Replying To legendzxix: "The provincial finals were last weekend. We have two weekends of qualifiers coming up. Is there scope to expand the Super 8s to a Final 16?
Final 16 can be 4 groups of 4. Reward provincial finalists with 2 home games. Reward group winners with a home quarter-final."
That'll be less reward for provincial winners going into Super 16 rather than last 8.
Replying To GreenandRed: "That'll be less reward for provincial winners going into Super 16 rather than last 8."
That's a fair comment. Is there a solution to a round robin at the final 16 stage and rewarding winning the province?
+ Provincial winners can be rewarded top seeding. + All other teams can be placed into Bowls B, C and D for the group draw based on a ranking based on the previous year's championship performance and the current year's league placing. + Provincial winners can be rewarded with two home games against the 2 highest ranked teams in their group.
I think every team can play 4 qualifier games to include the rounds up to their Provincial semifinals.
Round 1 Ulster and Leinster preliminaries, 24 other teams play an interprovincial tie. Round 2 Provincial quarterfinals, 8 teams not involved play an interprovincial tie. Round 3 16 Provincial semi finalists play 16 non Provincial semi finalists. Round 4 Provincial semifinals, 16 teams not involved play an interprovincial tie.
Every team plays 2 home and 2 away ties.
18 teams go forward to the next phase. 8 Provincial finalists plus 10 others.
Each team plays 3 matches. Provincial finals are included.
The 3 matches involve 1 home, 1 away and 1 neutral
Teams qualify for the quarterfinals based on points gained in those 3 matches, then as a tie break those gained in their 4 qualifying matches.
At the same time the bottom 14 can be playing a second tier competition to allow entry into the following season's top 18.
Provincial championships retained and count towards the All Ireland. More games for everyone. Reduces structural inequality caused by provincial system. Easily scheduled
2nd tier championship that gives qualification to the top competition.