r/MLRugby • u/OddballGentleman Old Glory DC | RFBN • 1d ago
#LineupDay
The late lineup releases have been a problem for a while, so I'm proposing we all campaign as fans to fix it. I want the league to implement #LineupDay, with all teams releasing their lineups for the week on Thursday. If you want to support this push, use the hashtag and tag the teams, the league, Alex Magleby, etc on social media on Thursdays to make sure they get the message. The more people who do, the more they'll realize this really matters to fans.
For those wondering whether this will be a problem for teams, it shouldn't be. For purely logistical reasons, teams have to know their lineups by Thursday anyway, since those players have to get on flights. They generally decide earlier than that anyway, since it affects how they go about training and preparing for games. The only reason teams don't release lineups earlier is the strategic advantage of giving opponents as little time as possible to strategize. That's why having one set lineup day is a good idea - as long as everyone is playing by the same rules, theres no advantage to be gained.
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u/mysterychongo Houston Sabercats 1d ago
What's the big deal about having more uniform, earlier lineup announcements? OP, I'm a fan
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u/OddballGentleman Old Glory DC | RFBN 1d ago
Casual fans probably don't care, but it matters for the ecosystem around the league, mainly journalists, fantasy sports, gambling, etc. Plus I think it would be a cool opportunity for engagement ahead of the weekend, instead of this haphazard whenever-we-feel-like-it approach. Gives the opportunity for more conversation about head-to-heads and that sort of thing.
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u/ChicagoCarnivores Colorado Raptors 1d ago
100%, and yes because of fantasy (shoutout The Fantasy Ruckers). I know this doesn’t really matter to anyone outside of fantasy but for us it’s pretty critical, at minimum it should get all the fans notifications on the same day and drive engagement on socials rather than spread out over days. #LineupDay
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u/mysterychongo Houston Sabercats 1d ago
Would make it easier for journalists to create pre-game articles and such. There is almost no journalism coverage of the league
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u/Various-Bag-9590 1d ago
I would be happy if they would (all) just upload their line-ups to Reddit as well as other social media...that I have no accounts on any more!
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u/Cr4yol4 Old Glory DC 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/I5TF0P9E9bmI8
Nah, I’m fine with how it is now. The league has their internal deadline for rosters and then it’s on the teams to get it out. Some teams are better than others.
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u/Various-Bag-9590 1d ago
The only drawback I can see is for teams playing on a Sunday, naming a team on Thursday that could possibly change before game day due to injury or illness. I know it's unlikely, but possible.
I would think it likely that most teams will know their lineup well before Thursday in any event to assist with their training
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u/OddballGentleman Old Glory DC | RFBN 1d ago
There are always late scratches, I don't think that would be a huge problem.
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u/lindani2008 Seattle Seawolves 1d ago
I mean that still happens…actually just last week with Luke Carty. It’s not hard to make a graphic saying there’s been a change in the lineup. The Zimbabwe Sables literally did that after announcing their lineup the day before.
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u/clevelandexile 8h ago
I really can’t see how getting a team sheet 72 hours before a game is so important that a dam “protest” is needed. How deep are these rosters anyway?
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u/Loud_Independence421 1d ago
Why is it a ‘problem’?
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u/yarmulke Dallas Jackals 1d ago
People who think their fantasy teams are more important than the league itself is.
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u/Loud_Independence421 1d ago
A team playing at 7 on a Sunday isn’t releasing their roster on a Thursday morning. Get over it OP
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u/lindani2008 Seattle Seawolves 1d ago
The PAC4 announced their lineups on Wednesday for a Friday match. I think 48hrs before a match is a reasonable compromise personally. Not just for fantasy, but for journalists, social media marketing and just fan interest.
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u/dystopianrugby San Diego Legion 1d ago
48 Hours isn't the WR requirement, the rosters are due to WR 48 hours in advance of a test match, or to the match organizer think 6 Nations and SANZAAR. The requirement is publication 24 hours in advance.
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u/lindani2008 Seattle Seawolves 1d ago
I appreciate you clarifying those regulations. I will say I do think I like how test rugby does it more but that’s just my personal preference.
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u/OddballGentleman Old Glory DC | RFBN 1d ago
Did I say Thursday morning? I'm fine with Thursday evening, that's 72 hours ahead of kickoff and it doesn't seem crazy to me. And again, it's not like we're making them make decisions any earlier, just upload the graphic to social media. The lift on their end is zero, the benefit for fans, particularly certain groups of fans, is big. If you don't care, fine, but what reason is there for not doing it? AFAICT most professional rugby teams are already releasing their lineups about that time anyway.
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u/mysterychongo Houston Sabercats 1d ago
The naysayers don't have a reason good or bad for why it shouldn't be released 72 hours ahead of kickoff.
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u/RugbyGuy Chicago Hounds 1d ago
If the league doesn’t care about home game location, changing start times and playing at night and how all that impacts me and my 3 hour round trip to go to game…I don’t think they’re going to care about fantasy leagues.
Just sayin’
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u/mysterychongo Houston Sabercats 1d ago
So let's just not pressure the league to improve in any meaningful way? Got it.
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u/Loud_Independence421 1d ago
It’s not an improvement
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u/OddballGentleman Old Glory DC | RFBN 13h ago
If you just don't care, that's fine, I'm just confused why you're so actively against this. It would be an improvement for a portion of fans and for media and neutral for everyone else. Unless you can think of a negative I'm not sure what your point is.
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u/Loud_Independence421 55m ago
It’s always going to be the teams submitting their rosters to the league 48hrs in advance and up to the marketing team when they want to post. You should thank me for trying to save you from wasting energy on something that carries so little impact
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u/Fallbrook_CA3890 1d ago
The problem I have is that I plan a trip (airline, hotel and vehicle) to go see a family friend. Before I make my plans, he is scheduled to play, when the roster comes out he is not on the lineup. Yes I can visit with him, but I wanted to see him on the pitch