Bangladesh would be that with breaking into the top 8 becoming more and more important fixtures against the team ranked directly above them could prove invaluable. Currently Bangladesh are not scheduled to play the West Indies the 8th ranked ODI side till 2018. For Zimbabwe the opportunity to move up through the rankings should they improve sufficiently should on paper at least prove attractive. For the ICC such a series could prove more attractive than some of the one sided games currently arranged while also making their rankings system a little more liquid and tournament qualification paths a little more principled. Unfortunately for the ICC it may also press a certain associates case for full membership.

My Lions 37

2013-04-01T14:39:00.001-07:00

With Lions coach Warren Gatland close to finalising his Lions touring party, April 20th the current date I felt the time was right to put my own head on the line by attempting to second guess the affable kiwi.
As per the title I am predicting a touring party of 37 based on the previous number selected in 2009 being seen as a relative success in terms of squad members being involved and the numbers required for the fixtures ahead. In hindsight Clive Woodward's decision in 2005 to select a squad of 44 has been cited as a mistake in the aftermath by some squad members who felt the larger than normal number put emphasis on the back trackers and the rest divide. The number selected will then likely be between 35 and 38 based on what Gatland feels he needs in each section. I've plumped for 37 with a breakdown of 2 full selections and an extra tighthead prop, loosehead prop, hooker, backrow, fly half, a scrum half and a utility back capable of filling in 11 to 15.
Considering first the main candidates for loosehead prop it appears to be a scrap for 3 slots between Gethin Jenkins, Cian Healy, Paul James, Ryan Grant and Joe Marler with Andrew Sheridan of Toulon potentially upsetting the international applecart. My starter taking account of International and club form would be Irelands Cian Healy followed closely by Paul James with an exception also being made for Andrew Sheridan who if selected is liable to miss the opening game of the tour in Hong Kong due to the Top 14 playoff's. James should make the plane in my view for the impressive nature of his cameo's in the 6 nations particularly in the final game against England. Sheridan despite the practicalities gets the nod from me due to the trees he has consistently pulled up in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup with Toulon.
Moving to hooker Gatland's own former playing position 3 players are likely to be selected with the 3rd the most difficult to convincingly adjudicate over. In my mind Richard Hibbard and Rory Best find themselves streets ahead of the competition with the battle left for 3rd choice hooker at least at the beginning of the tour. The two most heavyweight candidates remaining are Dylan Hartley, Tom Youngs and Matthew Rees with Tom Youngs getting the nod due to his strong abilities in the scrum and around the park . Pushed for a starter I believe Hibbard will edge everyone based on his superior throwing stats this six nations.
Tighthead prop in the northern hemisphere is primarily seen as a man whose main role is to hold up the scrum and do damage within that sphere where possible. Against an Australian team who enjoy moving the ball wide each man will need to contribute in ball carrying as well as to show discipline in ruck situations. With this in mind Adam Jones seems certain to feature ahead of Euan Murray of Scotland with either Dan Cole or Mike Ross following up the rear. I'll Plump for Cole who is more of a running threat and concedes less penalties than Ross. A strong Heineken Cup campaign may push Cole higher in the pecking order however as of today I have him 3rd in line.
Second row may well prove to be Gatlands toughest call with competitors from all countries in line for the four spots. A quick and dirty list includes former captain Paul O'Connell, captain elect Alun Wyn Jones, ball carrying sensations Richie Gray and Joe Launchbury and two solid as rocks lineout competitors Donnacha Ryan and Jim Hamilton. In a mix and match type consideration of the options I would plump for O'Connell starting alongside Alun Wyn Jones with Jim Hamilton and Joe Launchbury making up the group. Ryan is incredibly close to all of the players selected and would undoubtedly be the next cab off the rank were the squad a 38 man squad.
Backrow is an area Gatland has acknowledged there is almost too much talent and leadership at his disposal hence the allocation of an extra spot. The Welsh trio of Tipuric, Warburton and Faletau are sure to make the squad with currently crocked flanker and last years player of the championship Dan Lydiate also odds on. The other slots in my opinion should go to Sean O'Brien, Chris Robshaw and Scotland and Montpellier number 8 Johnnie Beattie also making the cut. My starters are Robshaw, Faletau and Warburton with O'Brien providing the impact from the bench.
Moving to the backs and a tussle and a half for Gatland to decide on at scrum half. Prior to the 6 nations Ben Youngs seemed to be in pole position with England colleague Danny Care also pushing hard. The emergence of Greig Laidlaw, Conor Murray and the resurgence of Mike Phillips have muddied the water slightly though with the England pair and Murray having the benefit of a Heineken Cup quarter final to push their cause further there may still be further changes to the final 3. For what it is worth I think Ben Youngs will be the starting lions scrum half ahead of Mike Phillips and Conor Murray. The selection of Murray ahead of Laidlaw is a tight call with Murrays penchant for yellow card making closer still. The Munster youngsters running threat combined with his own ability to act as a playmaker helping him to edge it for me.
Fly half has Jonathan Sexton a player who if he stayed fit had the potentially to dramitacally improve Irelands final position in the 6 Nations. Next best for me are Owen Farrell and Dan Biggar with the latter particularly underrated and definitely deserving of a squad spot in my view. Pushed for an alternative I would pick Toby flood a truly solid footballer.
Moving to inside centre a position where strong competition is lacking. My picks are Brad Barritt who after 3 games had more tackles than any other back in the 6 nations and Jamie Roberts who has proven ability at the highest level. Barritt to start initially here and prove an important defensive weapon for the tourists.
At 13 it is difficult to look past Brian O'Driscoll also my choice for captain. As a reserve I would chose Manu Tuilagi based on a cracking performance against New Zealand in November and for several more for Leicester throughout the last 2 seasons.
On the wing and based on known ability I feel Tommy Bowe deserves selection should he prove his fitness. His strike rate, game acumen and pace make him an outstanding asset. My other 3 wingers are Alex Cuthbert, George North and the wildcard of the group pending fitness Simon Zebo. Starting test wings are North and Cuthbert with Bowe and Zebo challenging vigorously throughout the tour. The remaining 3 slots are designated for 2 full backs and a utility back player. The first one of these is easily picked with kicker and full back supreme Leigh Halfpenny taking his place on the test team. In selecting a back up for Halfpenny I have reluctantly opted for England international Mike Brown ahead of Rob Kearney who has been ever so slightly flaky in his form this season.
My final position for the tour goes to Scot Stuart Hogg whose versatility from centre to wing to fullback combined with his current confidence make him my final squad pick .

Notable unfortunates : Rob Kearney, Donnacha Ryan, Greig Laidlaw, Tim Visser, Ben Morgan, Alex Goode, Gethin Jenkins, Jonathan Davies.

Final Numbers
Squad
Wales - 14
Ireland- 9
England- 10
Scotland- 4

Test team
Wales - 8
England - 3
Ireland - 4

A Time For Change?

2013-02-24T14:53:00.000-08:00

There are many uncertain results from Sunday's 12-8 loss to Scotland during which Ireland enjoyed (A poor choice of words maybe) 71% of possession and 77% of territory.
They might include a sizable reduction in the Irish Lions Summer touring party, a fall in the expected revenue made in Edinburgh pubs from Irish punters post match and the notion of a wooden spoon may have entered Irelands players minds for the first time in over a decade. On the other hand two certainties have emerged Declan Kidney's contract will not be renewed by the IRFU when this championship ends and Ireland will not be the winners of this years 6 nations. The former certainty Kidney's future as coach may not be a certainty in the truest sense of the word however as truism's go it must be quite close now.
The Corkman's role has been under scrutiny since last years championship in some quarters due to an uninspiring win ratio which bares no resemblance to the Irish provinces performances in both the Rabodirect and Heineken Cup competitions in recent seasons. That's not to say the players haven't a share of the blame to accept. Today knock-on's, failures at the lineout, poor penalty kicking and a wobbly scrum all combined to cause a loss which should never have happened. Ultimately though in my opinion the failure to plan for placed goal kicking is what caused the defeat and where the coach is most culpable today. With almost 60% of this season's tournament points to date coming from the boot failing to ensure his chosen fly half was on place kicking duty for his club last week in a league game with Zebre combined with the lack of an alternative kicker in the starting fifteen or outside of the replacement fly half meant those points were not ones Ireland or hapless captain Jamie Heaslip could rely on. Paddy Jackson ball in hand actually contributed handsomely to an Irish performance which had more line breaks than in either of the preceding fixtures however stepping up to the kicking tee he looked shaky as he has done recently when put in that position by Ulster. Arming Jackson with a backup kicker like outside back Fergus McFadden may have freed the young Ulsterman from the notion that the winning and losing of the game rested on his shoulders earlier. Even preparing novice kickers like Conor Murray or Rob Kearney for the eventuality that they should take over kicking duties would have been preferable to the events of today. Of course that may have been the case. The hesitancy around kicking for goal in the first half particularly makes me think it wasn't. While kicking points isn't quite everything in rugby, it has added significance in six nations rugby and ultimately scoring those three pointers often creates the gaps in teams struggling to keep up on the scoreboard leading to tries in the second half of games.
Almost every team reaches a point where a new influence is required. The coach to his credit by bravely changing the captain and coaching staff as well as adding a sports psychologist to the staff has tried to keep things fresh in camp. By introducing new players he has also ensured that the team has begun a transition which I believe will ultimately serve them well. Unfortunately results haven't followed quickly enough and change will now be necessary. There should be no shortage of candidates for the top Irish job though a coach may not necessarily need to be in situ until the Autumn internationals. The fact that Kidney only the second grand slam winner in Irish rugby history's contract is due to expire in May will please the money men in the IRFU with current favourites Conor O'Shea having one year remaining on his contract and Mark McCall having two.
Hindsight may well be twenty twenty when throwing the magnifying glass over a one score international defeat. All things considered though Ireland are now suffering from kidney failure.

2013 may prove year of Evolution for Cricket Ireland

2012-12-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

Since 2007 and Ireland's qualification for the super eight section of the world cup the Irish cricket team has lived on a slow upward curve which has generally included 2 or 3 games a season against the games full member nations.
Following persistent lobbying by the impressive Warren Deutrom and his Cricket Ireland board to the ICC funding has been secured for the most impressive outlay of international fixtures yet accompanied by the first season of a domestic provincial system intended as the first step on Ireland's journey towards test cricket. Undoubtedly this season provides many challenges which if overcome successfully can convert the way Cricket is thought of in Ireland for the next ten years.

The toughest task which will be caused on the back of a season full with fixtures may well be maintaining Ireland's players relationships with their counties something which has been predominantly good for those players playing abilities over the last few years. Warwickshire's refusal to release their players to play in the Bangladesh Premier League in the January off season combined with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club's stance of not allowing their players compete in the upcoming Indian Premier League show English counties are less and less willing to see their players make fleeting contributions to the club over the course of a season because of other commitments. International releases are of course mandatory for English Counties however the lack of substantial compensation to the club for their loss may well prove to be a sticking point this year above others. The current set of fixtures include a tour of the UAE in March and the Netherlands in July as well as another trip to the Emirates in October for the WT20 2014 qualifiers with home fixtures either being organised or finalized against Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Scotland and England. The probable fixtures include a minimum of 4 first class matches (UAE, Australia, Netherlands & Scotland), 9 One Day Internationals (UAE, Pakistan, Netherlands, Scotland & England) as well as potentially 10 T20 internationals between a series against Bangladesh and World Cup qualifiers in October. While some of these fixtures may well fall outside of the English domestic season(Something which still irks the counties) many do not meaning players could spend as much time with their Irish teammates as their county their primary paymasters this summer. While as EU citizens Irish players will always be attractive to county clubs, a high volume of International fixtures inevitably makes them less attractive. Some negotiations may be required behind the scenes to ensure Irish players continue to earn contracts in England with potential solutions including financial compensation or as adopted by the Argentinean rugby union team for their recent internationals agreeing to not use players in certain games where the greater benefit would be to their clubs. Luckily cricket administrators in Ireland have already shown themselves to be skilled negotiators in this regard.

Aside from this, the headache of where to play the upcoming internationals exists. The three strongest provinces have upgraded facilities at their best clubs with the aim of eventually hosting internationals. The fact that temporary seating is required at all facilities means that concentrating games at one venue and hence keeping it ready is what is likely to be most beneficial for the union but unsatisfactory to the various clubs. A venue or two similar in appearance, shape and capacity to perhaps the Brandywell in Derry the home of Derry City FC which coincidentally once held cricket games would prove a suitable solution and maybe what is ultimately planned for Malahide. My opinion is that despite the potential gains of showing cricket in Ireland to a wide audience one strong venue with permanent seating will be required to maximize revenues and minimize costs going forward.
These natural growing pains will in time be replaced by problems such as team selection, results and weather but will hopefully transform the administrative requirements around the Irish Cricket team forever.

Sonny Bill's Millions

2012-12-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

Growing up something of a sports nut involved switching the sport I played most every 6 months with the result that I reached the dizzy heights of average in some sports while dismally failing to in others.
Currently I have a hopefully not too short lived obsession with bowling of the ten pin variety and though I view it as my second last chance to become a professional ( darts being my last ) I'm no more than average and some might argue a little below that marker. Anyhow I digress Sonny Bill Williams incessant code hopping may wind purists of his various sports up to a potentially unhealthy level but to me its magnificent given the difficulty involved in balancing his commitments and his successes in the face of the challenges offered by his respective sports.

It's true that there are plenty of other dual sports stars today with boxing often being a common denominator however few if any have done so by juggling current commitments in the manner Sonny seems to have managed while also emerging with the successes he would have targeted. His value to sport can be seen in the deals he has been able to negotiate with what are normally quite pernickity employers. Take for example his relationship with the NZRU, a conservative union who have steadfastly refused to show flexibility towards allowing their internationals play club rugby outside of New Zealand with the logical exception of Dan Carter who was given a six month sabbatical in France with Perpignan. Sonny Bill's experience flies in the face of that experienced by other players. Firstly he was given his international debut having only played in the ITM cup as opposed to the higher stand of Super Rugby reserved for most debutants. Secondly his contract with the Union allowed him two professional boxing fights per annum a brave decision given the injuries which can be suffered in boxing. Finally based on the preferences expressed by the player he seems to have a verbal which would allow him a pathway back to the All Blacks jersey prior to the 2015 World cup. His dealings with the NRL are just as fascinating when one considers the cloud under which he left the sport previously (abandoned a signed 5 year contract with Canterbury Bulldogs to play in the Top 14 in France with Toulon). His current deal a one year contract signed because of a handshake agreement three years ago comes off the back of a 12 week cash rich spell in Japan something other NRL players like Benji Marshall have tried but failed to negotiate with the NRL. Add in the very honest lack of enthusiasm shown by Sonny towards the sport of Rugby League in the press conference welcoming him to his new club and how both parties agreed to the deal becomes difficult to understand except for the fact that it is Sonny Bill Williams. Whether he opts to try and win the Rugby League World cup with New Zealand in 2013 also appears uncertain currently due to his boxing commitments though this could change.

Boxing the sport he has stuck without throughout the code hopping described above seems to benefit from each of his switches and provided he carries on winning fights will benefit from future switches. Each move boosts his profile in that country or that sport and generally converts to extra Pay Per View TV sales for his bouts. Initially the quality of some of his opponents were described as doormen and not professional boxers in some quarters however his next fight against Francois Botha a man who has faced both Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis is a considerable step up in class and shows that he does have the ambition to face a Klitschko or the equivalent some day. Between now and then Williams will no doubt look for challenges which will create the right legacy. A return to Rugby Union possibly in Europe seems likely however the AFL( Australian Rules Football) may also be an option should he look in other directions. Say it quietly but a couple of seasons as a linebacker in the NFL(American Football) could also provide the type of exposure, sporting challenge and financial reward Williams looks for when deciding on a sporting pursuit. Like him or hate him the next six years should be as interesting as the last.

Celtic and the Promised Land

2012-11-11T10:13:00.001-08:00

Victor Wanyama head's the opening goal for Celtic against Barcelona

Back in 2005 the year before my leaving certificate I had quite a time comsuming obsession, basically qualifying Irish clubs like Bohemian's or Cork City FC to the Champions League Group Stages on to the knock out stages and ultimately towards winning the tournament via the famous Football Manager portal.
The idea of doing well with an English Premiership club didn't seem out of the ordinary enough and I wanted to try something a little different. Back then the challenges were clear, attracting players of sufficient quality and experience to compete in Europe, generating crowds large enough to feel at home in European competition and most importantly developing a system where players could dramatically lift their workrate from domestic competition and win games against Europe's elite with as little as 20% possession. I also had the challenge of summer football and problems associated with drinking too much coffee but lets leave those aside for now. The conclusion of the exercise if you could call it that was repeating the trick season after season was not possible as the economy known as football would always drive my best players away from the club.

Celtic's performance in beating Barcelona with a paltry 11% possession reminded me of those heady virtual days though Neil Lennon didn't have the comfort of being able to re-load the game if he got his tactics wrong as happened me on so many occasions. Focusing on the Bhoy's performance the achievement becomes more incredible when one considers the gulf between the financial cost of the teams in wages and the respective annual revenues of the clubs. Dig deeper and consider the standard of competition Celtic face in the SPL each week and the elevation in quality required to defend with discipline and timing against Barcelona for 90 minutes and score two goals is more understandable. To put the standard of the league in context the four other teams who qualified for Europe were eliminated this season by the end of August.

Provided Celtic can secure a draw in match five, the club will most likely guarantee themselves a pot of about €20 million and 2 games in the prestigious last 16 round in February all in a season where they will probably have lacked a domestic competitor capable of keeping them on their toes. The challenge ahead will be understanding how far a club with Celtic's resources are capable of travelling and when the glass ceiling will kick into place and push them back down. Since television money and billionaire owners have flocked to Europes biggest leagues in Spain, England, Germany and Italy clubs outside of these leagues without ridiculous non-revenue resources have struggled to avoid yo-yo ing once they reach the pinnacle of their clubs abilities. FC Porto a club of similar size to Celtic endured something of a shrink effect after winning the Champions League in the 2004 season losing their manager and several of their best players that Summer. Other large clubs from relatively minnow leagues such as PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht and Marseille are also familiar with the negative ramifications of an outstanding season. The challenge for Lennon who undoubtedly loves the club will be keeping hold of Celtic's most important players with the foresight that they probably cannot be replaced with players of equal quality due to the difficulty in attracting players to the SPL in the first place. If that fails Celtic as a football can either accept that consistently challenging in European footballs premier competition is an impossibility in their current position or openly admit that a pan european domestic league is in the clubs best interests.

Irish Rugby's Latest Foreign Legion

2012-11-07T14:26:00.004-08:00

Rugby supporters this writer included have often privately sneered at the lack of impact football at grass roots level has on the fortunes of the Irish national football team.
The more than occasional mercenary pulling on the green jersey for career reasons rather than any reliving of a childhood dream has generally been seen as fair game when putting down Robbie Keane and his band of merry men. These November international's will see those silent sneers turn full circle as a man who prior to two weeks ago had never set foot in Ireland or in all likelihood thought about playing for Ireland.
Having played professionally in New Zealand's ITM cup as well as the Super 15 Michael Bent is now viewed as something of a saviour for Ireland's tighthead void given the manner in which he has been parachuted into the squad. For as long as most supporters can remember tighthead has been a one international class player position for Ireland as it is now with 33 year old Mike Ross. Bringing Bent into the fold prior to playing for his provincial team may seem a desperate move however in truth Ireland's other fit number three's have already been given plenty of opportunities to prove their ability and have so far failed with the possible exception of John Andress of Worcester Warriors who has played regularly this season.
The drawbacks of the decision relate to the message it send's to amateur coaches around Ireland focused on producing Ireland's next tighthead. There are already 8 non-Irish props playing professionally in Ireland and this will be seen as a further blow to those Irish players still hoping for provincial game time in the position. Of course on the flip side Kidney by selecting Bent is sending out a message that what is available to him in Ireland currently isn't good enough and he will take radical decisions in pusuit of a higher world ranking.
To be fair Ireland as a rugby nation has plenty of credit to use in the area of naturalizing players and the grandparent rule when compared to other European countries notably England and Scotland. Worryingly enough though the IRFU's website contains an Irish Exiles section that states the unions interest in players who have played professional rugby and qualify for Ireland even though they may not have come through the Irish rugby system. As I've stated above the decision to play Bent as a standalone case is justifiable. To allow it to set a precedent for further players with similar backgrounds is what might not be acceptable to the Irish rugby public and may ultimately affect the marketability of the team.

A Solution for European Club Rugby

2012-10-24T14:53:00.001-07:00

English and French clubs displeasure with the current qualification format for the Heineken Cup is perfectly understandable that's my honest point of view.

Mark McCafferty chief executive of premiership rugby has definitely been far too blunt in his approach thus far while many of the Anglo-French clubs especially those south of the English Channel have superior financial muscle to their Rabo colleagues and yet there still is a convincing case for change in European rugby's premier cup. As things stand clubs from the Rabodirect competition are considered to be far fresher in Heineken Cup games given that their primary focus in a season is a maximum of nine games against Europe's elite. Add to the mixture the fact that the European cup provides on average only 20% of a French Top 14 clubs annual revenue compared to the 80% estimate for Irish, Scottish, Italian and Welsh clubs and the reason for the priorities of clubs involved in the competition becomes obvious.
Top 14 and Premiership Rugby's main concerns aside from consistently losing to Irelands provinces revolve around the current qualification format which has 10 of 12 Rabo clubs qualify automatically for Europes premiership competition while prize money from the tournament is weighted heavily in favour of clubs in the Rabodirect due to the fact that most of the prize fund is divided equally amongst the member countries as opposed to competing clubs. Of these issues I believe having clubs from 6 countries is what is most appealing about the Heineken Cup so negotiation on qualification should be limited. The current funding structure deserves to be looked at on the basis that Rabo clubs are heavily subsidised under the current system. Healing the lack of sponsorship and excitement in the Rabodirect League should provide a more balanced European competition which will continue to grow at its current rate if not faster with all clubs happy to be part of the competition and striving to win it.
What I believe needs to be added to the Rabo is relegation something which will ultimately add prestige to winning a competition with 2 divisions of competitors. In order to have a relegation promotion system a minimum of 20 clubs would be required compared to the current 12 many of whom attract paltry home attendances regularly. Climbing to 20 though not easy would also allow for the creation of a meaningful cup competition between teams in 2 divisions who might otherwise not play each other very often.
Given the frequency with which clubs such as Saracens and Biarritz are playing home games outside of their home countries my opinion is that many of these locations could form the basis of the extra teams required with the Welsh and Italian unions having the option of an extra franchise if they so wish. Air travel in Europe today means that there is no reason Bucharest a genuine rugby stronghold should not be invited. Currently Bucaresti Oak's a team comprised of Romania's best domestic players have not disgraced themselves in the Amlin Challenge cup, they would be likely to grow again with a genuine season ahead of them. Other countries who could benefit from a genuine regular season include Spain whose clubs have continuously attracted internationals from second tier nations as well as other seasoned rugby professionals. My view is that a combination of grass roots players and other professionals could produce teams as competitive as the current Italian franchises. Belgium and Germany may also be capable of providing one franchise each given the fact that both countries have produced players capable of competing in the Top 14.
In such a circumstance qualification for the Heineken Cup would be determined by playing in the top division with the 10 other clubs making up a slightly extended Amlin. The advantage to French and English clubs being that they are facing clubs with competing priorities as opposed to the seemingly sole objective of today's system as well as the opportunity to play important games in new countries were their clubs to qualify . The advantage to Rabo clubs would be a more credible season of fixtures for supporters considering purchasing a season tickets as well as the potential of new TV markets were the new structures to be successful. Qualification for the Heineken should still be eminently achievable if like the naysayers might argue that the 2nd level of the competition containing teams utterly lacking in competitiveness. For rugby at large the advantages of the extensions could be incredible. Firstly in narrowing the gap between the tier 2 and 3 nations selected to compete and the 6 nations country but also in providing another avenue to professional rugby for players.
There are plenty of reason's why this might not be a success finance and fear of relegation chief among them . My hope would be that national associations, the IRB and outside investment could sufficiently subsidize the project enough to take it off the ground. TV backing and bums on seats could then dictate the success of the venture. It may be a risk but it might just be worth it.

Golf: What does a Ryder Cup win really mean for European golf

2012-10-14T15:22:00.002-07:00

Martin Kaymer's nerveless putt to retain the Ryder Cup may have quietened forty odd thousand rowdy American golf fans as well as lifting the spirits of his European teammates and inspirational captain Jose Maria Olazabal but another Ryder cup victory for Europe looks unlikely to improve the lot of professional golf in Europe.

While European players continue to dominate world rankings(4 of the current top 10 are European) the European Tour or 'The any Golf Event outside of the US' as it could more accurately be described continues to recede. Of the victorious Ryder cup team Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Peter Hanson, Graeme MacDowell and Sergio Garcia base themselves exclusively in the US playing with Lee Westwood due to join the majority when he sells his Worksop home in November. Most play a regular season which involves playing golf in Europe no more than four times in a season a far cry from five years ago when a European playing regularly on the PGA tour was a rarity. The respective schedules of Europes top professional's is a combination of lax rules regarding maintenance of European tour membership in comparison to stricter membership rules across the pond on the US tour as well as the significant sponsorship, finance and weather in the States.
The European tour currently requires each player to participate in 13 events something all 12 of the current team have to do to be considered for selection. On paper this may seem like a significant portion of their diaries however when one considers that these can include the four majors and four World Golf Championships as well as the Ryder Cup from 2013 on wards maintaining membership of the European tour doesn't seem quite so tricky. On today's European Tours the most prestigious events actually occur in the middle east and further afield meaning playing golf in Europe is something which can be avoided if that's what your accountant suggests. The US tour on the other hand forces players to play 15 events to keep their tour cards and while including the same 8 events as the European tour, PGA bosses in Florida can take solace in the fact that 6 of these events are played in the US already. While finance ensures Europe's finest will be attracted to the states, relatively easy rules are making it easier for players to have a token membership of the European tour.
Tour officials in Surrey would rightly point to the economic climate in Europe as the reason it is so difficult to attract top sponsors to European events, I would argue that the weak field in terms of the lack of frontline Ryder Cup players is the reason the prize money on offer is currently too low. Essentially if the best players in Europe were showing up more frequently prize money would rise given the increased exposure these players offer to tournament sponsors. Finance has stayed strong and even increased in football and rugby so why should it collapse so dramatically in golf. Increasing the number of events required to maintain membership may seem a high risk strategy however it is almost certainly one worth taking given that Europe's Ryder cup heroes add very little to regular European tour events as things stand. Doing this would at least give sponsors the chance of attracting a Ryder cup player to their event assuming the players named above decide to stick with the tour. Given how important the Ryder cup is to players surely they wouldn't forego the opportunity to play in it. Maybe the Ryder Cup victory can propel golf in Europe after all.

Rankins International Retirement

2012-09-26T14:45:00.001-07:00

Boyd Rankin bowling at the recent T20 qualifiers in March

Imagine if Shane Long in order to secure a new contract with West Brom was required to retire from international football or Tommy Bowe when considering a new contract offer with the Ospreys was encouraged to concentrate solely on club rugby going forward.
Both ideas seem preposterous and in truth its very difficult to find an accurate comparison to the fast bowlers recent retirement from Irish duties in order to concentrate on his test ambitions with England. The only other team sport to my mind where it is possible to swap one nation for another mid career is rugby league a sport which truthfully puts more effort into its club competitions than its international competitions.
The suspicion and that is all that it is is that Warwickshire County Cricket Club Rankin's club have flexed their muscles here is not without substance and has been on the cards since Rankin returned from International duty in April injured. Ashley Giles Warwickshire's director of cricket and also a selector with the England team was quoted as saying at the time "It's extremely frustrating that we've lost Boyd to this kind of injury, but he has had an extremely large workload over recent months''. Rankin who had played with the England Lions (A reserve England team) as well as Ireland was clearly being advised to curtail his commitments outside of Warwickshire. Upon signing a new three year contract with Warwickshire several months later Rankin was quoted as saying “Hopefully sometime in the future I’ll be able to play for Ireland again'' as well as referring to the debacle he might face had he sought a contract elsewhere "But the first question that kept cropping up was, 'Are you still going to play for Ireland?' I think I would have been in the same situation wherever I went. I would have had to retire from Ireland to give England a good shot'' both suggesting an understandable reluctance to leave the Irish team even if it made financial sense to do so. Essentially Rankin was told that he could only be supported in pursuing International cricket with one team outside of county cricket if he was to sign a new contract and given Giles position with England and the fact that over 20% of Warwickshire's income comes directly from the ECB only one team was ever likely to come out on top.
Focusing solely on the cricket element of the decision Rankin is definitely a player naturally suited to the longest form of the game given his county championship form and the fact that he is not selected for either of his county's one day teams. He is also a player who could be described as injury prone something which is often the case for fast bowlers in the longest form of the game. However given the fact that playing for Ireland offers Rankin exposure to differing conditions and world class batters it is far from certain that leaving behind his Irish team mates will aid his hope of becoming an England regular something he will need to become in order for the decision to be seen as a wise one give the implications one England cap would have. Were he to be selected for a test against New Zealand in February and no other afterwards Rankin would be ineligible for Ireland for four years under current ICC rules potentially stranding the player in county cricket for the foreseeable future. One suspects taking account of Boyd's decision and Giles role in contract negotiations that at least one cap is on offer . Whether Rankin can do enough to convince England selectors that he is a better medium term prospect than younger players like Steven Finn, Stuart Meaker and James Vince in one to two games is open to debate. That it would be in Warwickshire's interest for the player to be ineligible for Ireland is unquestionable.
The tragedy of this episode for Ireland is the fact that Rankin has yet to be selected for England as was the case with previous retiree's Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce. The fear is that Ireland's best players are being paid indirectly by the ECB and that hamstringing Ireland once a player has developed sufficiently in international cricket through emotional and financial blackmail is no longer off limits. Extra international fixtures and a stronger domestic setup can't come quick enough for the Irish.

Liverpools Ex-Striker Dilemma

2012-09-03T15:42:00.001-07:00

With the release of both Andy Carroll and Nathan Ecclestone and the most disappointing start to a season in fifty years it has become apparent that Liverpool will need at least one extra forward primarily as a bench player who can offer some impact from the bench.
This situation was accelerated at the weekend with the only attacking alternative to the trio of Borini, Suarez and Sterling being the much maligned and truthfully limited Stewart Downing. Whoever's fault this problem is seems unimportant now as Liverpool fans frantically consider short term transfer options to fill the gap. One name a certain Michael Owen is continually mentioned as a possible stop gap however is Owen even the best ex Liverpool striker available on a free. There are at least three others former players looking for a deal. Here is the lowdown on the options available if a former player on a short term pay for play deal is in fact the way forward.

Michael Owen(32)
Hows his current form ?
Owen has been plying his trade with fierce rivals Manchester United generally as an impact option up front. last season Owen primarily because of injury but also due to falling out of favour with manager Alex Ferguson started only 3 games and came on as a substitute once with his last appearance coming in early February. His supporters would argue that he also scored three times in that period however his lack of sharpness and fitness concerns would leave Liverpool fearful of committing themselves to an expensive financial package who may have lost his passion for the game.
What would the Kop think ?
While there is plenty of hostility towards Owen due to his period at Manchester United a majority of Liverpool fans accept he joined United at a time when it was by far the best footballing and financial offer. Most remember him as a 20 goal a season striker and believe he still possess the composure to be an asset in Liverpool albeit from the bench.
How much will it cost ?
A 50k per week pay for play deal is what he commanded at Manchester United despite having a strong bargaining position it would be surprising if he could seek more than 35k per week.
Robbie Fowler(37)

Hows his current form ?
Fowlers last two seasons have been spent in Thailand and Australia. In Australia he was his clubs top scorer with 9 goals in 28 games while in Thailand he struggled to score goals consistently finishing the campaign with just 2. While at Liverpool he was the ultimate poacher and fan hero in reality at 37 years of age a third spell at Liverpool would seem a long shot.
What would the Kop think ?
As much as Liverpool fans love to reminisce most would recognize this as a bridge too far.
How much will it cost ?
Probably very little if the opportunity was considered. He's believed to have refused a 5k per game deal at Blackpool last year. 10k per week would seal the deal.

Harry Kewell(33)

Hows his current form ? Kewell has enjoyed a surprisingly injury free and fruitful number of years in both Turkey and the A-league in Australia. The last 2 years have seen Kewell score one goal in every three games played, quite an impressive statistic considering the deep lying position Kewell has often been employed. The standard of the leagues mentioned may be questionable however Kewell clearly believes he is playing well enough having cancelled his contract in Australia with the hope of gaining one last pay day in Europe. His enthusiasm for a contract has seen him recently go on trial at Stoke. The fact Pulis chose not to sign him up may play against him in the hunt for a contract with another premiership club.
What would the Kop think ?
Kewell is remembered as the original 'Sicknote' having registered only 93 appearances in a 5 year period. While Kewell's best days were undoubtedly before he joined Liverpool at Leeds United he still produced the occasional moment of flair which confirmed his undoubted ability and debatable application. Given the fans current despair a punt on Kewell would be cautiously welcomed by some but derided by the majority.
How much will it cost ?
Kewell's last contract contained no guaranteed remuneration instead relating to commercial revenue generated by his now former club. His eagerness to find a club suggests Kewell would accept an offer of around twenty thousand per week whether that is value for money is open to question.

Emile Heskey(34)

Hows his current form ?
Starting with the positives Heskey has been played premiership football since leaving Liverpool 8 years ago. Add in the fact that his style of play essentially a target man with strength who can hold off defenders and deliver a good final ball to quicker team mates like Borini or Suarez. While more renowned for his assists ratio last season Heskey scored only 1 goal in 29 games last season consequently not having his contract renewed. Remarkably he had zero assists. My opinion no matter how good his current conditioning clearly he has struggled at premiership level recently. Unless something has clearly changed for Heskey this Summer its difficult to compose an argument as to how he could positively affect Liverpool right now.
What would the Kop think ?
Heskey was a marmite type figure while at Liverpool some appreciated his unselfish contribution to the team while others queried his goal ratio. Honestly I think most Liverpool fans would accept the logic of the decision given his style of play and hard working nature. Whether they would have confidence in the move baring fruit is another thing.
How much will it cost ?
Its likely that Heskey due to his reasonable CV of club and international football will have opportunities abroad possibly to the tune of 30k per week. Would that be worth the risk right now for a player struggling for confidence?

Donegal mall Cork

2012-08-29T06:15:00.003-07:00

Paul Kerrigan concedes a free against Donegal

In my analysis prior to the game I felt Cork could possibly match Donegal for physical conditioning and point scoring ability and win this game by a whisker, I could not have been more wrong.
Donegal ultimately played the game with the kind of physical intensity and togetherness shown by leading lights in other sports such as the All Blacks and FC Barcelona ruthlessly punishing any mistakes made by an initially enthusiastic Cork team. The most impressive element of this tempo was the fact they were able to keep it up right to the final whistle. Aside from the obvious physicality on show Donegal in scoring 16 points, 11 from play showed the creativity rightfully doubted by many analysts since a somewhat dour performance against Dublin at the same stage last year. The combination of creative players such as Mark McHugh and Patrick McBrearty and proven finishers like Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy proved a deadly concoction which a tiring Cork defence were unable to cope with. A classy hard running performance from Rory Kavanagh was also vital to the Tir Chonaill mens success on the day.

Cork in reflecting on the game will acknowledge that while scoring some outstanding long range points through the mercurial talents Paul Kerrigan and Colm O'Neill were perhaps not direct enough in their efforts during the game. Despite going toe to toe with Donegal in the first half Corks attack often seemed overly pensive and the impression formed by many onlookers was that they were being forced to work too hard for the scores they did enjoy. The visible exhaustion on many of the Cork players at the fifty five minute mark will be a haunting memory for rebels boss Conor Counihan.

For Donegal and Jim McGuinness the dream of All Ireland success continues and this punter won't be found doubting them twice.

Preview :Cork vs Donegal

2012-08-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

Both Cork and Donegal impressed me in different ways in their respective All-Ireland quarter finals making this weekend semi final a fascinating encounter for the neutrals.
Taking Donegal's performance against Kerry first the facets of their game which enthused me most were the team and managements tactical awareness and the sheer physicality and determination of Donegal's players. I'll expand on that Donegal while a team with some outstanding individual footballers, Colm McFadden being my favourite are also a team acutely aware of their own limitations. Against Kerry the team appeared to start out with a more attacking formation than we are used to and after about ten minutes they reverted to their usual shape with a four point lead. The interesting thing about this switch was that Donegal clearly started the game knowing their chances of beating Kerry would be greatly reduced if they were ever significantly behind in the game so a quick start would be hugely important. Kerry via the long ball to Donaghy early doors were also equally aware that a quick start might be their best chance of emerging victorious. That Donegal seemingly executed this crucial 10 minute period so well is a testament to the determination and organisation of the team. The other area which impressed me about Donegal was their physical conditioning in lasting the seventy minutes against Kerry. GAA games do not offer a distance traveled technology however if it did I would be hedging a strong bet that Donegal's player were up to a kilometre on average ahead of their opponents by the end of the match. While Kerry's half forwards waited for quick ball Donegal's seemed to move from defence to attack and vice versa with every phase of play another example of McGuinness getting every ounce possible from each player available. It may be sacreligious to say this as a Clareman but there must be some co-efficient of the Crusheen hill in Donegal as thats what their efforts are reminding me of currently. In conclusion Donegal's performance against Kerry was an outstanding team effort. For sure there are talented individuals on the team like Murphy, McBrearty and Lacey but no two or three players will win them an all Ireland if that is what happens ultimately.

Cork on the other hand are littered with star players both on the team sheet and sitting on the bench behind Conor Counihan. Footballers like Aidan Walsh, Ciaran Sheehan and Paul Kerrigan are among the best in their positions in the country and a handful for any defender in a one on one situation. Simple analysis tells us Cork scored 2-19 against Kildare a high score against any team hitting very few wides. One aspect which impressed me with the next fixture possibly in mind was their ability to score frees from beyond the 45 and from both sides of the pitch. The teams physicality was also impressive against what is a well conditioned Kildare outfit. Perhaps the most impressive element was there dominance in midfield under kick outs. Throw in the fact that the team coped well with a 5 week fixture break and kept their cool during a couple of decent patches from Kildare and it was a very impressive performance.
Analysing this weeks match up the first thing that strikes me is that both teams will match each other for running during this game. Corks wing forwards were quick to track back against this Donegal team better than Kerrys set did in fact. The other area where Cork can improve on Kerry will be distance shooting from both play and placed balls. Against Kildare they were far more successful than Kerry were against Donegal and while conditions did deteriorate I still feel Cork on a sunny day in Croke Park can put up a score somewhere around 18 points especially with the strength of Kelly , O'Neill and Goulding on the bench. Coming back to Donegal the question will be can they do the same if the game turns into a higher scoring affair. Against Kerry only 2 of their starting forwards scored from play. In March when the 2 sides met it was a low scoring affair with Donegal coming out on top. McGuinness has shown this Donegal team to be unbeatable tactically when the score stays relatively low. I have no doubt Donegal will be victorious if the score stays low but with warm conditions promised and a Cork side used to putting up a score in Croker I feel Cork will come out on top here.....just.

Irish Sports Agents Making Positive Inroads

2012-08-17T11:09:00.001-07:00

Conor Ridge and Ross Fisher

The word agent has from time to time been seen as a dirty word in sport. Whether that's because of the presumed greed of premiership footballer's representatives when seeking their cut from a transfer or worse still stealing money directly from their clients.
As with almost every profession in the world including journalists there are good eggs and bad eggs and stories regarding the latter tend to attract more attention. Less than 15 years ago the notion of sports agents was very much in its infancy in Ireland however since then several individuals have taken huge steps forward to the point where they compete for the most important signatures in their specialist areas. Agents are crucial to their clients in terms of helping them maximize their income away from their sport as well as helping them manage their relationship with their sport and the general public. These three Irishmen seem to be doing a fantastic job for their athletes.

Conor Ridge.
Conor a native of Galway and former student in UCD cut his teeth in the sports agency business with Fintan Drury's sports management business Drury Sports Management. Conor worked mainly within golf in terms of player management as well as player organisation. While enjoying the experience Ridge has never been shy about declaring his ambition to have his own sports agency and since Jauary 2005 that is exactly what has happened. While initially open to athletes across several sports (track athletes Derval O'Rourke & David Gillick were among his first clients) Horizon have in recent years focused primarily in golf and on building up connections in almost every related industry for their clients. Beginning by managing up and coming Irish golfers like Colm Moriarty Horizon have gradually moved on to higher profile players from Graeme Mac Dowell and Ross Fisher to current World No. 1 Rory McIlroy. All three having transferred from higher profile agencies IMG and ISM to Ridges smaller stable. Beyond these three Ridge also boasts the likes of Gareth Maybin, Paul Cutler and Shane Lowry. Mac Dowell in particular has taken timeout at various points to praise Ridge's management saying after the announcement that McIlroy would be joining the team 'He’s got the experience and the corporate connections. He’s connected himself around the world with everyone and is well-respected in world golf. He has the credentials to manage a Rory McIlroy'. Conor in my view is very much a straight up business person who enjoys sport and working with people and this is clearly something which goes down well with his players. Ridge is clearly careful about ensuring any focus of attention is on his players and not himself unlike other high profile agents. An example of this is how the company website deliberately does not contain a list of players attached to the agency as a boast of how much of the sports industry he controls. Hes happy for his work to do the talking. His next stated aim is to break into the US and Asia and given his success in recent years its difficult to see him not achieving this.

Ricky Simms

Ricky Simms.
Former Irish International middle distance runner Ricky Simms is today director of one of the most powerful sports agencies in the world PACE Sports Management in London boasting the likes of Mo Farah, Moses Kipsiro and quite possibly the biggest sports personality in the world Usain Bolt. Describing himself as both a coach and agent Simms is well liked in the athletics world with Bolt who has known him since he was 16 describing him as close to a brother. Simm's success and connection building started as captain of Finn Valley athletic club in Donegal and continued via Sonia O'Sullivan to becoming top English coach Kim McDonald's right hand man at his sports agency. When McDonald passed away tragically in 2001 Simm's picked up the baton and has done a tremendous job of maintaining areas like Kenya where McDonald had a strong reputation as well as others such as Jamaica which is a relatively new frontier for the company. Simm's motto of helping runners on the track and allowing endorsements follow has been successful to the point where Simm's acknowledges he can pick and choose to a certain extent the talent in his group. Simm's to his credit has never forgot where he is from and has consistently brought his finest athletes to Ireland. An example of this being Mo Farah who has ran in Donegals Finn Valley Stephens Day Road race. Ricky has also confirmed there are plans for Bolt to visit whenever space exists in his schedule. With Kenyan's, Americans, Jamaicans, Canadians, Brits and Ugandan's part of his current group the only challenge which might remain is to develop an Irish athlete within the group.

John Baker

John Baker.
Baker is a little different to the aforementioned agents in that his focus is primarily in Ireland while at the same time stretched across several sports. Since 1997 and the formation of his company BSMG John has built a team jam packed with expertise for the various needs of his clients. While the majority of his portfolio are rugby players Baker also has a presence in cricket, golf, football and the GAA. On the rugby front his clients include Ireland-based Irish Internationals Paul O'Connell, Keith Earls & Shane Jennings. In addition to this Baker has professional rugby clients in France, England, Wales and Australia including several members of the emerging Russian national team. Outside of rugby Bakers focus has been on picking talent in a variety of sports who have the ability to go all the way to the top. Examples of these include Stade Rennais goalkeeper Niall Burdon and young go-carting champion Nicole Coffey. With 25 years experience and a reputation for being able to take care of every little thing John is sure to remain at the centre of the business in Ireland for some time.

Irish Cricket: Will The Next Eoin Morgan Switch

2012-08-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

Eoin Morgan at the crease for Ireland

6 years ago when Ed Joyce decided playing for England would serve his cricketing ambitions best I believe he was correct.

3 years later Eoin Morgan made the same decision and while perhaps there was more for him to ponder than in Joyce's case he still arguably had no real choice in the matter. While I'm not happy making these statements I am confident that progress on and off the pitch means the next player to have the option of playing for England will have a real decision to make.

The reasons Ireland's best cricketers have chosen to play for England are largely the same reasons you or I might choose to change role in our chosen professions the working environment, the pay on offer and the future opportunities the role might bring. Considering first the working environment what I am essentially talking about here is the opportunity to play top quality cricket whether it be in the longest format of the game or twenty 20 cricket. The typical Irish cricketers best opportunity to gain the environment which will allow them to reach their potential as an international cricketer is to impress enough to gain a contract in the English County system and then play for Ireland whenever club release rules allow the to. Though some of Ireland's finest players notably Trent Johnston play their cricket as club professionals in Ireland the more attractive route is still England due to training facilities, the superior professional structure and the standard of cricket played. The fact that Ireland's best young talents Dockrell, Thompson, McCarter and Young are all signed up to the county system shows this is still the only show in town. The main danger with these moves apart from now residing in England is the fact that some counties revenues are up to 50% funded by the English Cricket Board meaning that from a young age the ECB are effectively indirectly contributing more than Cricket Ireland to our best players. Essentially they are part of a system where the natural progression if you qualify for England which our players do after four years residency is to play for the English Lions and if you are good enough the English national team. As shown in the case of Hamish Marshall being unable to qualify for England may ultimately effect your ability to keep your county contract. The playing situation has progressed quite a bit since Joyce and Morgan originally made their decision. Fixtures against full member nations have increased, release agreements between the Irish Cricket Union and counties have become more common place and Cricket Ireland have begun to contract their players based in England meaning that Irish players have an official obligation to their national team which will have to be accepted by their county employers. Facilities in Ireland in terms of playing international remain a stumbling block though the proposed development at Malahide may yet be a massive step forward. What hasn't changed crucially is the opportunity for Ireland to play test cricket the reason generally cited by players when crossing the divide. Ireland as they did a number of years ago still only play roughly 3 first class games in the year through the inter continental cup. Worse still Ireland's premium county players are unavailable for these fixtures as the fixtures are not against full member countries or used in deciding world cup places. Ultimately this will continue to be an issue for Irish players like Dockrell and Rankin whose cricketing aptitudes are best suited towards the longest form of the game.

In every career especially one as short as professional cricket finance is a major factor. Some progress has been made here with the Irish Union now paying a salary to all their international player. Realistically Irish players will never receive the same level of pay as their English counterparts from their cricketing union and this is not necessarily something which needs to happen to close the floodgates permanently. The level of pay enjoyed by some Pakistani players demonstrates this. In my opinion the crux of the financial issue for players actually relates to the financial opportunities available to associate players in worldwide cricket in competitions like the big bash in Australia , the IPL and of course the English County Championship. The level of remuneration enjoyed by Luke Wright through his contracts in England, Australia and India is vastly different to that of Paul Stirling a player of at the very least similar ability. Morgan's move to play for England has considerably improved his finances through his central contract, IPL deal ($350000 per season) and personal sponsorship deals. These financial considerations would certainly be enough to bring a player persuaded by the playing arguments across the line.

As I complete this piece Boyd Rankin has decided to retire from international cricket for Ireland primarily for the reason that his best performances in cricket have come in the longer format of the game and a belief that ultimately he will be best served by concentrating on this format. Financial considerations and some aggressive man management at county level by former England player Ashley Giles have also contributed to his decision. I wish Boyd all the best in his pursuit of test cricket knowing that this decision hasn't been made without thought. For all the improvements which can still be made (fixtures, increased pay and exposure for Ireland players) unfortunately in order for the next Boyd Rankin a certain George Dockrell maybe to make a different decision the ICC will have to create a clear path for Ireland to become a test nation.

Football :Olympic Mens

2012-07-28T11:01:00.002-07:00

The Argentinean team celebrate victory in Beijing

Olympic football while still the beautiful game is a world away from regular FIFA organised international competitions. London 2012 is no different with the teams qualified a mix of lesser lights in name at least like the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Belarus as well as perceived world superpowers such as Spain and Brazil.

On paper this would make picking the teams most likely to battle it out a straightforward task however a roster limited to 18 containing only three players over 23, selection policies which show that different nations have differing levels of interest in the competition and the fact the competition takes place in July Europe's pre-season all act to level the playing field. History has shown that both the haves and have not's can compete to win olympic medals with aristocrats Argentina winning last time round but Iraq, Belgium and Chile have all reached semi finals in recent years proving that lesser renowned nations if well prepared can prosper in olympic football. With the addition of Great Britain as hosts for the first time since 1960 this years tournament is already unique.

To run the rule over the event I'll start by looking at how I see each group panning out. Group A contains Great Britain, Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates and Senegal. Moving back to selection issues Senegal have picked the strongest possible squad available to them bar none when compared to the team which recently competed at the African nations cup. Their first fixture against Great Britain demonstrated their physical strengths and team ethic and over the course of a two week tournament these strengths can prove crucial. Britain on the other hand have picked a threadbare squad which while containing top players like Craig Bellamy and Ryan Giggs are essentially a B team who have never played together. The decision taken to leave out players who participated in the European Championships while beneficial to the players and their clubs will ultimately leave Team GB coming up short in terms of winning the tournament. Uruguay like Senegal have picked a team close to their best for this competition. Their 3 over 23 players are certainly their best however the underbelly of the squad the under 23 players are largely inexperienced at International level. For this reason I'm steering clear of Uruguay as potential winners although the tournament can still prove to be an excellent development ground for a push to qualify for the 2014 world cup. The United Arab Emirates have selected a strong squad and are certainly developing a team for the future. They certainly put it up to a fancied Uruguay outfit for over an hour in their first game. OnePositive sign is that the team all play and were raised in the UAE. I don't believe they will reach the quarter finals in this tournament but they are certainly heading in the right direction.

Group B's four teams Gabon, Switzerland South Korea and Mexico are very evenly matched as can be attested by the two draws which opened the group. Mexico with the exception of Giovani Dos Santos have picked a squad entirely from their domestic competition meaning the likes of Javier Hernandez and Andrés Guardado have been ignored. Having appeared at 10 previous olympics and never medalling, I'm not predicting them to do so here either. Switzerland who have picked a strong squad including the dynamic Admir Mehmedi appeal most from this group having failed to qualify for the European Championships this squad will be motivated to use these championships as a platform for future success. South Korea along with Gabon have selected strong squads. Neither team really tempt in terms of their chance of winning the medal or qualifying for the group for that matter. Park Chu Young of Arsenal the South Korean captain is one to watch and not just for the fact a medal of any kind would help him to avoid compulsory military service back in Korea.

The next group, Group C contains the favourites for the championship Brazil and three nations Belarus, New Zealand and Egypt who quite probably won't reach the business end of these championships. The most promising of the three Egypt have picked a strong team including inspirational defender Ahmed Hegazi. As with Senegal the team has a settled look to it and should be capable of qualifying for a quarter final. Brazil on the other hand who have never won Olympic gold should be confident of going further. With Rafael, Neymar and particularly Hulk in their line up it is difficult to look too far past them for the gold medal.

Finally Group D contains European Champions Spain, Japan, Honduras and Morocco. Stating the obvious Spain looked fatigued in their first fixture however it is difficult to ignore players such as Jordi Alba and Juan Mata who have become accustomed to winning international tournaments. The team contains only two players over the age of 23 both of whom are 24 giving the team a very freshfaced look. I still expect them to make it through this group however I do not expect to see them medalling in two weeks time. Honduras who have qualified for the competition ahead of a strong USA team and a young Japan team will both fancy their chances of making it through the group. Based on their surprise victory over Spain Japan deserve the nod here. I'm skeptical of how far they can go based on the teams they have faced in their summer olympic qualification route. I could be shown to be completely incorrect.

To conclude my recomendations if you are of a betting persuasion would be Brazil (to win Evens). There may yet be some value in Senegal(e/w 40 to 1) and Switzerland(e/w 33 to 1, 13 to 5 to win group). Lets hope for plenty of goals anyhow!

Olympic Gymnastics :Kieran Behan

2012-07-26T15:42:00.004-07:00

Irish gymnast Kieran Behan

The olympics despite the claims of events like the rugby and football world cup is the purest and most exciting event in world sport. I say this because of the number of countries able to compete in one event or another and the lack of a role money plays in the lives of most participants.

It also gives sports nuts like myself the opportunity to zone in on sports we wouldn't generally appreciate and maybe come to claim a strong grasp of the scoring and performance within the sport. I'm not going to do that for Olympic gymnastics seen as my closest experience to it involves attempting wrestling moves in the back garden on a trampoline. Instead I'm going to revel in the stunning achievements of Irish gymnast Kieran Behan who has become only the second Irishman to qualify for Olympic gymnastics.

Born and raised in north London to Irish parents, Behan in the last year has consistently performed well against medal hopes in events such as the Gymnastics World Cup and the European Championships in May. During the season he has gradually beefed up his performance to include more complex moves to maximize his scoring potential in the competition. Placing third in the qualifiers of the European championships in May illustrate best that as in any sport if he performs to his best on the day there is no reason why he cannot compete for a medal. His achievements on the floor cannot be understood fully without explaining some of the challenges (possibly the understatement of the year) faced by Behan on his journey to qualification.

Taking first the physical obstacles Behan's mental fortitude has allowed him to defy massively overwhelming odds twice in his life. Firstly at the age of 10 a benign tumor was found in Kieran's leg which ultimately left him in a wheelchair for 15 months and unlikely to train properly in high level gymnastics again. When miraculously Behan did return to training he had the almost unbelievable misfortune of an accident on the high bar which resulted in a brain injury and return to the wheel chair having to relearn the most basic of tasks and with the prediction he might never walk again ringing in his ears. Behan up until qualifying for the olympics never received financial support for his endeavors. In sharp contrast to top level footballers when Behan first received a grant from the Olympic Counci of Ireland the amount was €20,000. Since then he has also received a grant from BT Ireland something which is much appreciated in the pursuit of his best ever performance. Having taken responsibility for cleaning duties in his local gym this time last year to fund his sporting career Behan will be hoping like most Olympians to make hay while the sun shines over the next few weeks.

Behan's dream as he says himself will come true at 11:30 GMT on Saturday morning. He's worked damn hard for this day and hopefully he will have more than just the one.

Football : Why Arsenal are right to offer Van Persie no more

2012-07-15T15:52:00.001-07:00

Football is a game built on emotions at the best of times. Understandably the view of the majority of Arsenal fans is that the club should have done more and still should do more to keep hold of Robin Van Persie.
As the clubs top scorer and captain his loss would send the wrong signal to prospective signings and the club but is the risk of giving Van Persie the contract he really wants worth the risk financially. I'll cut to the chase I don't believe Arsenal's footballing ambitions or lack there of are what triggered Van Persie's statement about not signing a new contract. There are two elements to this supposed ambition the first relates to the acquisitions Arsenals have made this summer and how the quality compares to other seasons. This season the club have signed two international strikers Olivier Giroud and Lukasz Podolski in a clear attempt to relieve some of the scoring burden from Van Persie's shoulders. Both players are established internationals with clear scoring form in their respective domestic leagues. Crucially Giroud is rumoured to have turned down a move to Chelsea clearly showing that Arsenal are competing properly in the market. All indications are that Arsenal are not finished yet with the club heavily linked to the highly rated defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila. These players compare favourably in terms of pedigree when compared to last years striking additions Park Chu Young and Gervinho. The second relates to the teams ability to win trophies. The teams form from a difficult 2010/11 season to the 2011/12 season was a clear improvement despite the loss of key players through transfers and injury. With a substantial outlay on transfers already this summer and key players like Jack Wilshere to return hopes should be high of ending the seven year trophy drought. The financials of the deal are the reason Van Persie has made his statement and it is an insult to the intellect of Arsenal fans to say otherwise. I don't blame Van Persie for wishing to provide for his family but lying about his reasons for wanting a transfer is disappointing in the extreme.
Moving back to the original question should Arsenal bridge the difference between the current offer and the offer Van Persie desires. My opinion is a firm no. To begin with the offer they have made a 50% pay rise to make Van Persie the clubs record earner allied with a significant signing on fee is a fair offer for a player with excellent form but a proneness to injury throughout his career with the gunners. The increased cost of matching Manchester City's potential offer doesn't stop with Van Persie and could negatively impact the clubs ability to compete in the future. I'll expand on this I believe dismantling their current wage structure for Van Persie's needs would have an incremental effect on the wage demands of every player Arsenal negotiate with both internally and externally during the period of Van Persies contract. Next season Arsenal will be looking to extend the contracts of their defensive lynchpins Alex Song, Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs and Wojciech Szczensy and increasing their wage expectations for a player who may potentially be injured does not seem like good business. Incidentally the star signing Van Persie supposedly wants would also re-evaluate his wage demands to be in line with the best player at the club. Financial Fair Play is another reason why paying more than you can afford is not a good idea. Without the option of creating a campus around the stadium ala Manchester City, Arsenal cannot afford to gamble on the future as much as they are being asked to for a player with an injury record like Van Persie's. Finally the club have fought the good fight on financial discipline and organic growth and by compromising here they have far more to lose than to gain.
If Van Persie wants to go from being the key player in a team to a squad player at another team that is his decisions and its clearly not primarily for footballing reasons.