Premiership II plans announced

Was he there for the rugby or to help sort out the paperwork, after reading the report in TRP this morning.

Rams happy to apply for the new tier 2.

Although it is now apparent, if this is a professional league, you will need a rich, bored backer.

Minimum ground capacity. 2,000

Press rooms

TV gantries 

A lot of outlay, and paying players, coaches. From a 2,000 gate, if you get your minimum capacity ground filled. 11 home games, plus a cup competition if you’re lucky. 14 games.

So 28,000 spectators a season. £20 per head admission. £560,000 gate revenue. 

I am way from convinced this is a sensible business plan.

That's deeply insulting.

To bricks.

I can assure you, that will NEVER happen 

Irish Rams

Gloucester Old Spots

Irish Rams

Gloucester Old Spots

If you knew anything about Rams and the history you'd know why it would never happen. But why let facts get in the way of a bit of idle gossip? 

National One leaders Rams are among the clubs to have submitted an expression of interest to join the new Tier 2 League proposed by the RFU. Reading-based Rams have gone through the 16-page Minimum Operating Standards document and are confident they can meet the mandatory requirements within the timeframes set by the RFU. A draft copy of the document, which TRP has seen, states that the minimum total licensed capacity of the club’s principal ground should be 2,000 in time for the inaugural season of the competition, which will replace the Championship, in 2025/26.

Or Rams shuffling off to the Premiership-compliant Select Car Leasing Stadium on the other side of town?

Rich people with big egos and admittedly also a love for rugby pitched into professional rugby. Some of the smarter guys eventually found a way to stem the losses by either giving their 'business' away for a nominal £1 or admitting defeat and going to the wall. How many of the current 'investors' who are locked into their Premiership 'investment' would repeat the experience again?

Most of them cannot pull out for fear of the social opprobrium they would face.....and they suffer continuous heavy annual losses with no real prospect of any recovery.   

Rugby Union isn't football it is a niche sport with the sword of Damocles hanging over it in the shape of the concussion issue. 

I think King Billy is bonkers if he believes professional rugby outside of the international sphere is 'investable' ......of course if you offer an investor a CVC type deal where they get a top slice return from the broadcast turnover without taking the cost risk associated with that broadcast revenue then they all would be in. 

However even King Billy wouldn't be daft enough to offer that kind of deal .............or would he?

As an addendum I would add that in my experience when a business sector is properly established (normally after say 5 or 6 years an perhaps up to 10 years........ Professional rugby in England has being going for 20 years) and the whole sector is still making pretty horrendous losses then what it says is that the sector isn't about winners and losers....it is all losing and it is un-investable!

After 20 years what is going to change the financial fortunes of professional rugby.....nothing as far as I can see. Professional rugby is not investable.

Absolutely spot on....I hope King Bill reads your post!!!

Unfortunately, I do not believe they are acting ultra vires.

Rule 4.2 gives the Union the power to raise or borrow money "as the board thinks fit".

Of course, the board is meant to be financially competent.

Redingensians Irish Rams?