Baxter: Clubs will take Cup more seriously

THE Premiership will shut down next season during the two international windows, meaning more clubs are likely to take the Premiership Cup seriously.

- PAUL REES

Gloucester won the cup earlier this month having identified at the start of the campaign that making the knock-out stage would provide at least one competitive fixture when the league went into hibernation for the Six Nations.

The shape of next season is still being discussed but it will be different from the current campaign which started with the World Cup.

The Premiership Cup’s group matches were played in the opening five weeks of the campaign, but next season there will be an 11-week league break for the autumn international campaign and then the Six Nations.

Plans being considered include having a rest week at the start of each break period and playing three Premiership Cup matches in November. The group stage would conclude in February with the semi-finals and final to follow.

“What we need to see is fixture lists out nice and early so we can get everything arranged,” said Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby. “This is what we have signed up to with 10 clubs, the best players involved in the Premiership as often as possible and the Premiership Cup operating in the fallow periods.