The United Rugby Championship (URC) chief executive, Martin Anayi, has stated that the inter-provincial clashes during international windows are here to stay. When the fixtures for the next URC season were announced, it was noticed that Ulster is scheduled to take on rivals Leinster at Ravenhill on November 29, the day before Ireland’s Test match against Australia in Dublin. This scheduling means that fans will be denied the chance to see key players such as Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, and Hugo Keenan in action, as 16 of Ireland’s 23 players in their final Six Nations match against Scotland were from Leinster.
Despite the clash and other games falling inside international windows, Anayi has revealed that the URC is not worried about this. He explained, “What we’ve found is it hasn’t affected our results. The attendances are up, and the audiences are all up on TV. Our biggest audience of the year was Round 11, during the Six Nations without international players. We’re not seeing the same effect as during the Pro12 or Pro14 when those players weren’t playing. We’ve measured that over the last three seasons, and the data shows there’s no discernible difference between when the international players are playing and when they aren’t.”
Anayi emphasized the importance of balancing player welfare with maximizing audience attendance and TV viewership. Despite the priority being the players’ well-being, the URC is not worried by the scheduling of games during international windows.
The revelation from Anayi provides a different perspective on the impact of scheduling games during international windows and challenges the assumption that it has a negative effect on the league.
This decision to continue with the inter-provincial clashes during international windows shows the URC’s commitment to prioritising the game’s growth and exposure, even amidst potential conflicts with international fixtures.
In conclusion, the URC’s approach to the scheduling of games during international windows underscores the importance of finding a balance between player welfare and maximising audience engagement. With Anayi’s reassurance, fans can look forward to continued exciting clashes between inter-provincial rivals, despite the challenges of international scheduling.