We're In The Money

APPARENTLY, after the World Cup, the details of both the CVC deals with the Six Nations and the PRO14 will be announced.

The devil will, of course, be in the detail, but, let's assume The Times, who have apparently broken the story is correct, and rugby gains £300 million for selling a share in the Six Nations, and the five Unions, from Ireland, Italy, Wales, Scotland and South Africa get £115 million for selling a share in the PRO14, that immediately means a windfall of £73 million to the SRU.

As I have said, the devil will be in the detail, and CVC will want to get back their investment, plus a healthy return, during how ever long they are involved. Going by their involvement in Formula One, they will not be in rugby for the long run, maybe five to ten years.

In that time, we can expect to pay more for TV coverage, so bye-bye the Six Nations free-to-air on BBC or ITV. The Unions will, I fear, be under pressure to maximise their income, without upsetting their core rugby audience too much – a difficult circle to square.

We have to wonder too, how the SRU will spend the immediate windfall? Hopefully a lot of the money will filter down to the grass roots, rather than being squandered in improving the lifestyle of The Junta.

There is definitely, I sense, going to be pressure on the elected officials, Council members and Board members, to ensure their constituent clubs get their fair share of this new and welcome money.

The current interesting times are set to become even-more interesting. Good times for those of us in the media seeking to keep the game's rulers in check, by asking the awkward questions.

I WAS seated beside a returning Troon Exile at the Marr pre-match lunch on Saturday. This gentleman has these past many years been engaged in vital missionary work in the Sudentenland, trying and failing to save our English neighbours from their own baser instincts.

During these long years of trying to plant the seeds of the superior Scottish way among our heathen neighbours, he has, both as a player and a spectator, got his Saturday rugby kicks at Richmond Athletic Ground, watching his beloved London Scottish.

I have other exiled friends and acquaintances to whom RAG on a Saturday is a little touch of Scotland in South West London, so, I was not surprised when my Marr friend opined that BT Murrayfield ought to be getting a lot closer to Scottish than they currently are.

Indeed, my lunch companion revealed, he would not be amiss to seeing the three Exiles clubs in the imperial capital: London Irish, London Scottish and London Welsh cutting their top team ties with the RFU and switching to the PRO14.

Not least of the reasons for this switch would surely be, that Guinness, the corporate sponsors of the league would surely be delighted to have the three clubs playing in their league, in the city where they have a massive corporate presence.

My confidante, who has the benefit of living and working in the Sudentenland, is convinced, if the switch of the three clubs to the PRO14 was handled properly, every Paddy, Jock and Dai within reasonable travelling distance of London would give his particular exiles club his support.

I accept, given they are one of the 13 clubs which own English Premiership Rugby, London Irish might not be keen to switch to the rival league. However, since the RFU's 70% English-qualifed players in a match-day squad rule rather negates the USP of the Exiles clubs, why not?

The relationship between RAG and BTM has been a fraught one in the professional era. Am I alone in believing, getting a deal with Scottish is probably the cheapest option when it comes to the long-needed third professional team?

Use Scottish as the development team. The club is adamant, it is happy to play in the second tier in England, and does not wish to be promoted. Get the best young players – with a leavening of experience, playing there, then, in time, switch to an expanded PRO14. That makes sense to me, and a lot of other people – why not to The Junta?

QTV, the Glasgow-based company which has been handed the contract to cover Super-6 when it starts, are working-up towards this by taking over the actual filming of Scottish Rugby TV's coverage of the Tennent's Premiership and National League One.

I watched week one, and thought it was honking. Week two is no better, in fact, it may be worse. They will need to improve greatly, and quickly, if they are to make a success of covering S6.

For a start, the lack of a commentary is a major omission. In fact, it's a distinct no-no. Multiply that failing by not providing a voice-over to the results round-up, or even some quotes from the coaches or main players in the featured games and you would be as well not bothering.

The camera position at Currie, the featured Premiership match was, to my mind, too low.

No, a poor couple of shows, QTV must do better – a lot better, and quickly. Scottish Rugby deserves much better than this crap production.