Western Morning News (Saturday)

RFU confirm no relegation from the Premiershi­p this campaign

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THE RFU has announced there will be no relegation from the Gallagher Premiershi­p at the end of the season and that the league will be expanded to 13 teams for 2021-22, writes Ian Laybourn.

The Rugby Football Union Council voted with a “strong majority” on Friday for a temporary suspension of relegation, which will also extend to the Championsh­ip, with no team going down to National League One.

The governing body says that, as long as the winner of this season’s Championsh­ip is eligible for promotion under the RFU’s current Minimum Standards Criteria, the 2021-22 season will consist of 13 teams in the Premiershi­p and 11 in the Greene King IPA Championsh­ip.

The Council made the move after taking into considerat­ion the impact of Covid-19 on the game.

The cancellati­on of Saturday’s Premiershi­p game between Northampto­n and Newcastle takes the number of fixtures lost to the pandemic to six so far this season and the RFU fears the impact could mean relegation is based on cancellati­on not on field merit.

RFU, Premiershi­p Rugby and Championsh­ip representa­tives will

now work on recommenda­tions for changes to the season structures from 2021-22 and officials say the moratorium on relegation could last for three or four years.

They say the aim is for a different approach to promotion and relegaous tion which will recognise the ambition of clubs in the Championsh­ip and below and continue to allow a route to the Premiershi­p.

Officials will discuss new minimum standard criteria and a review of the domestic calendar to allow additional preparatio­n time for the England men’s team ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

RFU president Jeff Blackett said: “The RFU Council has taken time to understand and discuss all the factors regarding no relegation for this season so that we act in the best interests of all levels of the game.

“We want to ensure a healthy elite game to support successful winning England teams that generate income to stimulate and preserve the game across all levels.

“The Council will continue to be closely engaged with the proposals from the RFU, Premiershi­p Rugby and the Championsh­ip to ensure we maintain the integrity of the future league

Rugby.”

Premiershi­p Rugby says the new structure has the unanimous support of the top-flight clubs.

Darren Childs, chief executive of Premiershi­p Rugby, said: “We welcome today’s decision and thank the RFU Council members for their support.

“The priority for everyone involved has been to protect the long-term sustainabi­lity and success of English profession­al rugby for the fans and clubs who have endured huge financial and sporting challenges throughout the last two seasons.

“The progress being made collaborat­ively with all our key stakeholde­rs across the sport has been fantastic.

“Our focus remains on continuing to strengthen that alignment through transparen­cy and dialogue around the long-term success of the game at a domestic and national level in England.” structures for

England

 ??  ?? RFU president Jeff Blackett
RFU president Jeff Blackett

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