Prem Cup gets the surprise go-ahead

THE Professional Game Board (PGB) are set to ratify controversial plans to stage the Premiership Rugby Cup this season at their next meeting in early February.

It was thought that the Premiership Rugby Cup, won last season by Sale Sharks after a thrilling 27-19 victory against Harlequins, would naturally fall by the wayside in an already overloaded fixture schedule.

The PGB, which includes representatives of the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players’ Association, have always insisted that safety and the welfare of players is paramount and by signing off the competition they will leave themselves open to criticism.

However, driven by the need for TV income, the Premiership clubs have identified four midweek slots in April when the pool stages can be played.

Starting on Wednesday April 13, the proposed Premiership Rugby Cup will be used as a development tournament for young academy players and those on the fringes of first team squad.

It will adopt the same format as previous seasons, with a semi-final and final held in May.

BT Sport will broadcast two of the midweek matches in each round as well as the knockout stages.