Clubs plan massive Tier Two shake-up

REVOLUTIONARY plans for a new Championship league are set to be discussed.

Clubs in Tier Two have been formulating ways of reinvigorating their competition with former Saracens CEO Edward Griffiths leading the way.

He has compiled a 76-page document with a range of ideas ahead of a projected launch in 2021/22. Proposals are:

A new 16-team ‘Heartland’ Championship split into North and South conferences, with the top four in each going to play-offs and a grand final. The bottom four in each fight to avoid relegation.

A Divisional Championship forming the basis of a Heartland XV to take on Tier Two nations.

Clubs pooling resources to attract new broadcasting and sponsorship deals.

Minimum ground standards.

Championship clubs are determined to breathe new life into their competition, regardless of anything Premiership Rugby may have planned regarding promo

tion and relegation. Officials at many Tier Two sides believe the gap between them and the topflight has become so big that it would be more productive to go it alone now and tap into the more traditional grassroots rugby culture.

A club source told TRP: “The Heartland Championship will be about getting back to the virtues that lots of people like about Rugby Union.

“It’ll be about making our clubs less about business and more about rugby and its people.

“You have similar scenarios in New Zealand, where they have a Heartland and Provincial Championships beneath Super Rugby, and the knock-ons of a similar Heartland Championship here would also see a reinvigoration of the county and divisional rugby.

“I love the idea of a Heartland Championship XV that can then play second tier nations and create an aspirational pathway for guys who are not elite level professionals. If the Championship clubs can get this right, it can be an absolute winner.”

A Championship XV is not new. In 2012 a combined side coached by Mike Rayer and Ian Davies lost 52-21 to the Maori All Blacks in front of 5,000 fans at Doncaster’s Castle Park, while two years later a Martin Haag-led side beat Canada 28-23 at Worcester.

Both events proved popular among supporters and players, from whose ranks Jacob Rowan, Mark Atkinson, Calum Green, Tim Streather, Josh Bassett, Nic Rouse, Tom Cruse, Marco Mama and Phil Burgess (England 7s) emerged to enjoy top careers.

Reasons for its subsequent demise were never made clear by the RFU.

Championship clubs will meet this week to discuss their next move.