Richmond set for the drop. Sorry!
Former England scrum-half and London Scottish coach Pete Richards looks ahead to the Greene King Championship season
IT is Bristol’s title to lose in a league where I expect a very clear division between the full-time and part-time clubs. Without the presence of play-offs, there isn’t the banana skin for Bristol to slip up on as has been the case in previous years. With the squad that they’ve got – Steven Luatua’s wages are probably more than most Championship clubs combined – there has to be something seriously wrong if they don’t finish head and shoulders above the rest.
Probably of more interest will be the battle to avoid the drop. Unlike the race for top spot, I don’t think there is one clear standout candidate.
Of the six teams with the lowest budgets, you could argue the case for anyone of them to go down.
It will be fascinating to see how that situation unfolds throughout the year especially as clubs can now field up to ten Premiership English-qualified academy players within their matchday 22s.
While it is not yet clear who has linked
up with whom, the relationship with topflight clubs could be a key determining factor in the relegation battle.
If Harlequins or London Irish, for example, decide to send half-a-dozen lads to Richmond in the dark months of November and December, when those clubs have injuries and are a bit thin on the ground, then suddenly, their chances will improve.
That said, it is with a heavy heart that I tip Richmond to finish bottom.
When James Pritchard predicted we, at London Scottish, would go down in last year’s preview, we used it as motivation and I’m sure the Richmond lads will do the same!