Buccaneers come up trumps in low key provincial decider

Galwegians 14

ONE of the oldest trophies in club rugby in Connacht will be in the hands of Buccaneers for the next 12 months after they deservedly ended Galwegians’ reign in this competition, inflicting just a second defeat of the season on the Sky Blues in the process, at the Sportsground on Sunday afternoon.

The Senior Cup has long since lost its allure and the powers that be,at IRFU level, branch level and club level, are doing little to reinvigorate it. A little bit of lateral thinking would do a world of good, but after the wholly uninspiring AIL restructuring proposals were unveiled in September, most club rugby advocates have lost all hope of such innovation from their governing body.

As the new champions, Buccaneers advance to the All Ireland Cup semi finals in January following this four try to one victory in a game that was for the most part entertaining despite the fact that both sides were shorn of a number of key front liners, due to a combination of Connacht Eagles call ups and a perceived need to rest key components ahead of this weekend’s round of All-Ireland league action.

One could argue that the All Ireland semi final stage of this competition where the four provincial senior cup champions meet (the Bateman Cup) is a prime of example of innovation from the IRFU to boost these flailing, but historically significant provincial cups. That theory, however, is negated by the fact that the IRFU refuse to allow the final into a major national stadium, have struggled for years to find suitable neutral venues and last season just threw their hat at it and tossed a coin for home advantage.

Just compare that with the Welsh Rugby Football Union who open the Millennium Stadium each year for all their major club finals from senior down to junior. It’s adamning indictment of a union that are allowing the club game at senior level to continue on a path where the major clubs with the best amateur players in the regions are struggling to attract an audience or generate a buzz around games. The paltry crowd of well below 100 at the College Road venue on Saturday underlined as much.

Of course, it’s not all about the IRFU as the provincial branches and the clubs play their part in the process as well. The game didn't have a whole lot of promotion which was in part down to a difficulty in getting the clubs to agree on the day for the final. Then there was the admission charge at the gate, which is becoming a key issue in club rugby. Collections make sense, but admission fees seem a relic of a bygone era when the very best players were competing at full pelt in such games.

Asking the public to pay a tenner, is basically asking the local rugby fan if he or she is serious about attending the game. It is making them make a firm commitment via their wallet. It’s a bit rich of the powers to do that when the firm commitment isn’t there from clubs or competition organisers.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.