National League Rugby Discussion Forum Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > League Rugby - www.leaguerugby.co.uk > The Championship
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - RFU Championship Clubs - Min Standards Criteria
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

IMPORTANT Remember to read the rules of the board and abide by them when posting.

RFU Championship Clubs - Min Standards Criteria
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
castleparknight View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Location: Doncaster
Status: Offline
Points: 3058 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote castleparknight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: RFU Championship Clubs - Min Standards Criteria
    Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 15:47

RFU Championship Clubs – Minimum Standards Criteria

13th February 2023

Please see below a statement issued by the RFU concerning Championship Clubs application for the Minimum Standards Criteria for promotion.

The RFU Board has ratified the recommendation of the Professional Game Board on the Minimum Standards Criteria assessments for Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders; the two Championship clubs that applied to be assessed. The outcome is as follows:

  • Doncaster Knights have satisfied the Minimum Standards Criteria and are eligible for promotion to the Premiership at the end of season 2022/23. Castle Park has a licensed capacity of over 5,000, with planning permission to extend beyond 10,000. The club has also provided detailed information regarding the safety assurance process to be undertaken by their local authority.
  • Ealing Trailfinders were not able to evidence the necessary licensed capacity, supported by a safety certificate or planning permission to achieve a capacity of over 10,000. Ealing Trailfinders are therefore not eligible for promotion to the Premiership at the end of season 2022/23.

Minimum Standards Criteria are in place to ensure Premiership Rugby clubs and promoted clubs have suitable facilities to protect player safety and welfare and to provide a good quality, safe environment for spectators. Each club and its nominated ground undergo an annual independent audit to assess compliance with the Minimum Standards Criteria.

The Minimum Standards Criteria were revised in 2022 around the minimum capacity of grounds, to allow additional time for a club to build up to a capacity of 10,001 (details of the changes below).

Professional Game Board Chair, Phil De Glanville, said: “The decision to support Championship club promotion, with a phased approach to ground development, was taken to support the transition to the Premiership and to allow more time to achieve the 10,001 capacity criteria.

“The RFU and all members of the Professional Game Board would like to thank the Premiership and Championship clubs for the work being undertaken on finding ways to ensure the second tier of professional rugby in England can become more self-sustaining.”
Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
Back to Top
*Stalwart View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner


Joined: 15 Oct 2022
Location: Penzance
Status: Offline
Points: 353 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote *Stalwart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 16:34
"Professional Game Board Chair, Phil De Glanville, said: “The decision to support Championship club promotion, with a phased approach to ground development, was taken to support the transition to the Premiership and to allow more time to achieve the 10,001 capacity criteria.

“The RFU and all members of the Professional Game Board would like to thank the Premiership and Championship clubs for the work being undertaken on finding ways to ensure the second tier of professional rugby in England can become more self-sustaining.”

What a load of waffle. The top tier is not self-sustaining for goodness sake but they don't seem bothered about that. They cut the capacity for promotion to 5,000 but there had to be planning permission and builders in place to go up to 10,001. So they're asking clubs to take a massive financial gamble in the hope they might win the league. Ludicrous. I really hope Ealing take this to litigation.



Edited by *Stalwart - 13 Feb 2023 at 16:34
*Stalwart
Back to Top
billesleyexile View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 20 Jun 2013
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 1855 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billesleyexile Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 16:51
Originally posted by *Stalwart *Stalwart wrote:

They cut the capacity for promotion to 5,000 but there had to be planning permission and builders in place to go up to 10,001. So they're asking clubs to take a massive financial gamble in the hope they might win the league. Ludicrous. I really hope Ealing take this to litigation.

Problem with that though is that Doncaster have done the prem a massive favour here - providing a candidate that can jump through the ludicrous hoops, so Ealing can't argue that no one could...

As an aside, really pleased for Donny that they've got themselves into this position and passed the audit after a lot of hard work and investment - that really should be seen as a massive step forward for them even though in doing so they're providing a handy spoiler for the RFU to hide behind. Not their fault. 


Edited by billesleyexile - 13 Feb 2023 at 16:52
keep the faith
Back to Top
castleparknight View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Location: Doncaster
Status: Offline
Points: 3058 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote castleparknight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 17:02
True enough - hadn’t thought of that situation i.e. making it difficult for Ealing
Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
Back to Top
corporalcarrot View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 22 Sep 2013
Location: St Brelade
Status: Offline
Points: 4724 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote corporalcarrot Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 17:05
The RFU can change & bend the rules to suit their purpose. If they want Ealing or Donny in the top league they will make it happen. They could deduct points from teams above Donny for players stepping on cracks in the pavement or wearing odd socks if it suited them. Loading prospective promotion candidates with debt to fund ground development which no one wants is barking mad. Rather than go through this farce wouldn't it be better for the RFU to simply nominate the club they want - the process has nowt to do with whether a team actually wins games on the field.
Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD.
Back to Top
OldNick View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner


Joined: 20 May 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 3420 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OldNick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 17:05
So, no promotion this year.

Or probably ever again when 10+10 comes in.
Back to Top
castleparknight View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Location: Doncaster
Status: Offline
Points: 3058 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote castleparknight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 17:15
Originally posted by corporalcarrot corporalcarrot wrote:

The RFU can change & bend the rules to suit their purpose. If they want Ealing or Donny in the top league they will make it happen. They could deduct points from teams above Donny for players stepping on cracks in the pavement or wearing odd socks if it suited them. Loading prospective promotion candidates with debt to fund ground development which no one wants is barking mad. Rather than go through this farce wouldn't it be better for the RFU to simply nominate the club they want - the process has nowt to do with whether a team actually wins games on the field.

So can all teams, other than the Knights, please wear odd socks and step on all the cracks for the rest of the season please?
Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
Back to Top
Big Eddie View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 5086 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Eddie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 17:15
Originally posted by OldNick OldNick wrote:

So, no promotion this year.

Or probably ever again when 10+10 comes in.


.....which sensible club would ever want to join the ludicrous loss making cartel called Premiership Rugby

1. It is boring to watch
2. It loses money every single year
3. It appears to be causing life changing irreversible illness
4. It probably doesn't have any realistic future

I like the rugby played in National 2, I love the rugby played in National 1, I am thrilled about the rugby played in the Championship........I have absolutely no desire to watch any Premiership Rugby

As far as I am concerned the Championship is the pinnacle of rugby as I played it and now watch it....
''The future isn't what it used to be''
Back to Top
Clive Norling View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner


Joined: 06 Mar 2018
Location: Reading
Status: Offline
Points: 366 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Clive Norling Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 19:55
Big Eddie .... well said my friend
Back to Top
373 View Drop Down
British and Irish Lion
British and Irish Lion


Joined: 23 Jun 2016
Location: Norweb
Status: Offline
Points: 202 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 373 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 20:00
Again, the whole designation of sports stadium comes down to government legislation that’s been in place since 1975. For all the arguments about bath, they are actually catered for in the legislation itself. For whatever reason the exemption given to football clubs has never been rolled across to any other sport. Ealing could technically be up tomorrow if the legislation allowed for 5000 capacity rugby stadia (and they got the relevant safety certificate)
Back to Top
Count Ford View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner


Joined: 20 May 2017
Location: WA4
Status: Offline
Points: 412 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Count Ford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 20:42
"The RFU and all members of the Professional Game Board would like to thank the Premiership and Championship clubs for the work being undertaken on finding ways to ensure the second tier of professional rugby in England can become more self-sustaining.”

The nerve of them coming out with this sanctimonious nonsense when 2 of the Premiership clubs have just gone bust
Back to Top
gerg_861 View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 11 Jun 2017
Location: Ealing
Status: Offline
Points: 2925 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote gerg_861 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 21:43
Originally posted by Count Ford Count Ford wrote:

"The RFU and all members of the Professional Game Board would like to thank the Premiership and Championship clubs for the work being undertaken on finding ways to ensure the second tier of professional rugby in England can become more self-sustaining.”

The nerve of them coming out with this sanctimonious nonsense when 2 of the Premiership clubs have just gone bust

Yet, part of their plan is to force a club with no debts to commit to a £10m+ stadium plan when they have no need of that many seats. Sack them all.
Back to Top
Big Eddie View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 5086 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Eddie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 21:59
The RFU have been unfit and incompetent administrators of our game for the last 20 years ……if there was proper democratic accountability most of the RFU management and the supine RFU council would have been shown the door years ago

Edited by Big Eddie - 14 Feb 2023 at 09:49
''The future isn't what it used to be''
Back to Top
dumbape View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 866 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dumbape Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Feb 2023 at 22:47
U n f e c k i n g B e l i e v a b l e !

What a blessing it would be if we could open and shut our ears as easily as we open and shut our eyes!
Back to Top
PiffPaff View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 30 Oct 2014
Location: Manchester
Status: Offline
Points: 1126 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PiffPaff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 04:57
BE, you better let Colin Free know he's "supine" as the Cheshire RFU Council Rep spends most if not all his Saturdays at Paton Field
Crouch, Bind, Tweet!
Back to Top
Robb View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 24 Jan 2017
Location: South East
Status: Offline
Points: 1677 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Robb Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 06:19
The RFU screws Ealing over again, I knew they would. 

Now Ealing have to carry on with that lawsuit but its probably going to be a little harder since they loosened the regs.
Back to Top
Thunderbird View Drop Down
British and Irish Lion
British and Irish Lion
Avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2013
Location: East Anglia
Status: Offline
Points: 171 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thunderbird Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 08:11
Deflection tactics, takes the attention of the Worcester/Wasps debacle. 
Back to Top
castleparknight View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 07 Jun 2012
Location: Doncaster
Status: Offline
Points: 3058 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote castleparknight Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 08:15
Originally posted by 373 373 wrote:

Again, the whole designation of sports stadium comes down to government legislation that’s been in place since 1975. For all the arguments about bath, they are actually catered for in the legislation itself. For whatever reason the exemption given to football clubs has never been rolled across to any other sport. Ealing could technically be up tomorrow if the legislation allowed for 5000 capacity rugby stadia (and they got the relevant safety certificate)

If my understanding is correct (big IF) clubs have to be licensed to hold 5k, have a safety certificate in place, and planning permission to extend to 10k. I am under the impression that Ealing did not meet these criteria - factoring in these criteria surely some blame lies on the steps of Ealing? If Doncaster could achieve it, within the prescribed period, surely Ealing with their significant resources could too. I did see some reference to Ealing Council being late with the issue of the safety certificate (not sure if this is factual)- is this the only reason Ealing was rejected? Are they licensed to hold 5k plus? I am sure I saw that Ealing had laid out a proposal to expand the ground in phases, was this a blocker (if so then I think that is poor on the RFU’s behalf as it showed great sense by Ealing).

Either way I do feel for the Ealing supporters and players and hope that some arrangements can be agreed, if not this season then next.
Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
Back to Top
Big Eddie View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner
Avatar

Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 5086 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Eddie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 09:46
Originally posted by PiffPaff PiffPaff wrote:

BE, you better let Colin Free know he's "supine" as the Cheshire RFU Council Rep spends most if not all his Saturdays at Paton Field

Colin knows my views on the RFU, its structure, its leadership and its supine governance........he will probably be rather pleased I wasn't more vociferous in my condemnation........my gentle criticism was of course tempered by the fruit filter.

If the management of the RFU and its governance in the form of the RFU Council Members could step outside of their introspective and indulgent bubble and look critically at their own performance over the last 20 years I am sure that to a man they would be appalled at their own patronising and self absorbed approach to the governance of the game as a whole. 

I do not believe that the totality of RFU management and the members of the RFU Council are incompetent, self interested individuals. It is just that the undemocratic structure of the RFU encourages such behaviour and by and large once individuals have entered its hallowed edifice they meekly sucumb to group think and self interest.

There needs to be radical change if the game as we know it is to survive.
''The future isn't what it used to be''
Back to Top
*Stalwart View Drop Down
World Cup Winner
World Cup Winner


Joined: 15 Oct 2022
Location: Penzance
Status: Offline
Points: 353 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote *Stalwart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2023 at 09:50
Originally posted by castleparknight castleparknight wrote:

Originally posted by 373 373 wrote:

Again, the whole designation of sports stadium comes down to government legislation that’s been in place since 1975. For all the arguments about bath, they are actually catered for in the legislation itself. For whatever reason the exemption given to football clubs has never been rolled across to any other sport. Ealing could technically be up tomorrow if the legislation allowed for 5000 capacity rugby stadia (and they got the relevant safety certificate)

If my understanding is correct (big IF) clubs have to be licensed to hold 5k, have a safety certificate in place, and planning permission to extend to 10k. I am under the impression that Ealing did not meet these criteria - factoring in these criteria surely some blame lies on the steps of Ealing? If Doncaster could achieve it, within the prescribed period, surely Ealing with their significant resources could too. I did see some reference to Ealing Council being late with the issue of the safety certificate (not sure if this is factual)- is this the only reason Ealing was rejected? Are they licensed to hold 5k plus? I am sure I saw that Ealing had laid out a proposal to expand the ground in phases, was this a blocker (if so then I think that is poor on the RFU’s behalf as it showed great sense by Ealing).

Either way I do feel for the Ealing supporters and players and hope that some arrangements can be agreed, if not this season then next.

The issue f the safety certificate may well be the stumbling block. We talked to a lovely lady (Wendy) at Donny last season and she was saying how supportive the local council have been. Is that the difference?
It certainly is the case in Cornwall where the council have been obstructive over the building of the proposed Stadium For Cornwall for years, and recently one woman arbitrarily decided not to include it in the levelling up bid. Compare that to Devon, where Exeter have had the backing of their council at every stage.
*Stalwart
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.04
Copyright ©2001-2021 Web Wiz Ltd.