The Overseas Premium on Rugby Costs
Ben Shenton, writing in the JEP notes that:
One of our weaknesses is that we increasingly lose sight of the fact that we are a small island and this provides limitations. To put it in perspective, Jersey’s population is just over 100,000. Newport, Wales, for example, has a city population of 145,700, an urban population of 306,844, and a catchment area of 1,097,000.
Ben Shenton, writing in the JEP notes that:
One of our weaknesses is that we increasingly lose sight of the fact that we are a small island and this provides limitations. To put it in perspective, Jersey’s population is just over 100,000. Newport, Wales, for example, has a city population of 145,700, an urban population of 306,844, and a catchment area of 1,097,000.
A catchment population of our size cannot, for example, support a professional Championship rugby team over the very long term without considerable taxpayer funding – this is a reality that many refuse to admit.
I support Jersey Reds and I believe that what they have achieved has been fantastic, but at some point the politicians need to wake up and smell the coffee. Another £150,000 just to get through the current season is an expensive sticking-plaster. Where is the realistic long-term plan, or genuine acceptance of the sad reality of the situation? Expect grandiose plans that will never amount to anything, and denial until the reality of the situation sinks in.
One thing he also doesn’t mention is that the cost of getting to and from the Island. A professional club in the UK can travel at a fraction of the cost of one in Jersey. Looking at, for example, the “RFU Championship Cup”, which has:
Cornish Pirates v London Irish
Doncaster v Nottingham
Ealing Trailfinders v Richmond
Hartpury College v Bedford
London Scottish v Jersey
Yorkshire Carnegie v Coventry
As the BBC notes of the Cornish Pirates:
“No side on the UK mainland is further away from their nearest rivals than the Penzance-based club and it leads to a unique rugby culture in West Cornwall.”
“The Pirates are 222 miles away from Hartpury - their 'local derby' - although Jersey is geographically closer but their away day to the Channel Islands involves either a flight or a boat trip.”
That's an additional cost, and it would be interesting to see this itemised in any accounts of Jersey Reds.
One thing he also doesn’t mention is that the cost of getting to and from the Island. A professional club in the UK can travel at a fraction of the cost of one in Jersey. Looking at, for example, the “RFU Championship Cup”, which has:
Cornish Pirates v London Irish
Doncaster v Nottingham
Ealing Trailfinders v Richmond
Hartpury College v Bedford
London Scottish v Jersey
Yorkshire Carnegie v Coventry
As the BBC notes of the Cornish Pirates:
“No side on the UK mainland is further away from their nearest rivals than the Penzance-based club and it leads to a unique rugby culture in West Cornwall.”
“The Pirates are 222 miles away from Hartpury - their 'local derby' - although Jersey is geographically closer but their away day to the Channel Islands involves either a flight or a boat trip.”
That's an additional cost, and it would be interesting to see this itemised in any accounts of Jersey Reds.
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