The Pro 12 will look very, very different with the addition of two South African sides from next season, and while the inclusion of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings will make for some exciting matches... There are still many concerns over the logistics of how it's all going to work.
As we head into August, there is no fixture list for the season and there is uncertainty over how the league may be structured. Not only will that be an issue for the clubs and their preparations, but it is a massive pain in the arse for travelling fans.
This is something that Welsh legend Shane Williams is seriously unimpressed with, as he feels that while the expansion of the league is interesting, the handling of it has not been encouraging.
Writing for The Rugby Paper [via WalesOnline], Williams described the way that the Pro 12 restructure has been handled as 'shambolic' and suggested that the fans are being left in the lurch.
It’s a complete mess and it’s a situation the league just doesn’t need right now. I’m all for trying something different and bringing in new teams, but the way it’s been done by the organisers has just been shambolic. Who is in charge of all of this?
As we head into August we still don’t know the fixture list for the new season and that can’t be doing anyone involved any good at all.
The coaches simply can’t plan for the new campaign without knowing who they’re going to be playing.
The fixture list impacts a great deal on how you go about things, especially in the PRO12 where at different stages you’re going to lose players to international duty.
Modern day sport is a bit of an ugly beast because the supporters are the ones – along with the TV companies – who bring in the money, but they seem to be considered last of all. If you’re a fan of one of the Welsh regions right now, I’d imagine you’re feeling pretty uninterested in the new season.
How can you be anything but when you don’t know where and when your team is playing, and against whom for that matter?
It’s all a bit ridiculous and I imagine it’s having an impact on season ticket sales at all of the regions.
He's not wrong, and his point on planning for fixtures due to losing players on international duty is particularly on point, as that is something the coaches really need to know as early as possible.
It's a bold and adventurous move to welcome the teams from South Africa, and the upside is obviously a positive for the league if all goes well, but they would want to get a move on if they don't want to upset the clubs that have played in the league over the past few years.
