Premiership could face BT rebate of millions

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY will face demands for a multi-millionpound rebate from BT Sport if they pursue plans to scrap relegation next season and introduce a ring-fenced competition from the 2021-22 campaign.

As Sportsmail revealed yesterday, the anticipated mothballing of the Championship has left the Premiership scrambling to come up with a new competition structure for the next few seasons.

A proposal to grant automatic promotion to Saracens next year if necessary is almost certain to be ratified. The RFU are unlikely to block Saracens’ readmission given the club’s importance to eddie Jones’ england set-up.

But such a move would have commercial implications, particularly if the Premiership embrace a closed- shop approach to the top tier. BT Sport are understood to have honoured last season’s £40milllion television deal in full, despite the interruption caused by the pandemic.

But the broadcasters feel strongly that removing the threat of relegation would adversely affect the value of their product.

They are contractually entitled to a rebate if the competition structure is altered midway through the contract.

BT Sport have already agreed rebates with football’s Premier league and Scottish Premier league due to last season’s schedule disruption.

Moving to a 13 or 14- team ring-fenced competition from the 2021- 22 season — with talks ongoing over giving ealing the option to buy their way into the Premiership — may also affect the value of the next Tv contract. The current deal expires next summer.

Premiership Rugby are in advanced talks with BT Sport over signing an extension, but the broadcaster expects to pay less than the current £40m.

BT’s head of sport Simon green has said: ‘I think everyone will be more discerning about what they pay, given the country is facing a potential recession which could leave viewers with less money in their pockets.’

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