Put differences aside to rebuild the Premiership
The Rugby Paper|April 05, 2020
The RFU have announced that for the Championship and below, the final league tables will be decided on a best playing record formula, meaning that Newcastle will, surprise, surprise, be promoted back to the Premiership, replacing Saracens.
COLIN BOAG
Put differences aside to rebuild the Premiership

However, the rugby world everywhere, not just in England, is going to look very different when all of this is eventually over, and all of the clubs are going to be desperately looking to generate cash.

In that situation it’s time for radical ideas and a 13team Premiership, with 24 matches instead of 22 for a number of years would go some way to helping the situation. It might help some of the Championship clubs too, as it would pause their fruitless chase to get promoted, and give them time to rebuild their finances and reconsider their ambitions.

For years the debate about promotion and relegation has rumbled on with very little movement on anyone’s part – in fact positions have become increasingly entrenched – but times have changed. There are rumours that one or more Premiership clubs might go under during this crisis, but let’s all hope that can be avoided, as our league is the best in the world, and despite the Sarries debacle, is run with a high degree of integrity.

This story is from the April 05, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.

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This story is from the April 05, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.

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