Dowson: Things are going to get better

PREMIERSHIP clubs get their season underway this weekend with Northampton's director of rugby Phil Dowson looking confident that the gloom that has settled in the last 12 months after the collapse of three clubs and more England woe will lift.

- PAUL REES

The first five weeks of the campaign will see the top flight and Championship clubs take part in the group stage of the Premiership Rugby Cup with the league campaign kicking off next month on the weekend of the World Cup quarter-finals.

"It has not been a good. look," said Dowson, who is holding Northampton's reins for a second season. "With three clubs going bust in one season, and I appreciate you have to take Covid into account, and some of the recent England results, the game needs looking at.

"I hope there is a certain amount of reflection on how we work the game, how it is funded, the pathway stuff, how we create an appetite to watch it and how we generate an excitement around it.

"Regardless of how England do, and international results go up and down, you need to make sure you do not have people losing their jobs mid-season, physios, strength and conditioning staff, players, coaches, marketing and ticketing staff, all that heritage gone because it has not been managed correctly.