It is the year 2030

It is the year 2030 and English rugby after a tumultuous 45 years has finally settled down and is now reaping the success of a peace treaty signed five years ago between the RFU, PRL and Players Unions.

Four English teams now compete in the Global league.  The Northern Vikings last years winners of the ‘Agustín Pichot’ Conference are expanding their stadium in Wakefield to take into account a growing (double digit) fan base who are eager to see English internationals play in every league game.

The peace deal solved the issue of player welfare as each International player is now able to play all 10 games in the global league for their team (plus the Super Shield if they reach the final) plus the 10 internationals that England play in each globally structured season.  No longer do the clubs fight with the RFU over player access or income – as the RFU are now equal shareholders in each of the top four sides together with the original shareholders and CVC investors.  The upward growth in revenue keeps everyone happy even the players who are part of a profit share pool.

And there is profit – the latest deal with a leading Chinese website and American media organisation has brought untold wealth – enough for the rest of the game to benefit to numbers only imaginable 10 years ago.

The RFU used their share to pay off all debts associated with Twickenham with more than enough to finance investments at grassroots to a level never seen before in any other sport.  They are considering a bid to take over the Rugby League which is now exclusively played in Canada and the USA since the unfortunate demise of the game along the M62 corridor or the ‘Fran Cotton Way’ as it is now known.

Some of the old established names of English club rugby are sadly no longer with us.   Bath finally gave up hope of ever developing the Rec and folded; London Irish were disbanded after been prosecuted by the Advertising Standards Agency and Bedford shocked the game by buying out Northampton Saints and developing Franklin Gardens as a site for an Amazon warehouse.  Saracens have probably changed the most and are now playing on a park pitch in North London.  There are suggestions they once played there before, but no one can confirm this as a fact.