There are also now fewer regular-season URC games, meaning that young players and fringe squad members have fewer chances to get game time.
Anayi said the URC is exploring the possibility of remedying that issue with a new competition.
“When we revised the format, it came out that it had been great that there were development pathway elements to the season [in the previous format], four to six games a season to bring players through,” said Anayi. “They could come through quickly if they were Jordan Larmour and so on.
“One of the things about not playing on international weekends is that we don’t have that pathway. We have been asked to look at an ‘A’ team league or a Next Generation competition that might fit that role. It might be four to six weekends a year potentially within those international windows, so we’re looking at that.
“A little like the women’s competition, there are different requirements in each territory. Part of the economics of our clubs is that they have reduced their squads because they don’t have to play on international weekends, so they’d have to hire back up again which would be counter-productive. So I think it would have to be a development U23 type of competition for it to really work. That’s something we’re looking at now.”
However, there are no plans in place for a second division of the men’s URC, bringing in more clubs beyond the current 16 and creating a promotion/relegation dynamic.
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie recently suggested that the URC was looking to create a ‘B division’ of the league, but Anayi shot that down.
“No, it’s not on the cards,” he said. “We’ve got a job on our hands to make sure the URC is as good as it can be and we’re getting there, for sure. So it’s not for the present.
“We do love the Cheetahs, they’re a big part of our history, so if we can help them in any way to find a competition that does work, you can rest assured we would do that.
“But there are no plans for a URC 2 at the moment.”
https://www.the42.ie/urc-womens-competi ... 6-Apr2022/
In sintesi, forse faranno uno URC u23 in formato ridotto che si giocherà durante le finestre internazionali, per poter dare più opportunità di mettersi in mostra ai giovani. È invece escluso uno URC B.
Secondo le informazioni che ho raccolto in questi mesi, i Cheetahs sperano di organizzare nel 2023 un torneo internazionale, evoluzione della Toyota Challenge tenutasi alla fine del 2021. All'epoca avevano partecipato il Baia Mare, club della Superliga rumena, e i Diables Barcelona, un club formatosi apposta per il torneo e fatto quasi per intero di sudafricani più qualche catalano proveniente da club della Division de Honor B. Alcuni sono scettici sulla futura partecipazione di club spagnoli (si parla Barcellona e Madrid) perché la FER ha investito nella RESC e quindi non darebbe il nullaosta per quest'altra competizione.
D'altronde questo Forum è sempre stato descritto come Bar.