Saxons on schedule again ahead of World Cup 2019
ENGLAND’S second string Saxons will be revived next year with World Cup preparations in mind.
Planning is at an early stage but Red Rose boss Eddie Jones is keen on a Saxons fixture to run the rule over fringe players who could potentially cover injuries in Japan.
The Saxons have not played since the successful two-match tour of South Africa in 2016, but a game could potentially take place in the summer of 2019.
RFU professional rugby director Nigel Melville,
right, told The Rugby
Paper: “We haven’t considered any Saxons games this summer because we’ve got three Tests in South Africa, but we’d like to do something next season.
“It’ll be part of our World Cup preparations but we’re just trying to work out when best to play it and the availability of other teams.”
Meanwhile, Melville has described plans by Premiership clubs to expand the A-League into a full-blown 22-match competition as ‘unrealistic’.
He said: “With squad sizes and the cost of travel, can clubs afford to do that? The current A-league model doesn’t work, we’re having games cancelled or teams filled with guest players, so for me a fullblown fixture list is unrealistic.
“I’ve always struggled with the A-League and it’s difficult for teams to manage, so we need to look at alternatives around dual-registration.
“More A-League fixtures this season have meant fewer players loaned to Championship clubs, which is something we’d like to change.”
RFU councillors, meanwhile, have been warned of impending budget rises on Twickenham’s East Stand redevelopment because of ‘emerging fire safety and bomb blast requirements’.
Initially budgeted at £54m, costs have spiralled to £65.5m and, according to the minutes of the last RFU Council meeting on February 9, seen by TRP, ‘requirements continue to challenge the budgetary position which is under constant review’.
Consultants are also set to report on the future of the RFU Championship, which could lead to wage caps and a moratorium on promotion and relegation.
The minutes reveal: “Consultants EY have met with all Championship stakeholders and will complete their report, which will include recommendations, shortly.
“The report will cover wage to income ratios; the effectiveness of the Championship as a development tool; the increasing gap between the Premiership and Championship; ringfencing and promotion/ relegation amongst other areas.”
Judge Jeff Blackett, currently chairman of the Professional Game Board, will become RFU president in season 2020/21, succeeding Peter Wheeler.