Promotion to the prem

gerg_861 wrote: ...ahh, but will there be a premiership at all soon? Covid loans coming due, and government losing patience. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-13244757/amp/Government-Premiership-rugby-150million-Covid-19-loans.html

The Championship Clubs Committee met today to hear an update from their Executive on progress made in discussions about the future of Tier 2 of English rugby.

While there was at one point in the recent history of this crucial process a deadline of March 31st for the selection of clubs for a second tier, that deadline was scrapped some time ago and there are currently a series of important and intensive discussions going on around the league, which will be launched for the 2025/26 season.

Those discussions between the CCC, the RFU and, where relevant, Premiership Rugby Ltd, cover all the basic points needed to establish a new Tier 2 for the good of the English game and for the security and planning necessary to the current Championship clubs.

There is no deadline for these discussions, although clearly it is important that agreement is reached as quickly as possible so that planning for both the new Tier 2 league and for the 2024/25 season can begin.

Solid progress has been made on the various issues being discussed. The parties involved believe that an agreement is within reach, although some very important topics still need to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion for all the parties.

These are vital discussions and are taking place in an intensive, progressive and co-operative atmosphere.

No doubt, when outstanding issues are resolved, a public statement will be made, but in the meantime, please be assured that the future of Championship clubs and the interests of those who aspire to join the second tier of our game are being given the priority they deserve by all of us involved.

 

Simon Halliday, Chairman, Championship Clubs Committee.

Breakdown wrote: Richard Lowther wrote: gerg_861 wrote: ...ahh, but will there be a premiership at all soon? Covid loans coming due, and government losing patience. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-13244757/amp/Government-Premiership-rugby-150million-Covid-19-loans.html I don't believe the governments position is unreasonable.  The clubs can't increase the salary cap whilst at the same time pleading poverty.  The key thing the government wants is squad size reduction in the Premiership. That was a central recommendation from the "commissioners" they appointed to advise the RFU/PRL on financial and governance reform.  But if that is implemented, which seems very likely, it will encourage Premiership sides to strike deals with Championship sides to take on loan players who don't make their cut. Slippery slope if that happens.

Who???

Richard Lowther wrote: .  Isn't this where the Academy structure should step up to fill any shortfall and give game time to up and coming players?

Senior academy players are currently playing in the National leagues and Championship, very few are ready for Premiership rugby and even fewer will get a pro contract. Leicester Tigers currently have 38 senior squad members and 30 senior academy players, I think only one of those current academy players has played in the league, quite a few have been in squads for the Premiership Cup, most are playing in the National leagues and Championship. Of the academy lads O. Chessum, D. Cole, J. Hayes, G. Martin, Jv Poortvleit, T. Reffell, H. Simmons, F. Steward, H. Wells, J. Whitcombe and B. Youngs now currently have a pro contract. Pretty sure all of those also played for Championship or National league clubs.

Edited by tigerburnie - 28 Mar 2024 at 20:36

Donnyknightfan wrote: As a Donny supporter, I was pleased to see that Castle Park meets the criteria - it’s a fantastic ground and if it’s good enough to host England under 19s/20s and Women’s internationals then it was obviously good enough for Premiership Rugby.  However, would I want the Knights to go up with the way things are at the moment?. No. The chasm between the two leagues is vast and the financial inequality that the promoted team faces when they get up there makes it virtually impossible to compete unless you start throwing stupid money around speculatively, and we’ve seen how that ends up.  I wouldn’t want to kill the club off just for the sake of a couple of unsuccessful seasons in the Premiership. Roth had two goes at it and it very nearly pushed them out of existence - it’s just not worth it.  Until the promoted side gets an equal share of the money as soon as they get up and also get more time to recruit between seasons going up will be a poisoned chalice. You’re basically relegated before you start.

*Stalwart wrote: Donnyknightfan wrote: As a Donny supporter, I was pleased to see that Castle Park meets the criteria - it’s a fantastic ground and if it’s good enough to host England under 19s/20s and Women’s internationals then it was obviously good enough for Premiership Rugby.  However, would I want the Knights to go up with the way things are at the moment?. No. The chasm between the two leagues is vast and the financial inequality that the promoted team faces when they get up there makes it virtually impossible to compete unless you start throwing stupid money around speculatively, and we’ve seen how that ends up.  I wouldn’t want to kill the club off just for the sake of a couple of unsuccessful seasons in the Premiership. Roth had two goes at it and it very nearly pushed them out of existence - it’s just not worth it.  Until the promoted side gets an equal share of the money as soon as they get up and also get more time to recruit between seasons going up will be a poisoned chalice. You’re basically relegated before you start.  Completely agree with this. Castle Park is a cracking stadium. Having said that Ealing are a different kettle of fish. There seems to be a bottomless pit of money there and they showed in the Prem Cup that they are capable of competing against the big boys. If they played Newcastle now, over two legs, they'd probably beat them.  The inequality is compounded by the ridiculous parachute payment which allows a team relegated from the Prem to keep the majority of their Prem squad when they embark on the Championship season.

*Stalwart wrote: Donnyknightfan wrote: As a Donny supporter, I was pleased to see that Castle Park meets the criteria - it’s a fantastic ground and if it’s good enough to host England under 19s/20s and Women’s internationals then it was obviously good enough for Premiership Rugby.  However, would I want the Knights to go up with the way things are at the moment?. No. The chasm between the two leagues is vast and the financial inequality that the promoted team faces when they get up there makes it virtually impossible to compete unless you start throwing stupid money around speculatively, and we’ve seen how that ends up.  I wouldn’t want to kill the club off just for the sake of a couple of unsuccessful seasons in the Premiership. Roth had two goes at it and it very nearly pushed them out of existence - it’s just not worth it.  Until the promoted side gets an equal share of the money as soon as they get up and also get more time to recruit between seasons going up will be a poisoned chalice. You’re basically relegated before you start.  Completely agree with this. Castle Park is a cracking stadium. Having said that Ealing are a different kettle of fish. There seems to be a bottomless pit of money there and they showed in the Prem Cup that they are capable of competing against the big boys. If they played Newcastle now, over two legs, they'd probably beat them.  The inequality is compounded by the ridiculous parachute payment which allows a team relegated from the Prem to keep the majority of their Prem squad when they embark on the Championship season.

I suspect the 'ridiculous parachute payment' is there to protect payments to Premiership players who are usually on contracts of greater than 1 year length.

Without these the relegated club would likely go bankrupt.