'Premiership' Cup confirmed....

Yes by the criteria used to keep Ealing et al from being promoted due to their ground capacity, all the games would have to be played at the premiership venues because otherwise premiership players and supporters would be put at massive risk by visiting grounds that are clearly not fit to host them.

Or just maybe, the premiership ground criteria are self-serving, protectionist nonsense.

Edited by IainS - 26 Apr 2023 at 15:19

I have little knowledge of the loans from other clubs, but I have seen dr's from Leicester Tigers at the Lions, indeed even the odd one from Northampton and Coventry too, but these were young lads pretty much straight from the academies and not in contention for matchday squads. Indeed Lions players have been loaned to Tigers on the rare occasion when these type of cup games have been played in the past. Lions had one Tiger cub this season and he has not yet figured for the Tigers at any level as far as I can see, so I don't see any reason to worry about the Lions not being where they are for next season on their own merit. Sure I think we all know there's a gap between the leagues and the step up needs managing, but are there really clubs over reliant on dr's?

I guess my point is that although DR arrangements can work well, it is open to abuse (re my Richmond point above). Some standardisation via long term loan arrangements would be better imo. They can still train with parent clubs (if loan clubs are not full time) but only get to play for their loan clubs. 

It’s not that long ago that Level 3 was seen as part of the Elite game. It was only at an NCA AGM addressed by Robbie Briers, Chair of the CommunityGame Board, that we discovered we were no longer Elite but Community and so no different in RFU minds to Clubs from Level 5-12. 

workerbee wrote: I think you are mistaken if you think the Championship get a free £160k , The insurance cost for each club is £40k, £60k has to be allocated for Medical expenses- On site ambulance, 2 doctors present, fully kitted out Medical room to the RFU specification and Private medical care for injured players. Add to that travelling costs to Jersey, subject to flight times a possible two days in Jersey , approximate cost £14k and it soon used up.

IainS wrote: Yes by the criteria used to keep Ealing et al from being promoted due to their ground capacity, all the games would have to be played at the premiership venues because otherwise premiership players and supporters would be put at massive risk by visiting grounds that are clearly not fit to host them. Or just maybe, the premiership ground criteria are self-serving, protectionist nonsense.

Also no trip to the Channel Islands at Nat 1. 

I think you will find that Nat 1 and below do not pay more than £2 for RFU insurance. The insurance at Championship level is based on all clubs being professional so the insurance of £40k is to cover medical requirements of professional players as it is their employment.  

workerbee wrote: I think you will find that Nat 1 and below do not pay more than £2 for RFU insurance. The insurance at Championship level is based on all clubs being professional so the insurance of £40k is to cover medical requirements of professional players as it is their employment.

The Blues wrote: Now we are 22! How on earth does that work for pools!  We will probably have one of those crazy 11 teams x 2 leagues and then you play 5 games, 2/3 against Prem and 3/2 against Champ and most points go through even though you haven’t played half the teams!