Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Top flight relegation scrapped this year
THE side finishing bottom of this season’s Gallagher Premiership will not drop into the Championship after it was confirmed that the RFU council has scrapped relegation.
Following a vote passed with a “strong majority” yesterday, the English top-flight will expand to 13 teams next term, with one side promoted from the second tier.
Although the measure is only for this campaign, there will be further engagement with the league’s broadcaster, BT Sport, along with the clubs, sponsors, players and fans on what happens for future seasons.
Before the global pandemic forced the hand of the RFU, it had been mooted in previous seasons that the Premiership be increased to 13 teams (at this point the 13 stakeholders are the 12 top-flight members and Saracens) and then ring-fenced so the threat of relegation was removed.
Concerns were raised by broadcasters that relegation added to the excitement of the season, but those are understood to have been allayed by the assurance that putting a hold on relegation would apply to this season only.
The decision to scrap the drop this season will come as a relief to Gloucester, who are currently at the foot of the table with just one win and nine points from eight games, while Bath are not faring a great deal better, lying just two places and three points above their old rivals.
ENGLAND centre Jonathan Joseph has received a twoweek suspension for a breach of Covid-19 regulations in line with Government guidelines.
The versatile Bath back mixed households with team-mate Elliott Stooke and Wasps hooker Gabriel Oghre in an incident which has seen all three hit with bans.
An online independent panel took place earlier this week with the trio charged with breaching RFU Rule 5.12, which relates to conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and/or game.
Two players travelled to visit the third and after all three accepted the charges, Joseph was given a two-week ban, and Oghre and lock Stooke three weeks each.
A statement from Wasps read:
“We were extremely disappointed to learn of this incident, particularly as we regularly remind all players and staff about the latest protocols and their responsibility to set an example by adhering to them.
“A club investigation has already taken place and this matter has been dealt with internally.”
Each ban has been backdated with Joseph set to return after he sits out this evening’s Gallagher Premiership fixture at Sale.
Meanwhile, club colleague Stooke will be available again after the home clash against Gloucester on February 19.
Oghre will also complete his suspension that weekend once he has missed Wasps’ trip to Leicester on February 20, but featured in their 22-17 loss to Northampton last Saturday despite the start of his ban including the match with Harlequins on January 31.
Bath, in a statement, revealed their club disciplinary committee chaired by chief executive Tarquin McDonald determined that both players would be suspended for one game with a maximum fine permitted, while the pair have apologised.
Stooke, who drove home a member of another household, was issued with a further sanction of 15 hours community service and given a formal written warning.
England international Joseph was a surprise absentee in Eddie Jones’ 28-man squad for the Six Nations last month, but his suspension would have ruled him out of the first two fixtures.