Premiership to be reduced to ten teams?

[UKHamlet]

Proposals to reduce the Gallagher Premiership to ten teams and introduce a Premiership Two division will be examined as part of an urgent review of the structure of the English club game.

In a joint statement reacting to the unprecedented crisis caused by Worcester Warriors going into administration with Wasps set to follow next week, the RFU and Premiership Rugby also outlined the need for greater financial transparency from all clubs

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cris ... -ljg6j0j33

[16th man]

Reports that the RFU are looking to use the situation to bring in Central contracts.

Nominally, for a sport where so much of the income is international game driven, I reckon its a better model, if its well managed. If the RFU will actually manage it well is, as ever, open to debate.

[Puja]

I don't like the idea of central contracts. The EPS changes so much and so regularly, that I don't see how it can possibly be managed - what happens to a player who drops out of the England squad? Does his club have to abruptly find the money/cap space to take over his contract?

Mind, I'll swallow many things if it gets us the 10 team Prem, a revamped Prem2, and no international clashes that I've been banging on about for years. It feels like it's so close. It would be especially sweet considering, until recently, it was looking like an imminent 14 team Prem and more, more, more games!

Puja

[16th man]

It would he interesting to see how many of those EPS changes are down to injury at the time of selection vs actual tactical or form picks though.

Which is possibly another argument against for rugby. How many players do you need to CC to ensure you've got the majority of a match day 23 under your control at any given point.

[Oakboy]

Would the reduction to 10 be achieved by relegating the bottom club? That's the obvious logic. If Wasps disappear, the 11th club, currently, is Bath. Whilst I like the 10 team idea, it will be a painful process at some point.

[Which Tyler]

And a well deserved relegation it would be (currently, there's time yet) - and should have happened over the summer.

[FKAS]

Cutting to 10 sounds fine in principle but unless there's actual promotion and relegation then the Prem risks losing either Bath who are a well supported club in a rugby heartland or Newcastle union's only real torch bearer up in the North East. Neither is appealing.

[fivepointer]

In a 10 team league can the south west have 4 teams? Seems a stretch if it leaves only 1 side in the north. Dont see any easy answers.

[Oakboy]

In a 10 team league can the south west have 4 teams? Seems a stretch if it leaves only 1 side in the north. Dont see any easy answers.

A merger between Bath and Bristol?

[Banquo]

In a 10 team league can the south west have 4 teams? Seems a stretch if it leaves only 1 side in the north. Dont see any easy answers.

Don't see how you can force distribution without erm...disenfranchising... loyal supporters. You have relatively fervent support for RU in the West Country, Midlands and some bits around London. Unfortunately, whilst there is still a lot of club rugby up North, the spectator base isn't really there to maintain (a lot of) prem rugby--- the hey-day of Northern Division rugby being a very strong force was not capitalised upon way back when.... many senior sides have folded for a variety of reasons, really really sad.

[Which Tyler]

In a 10 team league can the south west have 4 teams? Seems a stretch if it leaves only 1 side in the north. Dont see any easy answers.

A merger between Bath and Bristol?

Rather be relegated.

TBH though, a 10 team league really needs greater collaboration with the champ (or Prem2, or whatever) to be viable.
10 and ring fence is a death knell for English club rugby

[jimKRFC]

In a 10 team league can the south west have 4 teams? Seems a stretch if it leaves only 1 side in the north. Dont see any easy answers.

A merger between Bath and Bristol?

Let's not have that idea thrown around again..... it was Malcom Peirce's plan if Bath finished bottom. By Bath, merge them with Bristol and take Bristol's place in the premiership. The Bristol players lost by just enough to get relegated and save Bath & Bristol (2002/2003 season).

[Peej]

France has accepted this problem. For a long time top tier rugby was concentrated almost entirely in the centre and south west. It's only in recent years - and with millions of Euros thrown about - that rugby has established itself in Paris, in the north-east and in the south east. And even then, there's so little traction for top level rugby in some regions.