So, how are we going to go about picking a team?

For those of you who are new to Premiership Rugby, there are 12 teams in the league. Each team plays a home and away against their 11 peer teams. Points in the standings -- England calls them the 'league table' -- are awarded for wins (4), draws (2), games in which four tries are scored (1) (rugby's touchdown equivalent), and games lost by 7 or fewer points (1). You add up your points at the end of the year, top four points-getters go to the playoffs, lowest point total is relegated to National Division One. (The National Division One winner is promoted to Premiership for the subsequent year.)

Got it? Ok, let's find a team to root for. First, our criteria. I turn to Bill Simmons of ESPN.com who faced a similar task in finding an English Premier League Soccer team to root for in 2006. Copying some of his criteria, and adding my own, we have my list of what I'm looking for. (Relative weights of each criterion are in parentheses).
1.) TV Viewership/Media Availability (8)
I don't live in England. I might vacation there at some point, but in large part my ability to watch Premiership rugby depends on the efforts of the league or the team to broadcast itself. If a team isn't broadcast, it's more difficult to root for it, and then I might as well mow the lawn. Bonus points for a Youtube presence.
2.) Key Players/People (6)
Does the team have rootable players that I could get behind? Is the owner or coach a cool guy? I don't need choir boys here, but if I can avoid rooting for bad guys I will. Let's just say I don't want to be rooting for Bad Boys if I can help it...
3.) Current Talent (5)
All else being equal, I'd prefer to not root for a team going through a rebuilding process. If I'm going to make a jump and follow a team, I'm going to need some early momentum. If you're good now that's better than being good in a year or two.
4.) Jersey (4)
England calls these 'kits.' Not a big deal, but if your uniforms are hideous than you're a tougher sell to the wife. Sorry.
5. & 6.) Season Titles, Premership Titles (3 each)
If you've won before you're more likely to win again. All I have to grade you is your history.
7.) Premiership Titles minus Season Titles (2)
If a team can pull off an upset and win a premiership title when they don't have the #1 seed in the playoffs, that's really impressive to me. Likewise, if a team DOESN'T win the premiership if they have the #1 seed, that is equally unimpressive. This category measures that.

8. & 9.) Stadium (2) & Vacationability (3)
Not a big deal, but if your stadium is cool and your city is or should be on my vacation destination list, it's easier for me to root for your team. Sorry, it just is.
10.) Demotion Potential (-6)
I wish I could tell my new team that I have time for them in National Division One. I don't. I stand no chance of ever watching you if you're relegated, you have to avoid last place.
11.) Bandwagon Potential (-7)
You know how way more UNC fans, Yankee fans, Cowboy fans, and Laker fans show up whenever those teams are doing well? I hate that. Everyone hates that. I can't just be the American fan of English rugby who jumped on the who's-hot-now bandwagon; I refuse to do it.


So, before we start, we have two teams that I'm vetoing off the bat.

Leicester Tigers. Having seen a few of Leicester's games, they seem well-run, well-mannered, and well-coached. They've won 8 titles and 2 of the last 3. Bandwagon potential is way too high, and this pick is way too easy. Pass.


Leeds Carnegie. Recently promoted. Congratulations. That puts you at the #1 risk for relegation. Pass.



I'll rate each of the other 10 teams on a 1-8 scale, multiply the rating by the category's rating, and see what kind of a list that helps us narrow things down to. That's not the whole story, but it gives us a starting point.