THE LIGUE NATIONALE de Rugby [LNR] has announced that it has agreed a new five-year deal with Canal+ for the TV rights to screen the Top 14 exclusively live.
The contract is worth €71 million per season on average.
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This deal will run from the 2014/15 season until 2018/19, greatly increasing the current value of the rights for France’s top tier [it stands at €31.7 million for this season]. As a result, the already wealthy French clubs will enjoy increased spending power in the coming seasons, a worrying sign for the rest of the rugby world.
The LNR is confident that this deal will allow them to “strengthen the status of the Top 14 as the most attractive league in the world”, a sentiment that is difficult to argue with. With rich owners and sponsors continuing to pump their own fortunes into the French clubs, this TV money is a further boost to operating budgets across the country.
Last month, the LNR called on other broadcasters to make offers for the Top 14 TV rights, despite their 20-year relationship with Canal+. That move came in the wake of a reported €65 million per season offer from Canal+ to hang onto the exclusive rights, and with the Qatari-owned BeIn Sport hovering in the background intent on muscling their way in, a bidding war had been anticipated.
The fact that Canal+ had threatened legal action over the LNR’s call for offers also meant a change of broadcaster was unlikely.
That situation has been avoided, and previously suggested figures of up to €100 million per season have failed to materialise. Not that the €71 million average over the five seasons should be underestimated. For the IRFU, WRU and other unions who are worried about losing their marquee players to the lure of the Top 14′s money, this new deal will provide further concern.
The contract is worth a total of €335 million to the Top 14 clubs over the five years in question, split in the following format:
Season 2014/15: €70 million
Season 2015/16: €70 million
Season 2016/17: €71 million
Season 2017/18: €72 million
Season 2018/19: €72 million
The LNR, alongside Canal+, have also reiterated that they are focused on their “shared ambition for the Top 14 to take the next step in international exposure.” A concerning prospect for the rest of us.
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Are they even bothered with a HCup anymore? This has serious repercussions for all rugby north & south. They will be able to buy anyone they want. Bad news if you ask me.
Maybe its time to bring in transfer deadlines and salary caps to bring the money under control. The IRB and Unions might consider introducing an American Football style player draft system or at least waivers and franchise player protection etc. Something needs to be done to limit the power of the privately owned clubs and enable other clubs to keep their marquis players. The present set-up is very destructive to the game overall.
“Salary Caps” are already in place and as of last year were the average of the top 5 clubs in the top 14. There are also foreign player restrictions and if correct following their escalating scale it now should be that no more than 30% of the whole squad can be foreign nationals. That said there are many loopholes in French law that allow manipulation of the salary and squad.
The quality of rugby on show in the top 14 is somewhat embarrassing given the money they fork out, you have the best Southern Hemisphere backs around but you might as well have statues given the rarity of the ball coming past the 9-10 channel, some clubs might strengthen, to be honest this is a infrastructure development opportunity for most or profit off the top( very little after tax) for some, the SANZA won’t want to be caught idle here, the Rabo is crumbling and now the RCC looks like bloody pittance compared to this deal, some dark days ahead for non French fans and French fans who loved their passionate and traditional game, the gravy train has arrived and it’s going to crash through the foundations of the game and bring everything crumbling down.
If the huge influx of non French players into the Top 14 continues do you think the French national team will suffer ? Lots of non frogs in vital positions.
My guess is yes…….(see English soccer team). Might take a few seasons to kick in but Im fairly sure it will happen.
Run the stats – 4 Irish teams vs 7 French teams – 2 French teams through probably through to quarters in HCup versus 3 Irish teams. Reckon we’re doing ok and French teams need to think outside Top14.
But he’s talking about the French international team, any link in form between HEC & international rugby has been debunked a long time ago. Just look at Ireland & wales’s respective form in both competitions.
All French Final and constant finalists and winners so can’t say French not interested. Going to destroy rugby like football with the money. Real shame, Heineken Cup is a genuinely enjoyable level competition. Look at the range if winners in the 20 years of competition.
Enjoyable because the provinces are competitive, I wonder does it have the same appeal in Scotland and/or Italy? Or here, should the provinces struggle year in, year out.
This tv deal has been well touted, it’s not good news, a couple of million more per French club, per year. Plus they’ll be getting a bigger slice of the HEC pie, if there is a HEC next year, the French are still in disagreement over who will run it.
Maybe the Celtic and English should merge into a B&I League (Premier and Championship), that would draw the crowds and provide an alternative to the Pro14. Crazy money for an average league, really only 6-8 decent teams in there.
That would be a mouth watering prospect. However i can’t see the privately owned English clubs willing to play their league against our union run provinces. I mean all bias aside, would you want your club playing against sides which are wall to wall irish internationals? They find it hard to compete with the provinces at HEC level, why would they throw away their chances of domestic silverware. Unless the IRFU Agreed to their salary cap per province.
Missing my point. The IRFU pays the wages of the Irish players. If you owned a club in England, which has to finance itself, would you be prepared to play against union financed teams every week? I wouldn’t.
I don’t think the French ever bothered with H cup. Look at sexton top of H cup class . Mediocre in top 14. It’s a different world to the subsidized world of irfu rugby
I couldn’t agree more, the unbalance is obvious, in the French and English leagues clubs have to fight weekly for their very survival, meanwhile irish provinces sit pretty and use rabo to prepare their top form for HC. The myth of irish provinces in HC has never convinced me
I guess that was what was required to make irish pro teams truly competitive, but it used to annoy me when our media used to dress HC wins as David v goliath affairs
Yes resting players and playing low intensity rugby has only been suggested as a method of improving performance by the English. Normally the higher standard or greater competitiveness is expected to improve results and battle hardened players. But if Irish teams win its because their resting.
Remember that question in the KerryGold ad – Who’s taking the horse to France? ….You can take your pick from Joe’s list today…………with some exceptions of course.That money is not good for Irish rugby I think…………..Ah You (Connacht), S Archer (Munster), R Best (Ulster), R Copeland (Cardiff Blues), S Cronin (Leinster), R Diack (Ulster), C Healy, J Heaslip (both Leinster), I Henderson, C Henry, R Herring (all Ulster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), M McCarthy, J McGrath, M Moore, Jordi Murphy (all Leinster), P O’Connell, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony (all Munster), M Ross, R Ruddock, D Toner (all Leinster), D Tuohy (Ulster), D Varley (Munster), I Boss (Leinster), D Cave (Ulster), G D’Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), R Henshaw (Connacht), P Jackson (Ulster), F Jones (Munster), D Kearney, R Kearney (both Leinster), I Keatley (Munster), I Madigan (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), L Marshall (Ulster), F McFadden (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), B O’Driscoll, E Reddan (both Leinster), J Sexton (Racing Metro), A Trimble (Ulster).
Got to hope we can produce more players with the mindset of Paul O’Connell and BOD. O’Connell wouldn’t leave Munster for all the money in the world and BOD may have had his head turned but followed his heart.
Bod was making enough in sponsorship. Etc and knows he will make money after he retires. Very few are like him. The provinces could turn into training centres for players to go to France etc. But it’s not all bad. Now we have 4 quality out halves playing top level. If three irish teams get to the quarters there will be more irish players than any other nationality in the last 8. It has to be damaging to the French national side that their own players are being pushed aside. The tax refund for playing in Ireland is still a big incentive to play most of their careers in Ireland. and If o.brien and heaslip go to France it gives other guys chances which can’t be bad
The French have a truck load more money to offer now, then they had when BOD was in his prime, I think rather then poaching a lot of players, they’re going to cherry pick the best. I’d imagine Sean O’Brien is getting offers that are very hard to turn down.
If Welsh clubs join English premier, then rabo is no more, what may end up happening is an elite 8 team pro ail league with provinces competing in a restructured pan-euro competition. Top top irish players will probably be lost to English and French clubs but that’s happening already to a degree
If Welsh clubs join English premier, then rabo is no more, what may end up happening is an elite 8 team pro ail league with provinces competing in a restructured pan-euro competition. Top top irish players will probably be lost to English and French clubs but that’s happening already to a degree
Money or interest is simply not there for pro ail. The welsh regions will only join aviva as a last resort, should the French Union fail to agree to the six nations running HEC next season. The RFU & the FFR met on Monday to try & sort it out, no word on how it went yet.
The Italians are threatening to pull out of the rabo as well.
I just think contingencies have to be considered in case of rabo collapse, otherwise we lose all our contracted players; All the provincial players are contracted through ail clubs as it stands, some of the top centrally contracted players even play for them, e.g on come back trail from injury as Paul o’c did, a professional ail league would open up the game to a lot more pros, the likes of Peter stringer could finish his career at home for eg, create more jobs etc, admittedly not as highly paid as with say munster. The provinces could bring in the bigger money through a pan-euro competition then also. Clubs could flesh out some positions with developmental contracted players if required.. it’s definitely more likely than a B & I league. Rabo is in trouble.. It must be costing Italian clubs a fortune to travel here most weekends of the year. Welsh regions in trouble also. Their heads may def be turned by a lucrative offer from aviva
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Are they even bothered with a HCup anymore? This has serious repercussions for all rugby north & south. They will be able to buy anyone they want. Bad news if you ask me.
Did they put the lic price up that much ?
Only deal that rte works on
That’s modern day sport, if they have the money they can buy who they want, good luck to them.
Maybe its time to bring in transfer deadlines and salary caps to bring the money under control. The IRB and Unions might consider introducing an American Football style player draft system or at least waivers and franchise player protection etc. Something needs to be done to limit the power of the privately owned clubs and enable other clubs to keep their marquis players. The present set-up is very destructive to the game overall.
“Salary Caps” are already in place and as of last year were the average of the top 5 clubs in the top 14. There are also foreign player restrictions and if correct following their escalating scale it now should be that no more than 30% of the whole squad can be foreign nationals. That said there are many loopholes in French law that allow manipulation of the salary and squad.
The quality of rugby on show in the top 14 is somewhat embarrassing given the money they fork out, you have the best Southern Hemisphere backs around but you might as well have statues given the rarity of the ball coming past the 9-10 channel, some clubs might strengthen, to be honest this is a infrastructure development opportunity for most or profit off the top( very little after tax) for some, the SANZA won’t want to be caught idle here, the Rabo is crumbling and now the RCC looks like bloody pittance compared to this deal, some dark days ahead for non French fans and French fans who loved their passionate and traditional game, the gravy train has arrived and it’s going to crash through the foundations of the game and bring everything crumbling down.
The top14 might be dour at times but its hard competitive rugby played generally in stadia with a great atmosphere.
Bernard jack man debunks a few myths about French rugby http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/vincent-hogan-they-dont-bring-them-here-to-get-smashed-to-bits-29917191.html
If the huge influx of non French players into the Top 14 continues do you think the French national team will suffer ? Lots of non frogs in vital positions.
My guess is yes…….(see English soccer team). Might take a few seasons to kick in but Im fairly sure it will happen.
The still have 14 pro teams to choose from, we have only have four, can their pick be as small as ours?
Run the stats – 4 Irish teams vs 7 French teams – 2 French teams through probably through to quarters in HCup versus 3 Irish teams. Reckon we’re doing ok and French teams need to think outside Top14.
But he’s talking about the French international team, any link in form between HEC & international rugby has been debunked a long time ago. Just look at Ireland & wales’s respective form in both competitions.
All French Final and constant finalists and winners so can’t say French not interested. Going to destroy rugby like football with the money. Real shame, Heineken Cup is a genuinely enjoyable level competition. Look at the range if winners in the 20 years of competition.
How many different winners last 20 years of champions league. There will always be upsets.
Enjoyable because the provinces are competitive, I wonder does it have the same appeal in Scotland and/or Italy? Or here, should the provinces struggle year in, year out.
This tv deal has been well touted, it’s not good news, a couple of million more per French club, per year. Plus they’ll be getting a bigger slice of the HEC pie, if there is a HEC next year, the French are still in disagreement over who will run it.
Whats the TV money for the Pro12 worth per year?
10 shillings and 6pence compared to this
Very good question. I’d love to know the answer if anyone has the info?
Ireland brings about €900,000 to the table, bbc wales i think pays €3,000,000 the Scottish & itallians minimal.
Possibly close,probably not,lol
And supposedly the french aren’t getting enough money
Wonder what Me McCafferty & PRL think of all this? Jealous Moi!!!
Money in is good for development etc… These players deserve more money for entertaining us…
Maybe the Celtic and English should merge into a B&I League (Premier and Championship), that would draw the crowds and provide an alternative to the Pro14. Crazy money for an average league, really only 6-8 decent teams in there.
That would be a mouth watering prospect. However i can’t see the privately owned English clubs willing to play their league against our union run provinces. I mean all bias aside, would you want your club playing against sides which are wall to wall irish internationals? They find it hard to compete with the provinces at HEC level, why would they throw away their chances of domestic silverware. Unless the IRFU Agreed to their salary cap per province.
Do you really think Leicester does not represent the region , or the four big clubs in London do not draw from a population of 5 million.
Missing my point. The IRFU pays the wages of the Irish players. If you owned a club in England, which has to finance itself, would you be prepared to play against union financed teams every week? I wouldn’t.
The English players bring money to the clubs from the RFU I’m sure it’s pretty much the same but a different system.
Where are the other 13 deals? Article only lists 1.
I don’t think the French ever bothered with H cup. Look at sexton top of H cup class . Mediocre in top 14. It’s a different world to the subsidized world of irfu rugby
I couldn’t agree more, the unbalance is obvious, in the French and English leagues clubs have to fight weekly for their very survival, meanwhile irish provinces sit pretty and use rabo to prepare their top form for HC. The myth of irish provinces in HC has never convinced me
I guess that was what was required to make irish pro teams truly competitive, but it used to annoy me when our media used to dress HC wins as David v goliath affairs
Yes resting players and playing low intensity rugby has only been suggested as a method of improving performance by the English. Normally the higher standard or greater competitiveness is expected to improve results and battle hardened players. But if Irish teams win its because their resting.
When noël? They still do.
Remember that question in the KerryGold ad – Who’s taking the horse to France? ….You can take your pick from Joe’s list today…………with some exceptions of course.That money is not good for Irish rugby I think…………..Ah You (Connacht), S Archer (Munster), R Best (Ulster), R Copeland (Cardiff Blues), S Cronin (Leinster), R Diack (Ulster), C Healy, J Heaslip (both Leinster), I Henderson, C Henry, R Herring (all Ulster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), M McCarthy, J McGrath, M Moore, Jordi Murphy (all Leinster), P O’Connell, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony (all Munster), M Ross, R Ruddock, D Toner (all Leinster), D Tuohy (Ulster), D Varley (Munster), I Boss (Leinster), D Cave (Ulster), G D’Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), R Henshaw (Connacht), P Jackson (Ulster), F Jones (Munster), D Kearney, R Kearney (both Leinster), I Keatley (Munster), I Madigan (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), L Marshall (Ulster), F McFadden (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), B O’Driscoll, E Reddan (both Leinster), J Sexton (Racing Metro), A Trimble (Ulster).
That’s some copy and paste job there. Well done!
Right so im off to France…..addios..
Got to hope we can produce more players with the mindset of Paul O’Connell and BOD. O’Connell wouldn’t leave Munster for all the money in the world and BOD may have had his head turned but followed his heart.
Bod was making enough in sponsorship. Etc and knows he will make money after he retires. Very few are like him. The provinces could turn into training centres for players to go to France etc. But it’s not all bad. Now we have 4 quality out halves playing top level. If three irish teams get to the quarters there will be more irish players than any other nationality in the last 8. It has to be damaging to the French national side that their own players are being pushed aside. The tax refund for playing in Ireland is still a big incentive to play most of their careers in Ireland. and If o.brien and heaslip go to France it gives other guys chances which can’t be bad
The French have a truck load more money to offer now, then they had when BOD was in his prime, I think rather then poaching a lot of players, they’re going to cherry pick the best. I’d imagine Sean O’Brien is getting offers that are very hard to turn down.
If Welsh clubs join English premier, then rabo is no more, what may end up happening is an elite 8 team pro ail league with provinces competing in a restructured pan-euro competition. Top top irish players will probably be lost to English and French clubs but that’s happening already to a degree
If Welsh clubs join English premier, then rabo is no more, what may end up happening is an elite 8 team pro ail league with provinces competing in a restructured pan-euro competition. Top top irish players will probably be lost to English and French clubs but that’s happening already to a degree
Money or interest is simply not there for pro ail. The welsh regions will only join aviva as a last resort, should the French Union fail to agree to the six nations running HEC next season. The RFU & the FFR met on Monday to try & sort it out, no word on how it went yet.
The Italians are threatening to pull out of the rabo as well.
I just think contingencies have to be considered in case of rabo collapse, otherwise we lose all our contracted players; All the provincial players are contracted through ail clubs as it stands, some of the top centrally contracted players even play for them, e.g on come back trail from injury as Paul o’c did, a professional ail league would open up the game to a lot more pros, the likes of Peter stringer could finish his career at home for eg, create more jobs etc, admittedly not as highly paid as with say munster. The provinces could bring in the bigger money through a pan-euro competition then also. Clubs could flesh out some positions with developmental contracted players if required.. it’s definitely more likely than a B & I league. Rabo is in trouble.. It must be costing Italian clubs a fortune to travel here most weekends of the year. Welsh regions in trouble also. Their heads may def be turned by a lucrative offer from aviva
Heineken cup RIP