Quite, back in 2006, Ian Ritchie told them to “go and build a stadium if you want to increase your revenue growth." He went on to explain that we got none of the revenues generated by our 3 game tour in Australia and nor did the Lions.

The ABs think they're special. They're not.

It was put forward as a way to *manage* the flow, allowing a more formalised situation where players can sabbatical in the North without losing all chance of AB consideration. NZRU would have some say about how much they play/when they play & could call them back if they wanted, I believe.

Spoke to one of my corporate hospitality contacts this morning and he's getting worried that his clients are cottoning on to Twickenham not selling out. Another contact of his went in before the Oz game and was told there were 400 Cat 1 tickets unsold and would he like a batch of 20+? Similar situation for the SA game and less so the NZ game. My guy was sat in the debenture area where a row of 10 tickets were empty for NZ.

Perhaps the RFU have pushed it too far after all.

Also feel sorry for the Baa Baas as they seem to be trying everything to sell tickets. No doubt there's some fatigue from the local fans.

Spoke to one of my corporate hospitality contacts this morning and he's getting worried that his clients are cottoning on to Twickenham not selling out.

Also feel sorry for the Baa Baas as they seem to be trying everything to sell tickets. No doubt there's some fatigue from the local fans.

The first sentence of your 'edited' quote is, as a generalisation, inaccurate. England games at Twickenham this Autumn have been 'sell-outs'.

81,000 attendance on a capacity of 81,600 is - what 98% or 99%. Of those the empty seats were no-shows rather than 'not-solds'.

As for the Barbarians, well, I am sorry, but I think they are a 'yesterday' concept. That is why there is less demand.

Aren't the Barbarians teams rubbish these days?

Aren't the Barbarians teams rubbish these days?

Like the one that beat England in May?

but - the Barbaa's games are 'friendlies'
sometimes they are marred by players doing silly things just because they are retiring.  E.g. from memory, a prop tried to kick a conversion one year.
I find these games fun - but I think of them as a minor step up from games such as the "Help for heroes 15" v French Legends" game that was held at Richmond earlier this month.

I will go if:
-They don't cost much
-there is an element of charity about the game
-i really don't have anything better to do