Regions to play in British League ‘within two years’
WALES’ four regions could soon be playing in a new British League in what would be a significant boost to the game here, claim reports.
A leading English club chairman has told the Rugby Paper he expects the move to happen within two years.
If so, it would come as a huge fillip to Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets who continue to struggle to attract crowds and interest from the Welsh public at large in the often criticised Guinness PRO14.
Competitive Anglo-Welsh games against the cream of England, it is thought, would attract larger attendances, bigger away followings, better atmospheres and a superior product.
The proposal is said to be linked to the plans by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners to pay more than £100million for a 27 per cent stake in the PRO14.
The ex-Formula One backers have completed a similar deal with the Gallagher Premiership for £270m and have offered £300m for commercial rights of the Six Nations.
It is reported that one of the reasons they are getting involved with rugby is to create a British League.
How the English clubs would react to such a proposition remains to be seen, given their league is already viewed as a roaring success with regular sell-out crowds.
But the English chairman who spoke out argues only Exeter Chiefs are thriving commercially and that a British League would change the landscape.
The plan suggested is for a 24-team league, split into two sections of 12, involving the cream of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Getting the four Irish provinces on
board – Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht – is seen as important, but the English chief claims “if necessary we will go ahead and do it without them.”
Agreeing to speak under anonymity, the chairman is quoted as saying: “A British League will happen in two years’ time. It will happen because it’s the best outcome for the game in the four home countries and for CVC.
“It will appeal to the Welsh regions in particular and the Premiership clubs.”
He said of the English teams: “Not one is profitable, with the exception of Exeter Chiefs and a British League will go a fair way towards providing stabilty.
“In Wales it will be seen as the only opportunity to be sustainable. Their regions lost between £5-6m last year. They’ve been kept going by the generosity of a few backers and the danger is they will get even fewer unless something radical is done.
“Fixtures like Cardiff Blues against Bristol, Dragons v Gloucester, Ospreys against Bath and Scarlets v Saracens will stop the downward spiral of attendances in Wales.
“Commercially they could be as much as 50 per cent better off.”
The British League would be seen as a mini-version of the Heineken Cup, without the French and Italian clubs.
How it would affect Europe’s top club competition would remain to be seen. But it is reported the French are unconcerned about the prospect, with their owners more interested in the Top14.