Advantage to France

NO RELEGATION from the Premiership at the end of a pandemic-distorted season? Fair enough. No relegation until 2025? That sounds more like an admission of defeat in the great club rugby battle with France.

There are now three fully professional divisions across the water, with promotion and relegation so firmly rooted, you couldn’t dig it out with a JCB.

Throw in the fact that their bonus-point system is vastly superior and it’s clear the English are off the pace. What will Nigel Farage say?