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Premiership II plans announced |
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workerbee ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 20 May 2009 Location: Wirral Status: Offline Points: 914 |
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This proposal was put to the Championship clubs last year and they were given a deadline to apply but no club did. So the RFU under the new Prem 2 committee have re issued it. Will the Championship clubs still stand firm. The battle last year included the RFU assumption and Franchise club could apply (Wasps etc). Subject to any club achieving the new criteria. This would allow any club in Nat 1 to apply even if they do not finish in the top 2. However no mention of Promotion from Nat 1 or relegation from Championship. Presumably they are expecting a number of current Championship clubs to fail the criteria.
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Toulouse ![]() First XV regular ![]() ![]() Joined: 25 Oct 2014 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 127 |
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I know this was about the Premiership 2 but does anyone know any future plans for National 1 rugby? Being from the North East of England I feel the game is dying in this area. At National 1 level the only NE team is Darlington Mowden Park but their situation is unsustainable. All but 3 away fixtures require a night hotel accommodation and some fixtures require 2 nights accommodation. The cost for a club without a rich sugar daddy is very high. Looking at the only premiership club in the North east, Newcastle Falcons, massively in debt and with owners wanting out....the future for Rugby in the north east is looking bleak. I feel the only way for National 1 rugby is to go North and south. This would dramatically cut costs and keep rugby union in the north east......would there be any promotion to the Premiership 2 from Nat 1? |
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Mark Smith ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() aka 'Ramshackle Smith' Joined: 17 Jul 2012 Location: Newcastle Upon Status: Offline Points: 2379 |
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Can you please substantiate your claim about Newcastle Falcons’ owners “wanting out?”
They’ve said no such thing.
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Raider999 ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 18 Jan 2013 Location: Crawley Status: Offline Points: 4465 |
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This would effectively mean most of N2 North being promoted to N1 leaving a huge imbalance in the standard of the 2 leagues. |
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RAID ON
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Halliford ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 17 Feb 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4227 |
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We looked at this last year. An even split would see Bishop’s Stortford and (then) Chinnor go North.
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islander ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Location: jersey Status: Offline Points: 7512 |
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News from BBC Hereford/Worcester on X/Twitter, since picked up (without crediting the source) by the Rugby Inside Line acct:
Felicity Kvesic @FelicityKvesic Worcester Warriors have received the formal invitation from the RFU to submit their expression of interest [by Oct 13] to return to the second tier of the professional game in England |
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cheshire exile ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Status: Offline Points: 2506 |
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Now then; presumably Felicity Kvesic is related to Coventry’s Matt Kvesic, so must have some knowledge at least.
The giveaway here is that Worcester have apparently been “invited “ to apply. The depth of incompetence and disdain for anyone outside the gilded circle at the RFU is stupifying. |
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ScrumRadical ![]() Academy player ![]() Joined: 05 Sep 2024 Location: Gunnislake Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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A tender process is open to the whole game, to join the revamped men’s Tier 2 competition (current Championship), launching in the 2025-26 season.
Interested clubs, universities, colleges and others are invited submit an expression of interest by 5:00pm Sunday 13 October 2024. Once expressions of interest are received, interested parties will receive a formal submission request. Further information is available here including an expression of interest invitation letter and Tier 2 minimum operating standards. |
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ScrumRadical ![]() Academy player ![]() Joined: 05 Sep 2024 Location: Gunnislake Status: Offline Points: 10 |
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1 To: Universities, Colleges and RFU Member Clubs 30th September 2024 Tier 2 - INVITATION TO SUBMIT A FORMAL EXPRESSION OF INTEREST At its September 2024 meeting the RFU Council approved the mechanism for entry for additional teams into the Tier 2 (currently known as the Championship) league from 2025/26. Entry will be via a tender process. The process for the existing 12 Championship clubs to validate and evidence their ability to meet the ‘Essential’ minimum operating standards, and other matters, in order to participate in the new Tier 2 league, is coming to the end of the validation. Following a further review process, the Tier 2 Board, ratified by the RFU Council, have approved the following, regarding the Tier 2 league, from 2025/26: • The size of the T2 league has been modelled to start with between 12-14 clubs with the intention for this to expand over time if and when it is beneficial to do so. • Additional clubs wishing to be involved in the Tier 2 league from 2025/26 will be required to tender. • A Panel will make recommendations to the Tier 2 Board for final ratification by the RFU Board for those additional clubs selected for entry into the league in 2025/26. • The league is subject to promotion and relegation on an annual basis. • Additional Clubs entering the league in 2025/26 will be subject to the conditions of the Participation Agreement, the RFU Rules and Regulations and compliance with the Minimum Operating Standards, the commercial growth strategy and other agreements as notified by the RFU. The Tier 2 League The vision, mission and objectives of the Tier 2 league has been refined as follows: Tier 2 Vision: A professional league to inspire and engage the current and future generations of rugby fans, whilst bringing commercial sustainability and growth to clubs. A. Growth Mindset | An aligned league of professional Clubs who retain, acquire, and grow clubs, players and fans. • Clubs will have marketing resources primarily focused on the growth of the fan base. • The league will have an aligned audience growth strategy. B. Locally Brilliant, nationally relevant | Delivers a consistent high quality event day experience and entertainment for fans in the stadium and at home. • Clubs will meet aligned minimum facilities standards to ensure a consistent quality match day experience. • Clubs will have an aligned ticketing solution to maximize collective marketing efforts and drive as many tickets sales as possible. • The League and Clubs will collectively monitor and evaluate Matchday experience. C. Investable | Creating the best second tier rugby union competition in the world, underpinned by a sustainable business model. • Clubs will have sustainable P&Ls with manageable debt plans. D. Opportunity | Delivers professional playing and coaching opportunities for the best young Premiership talent and the very best talent in Tier 2 and the Community Game. • There will be a clear and effective loan agreement with the Premiership and its clubs to ensure that England’s top young talent has the game time required to flourish and grow local interest. • T2 Clubs will play a clear role in the development pathway for young players. • There will be a clear player pathway between the Premiership, T2, National leagues and academies. E. Compelling Content | A competitive narrative with the drama and jeopardy that only of live sport can deliver. • There will be a central marketing programme and an aligned Club approach. • There will be both Club and central creative resource to develop T2 content. F. Integrity | A competition that makes sense, rewards ambition and plays a key role in growing Rugby Union in England. • There will be a transparent and consistent competition structure from the Premiership down to community leagues. • There will be clear and consistent opportunities for Clubs to transition between leagues by satisfying criteria. • There will be a play-off transition mechanic to drive a jeopardy narrative between the adjacent leagues. To that end, universities, colleges and RFU member clubs are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to apply for an additional place in the league from the 2025/26 season. A summary of the opportunity, timeframes and the processes are provided in the documentation below. Expressions of Interest should be made by completing the pro forma provided below and returning it by e-mail to tier2@rfu.com. Expressions of Interest must be received no later than 5:00pm Sunday 13th October 2024. All clubs, universities and colleges who submit an Expression of Interest will then receive a full Request for Proposal (RFP) to apply for a place in the league. This will be sent by email on Tuesday 15th October with a response to the request for proposals due no later than by 5pm on Tuesday 12th November 2024. The adjudication of tenders will take place in November and we will aim to notify successful teams in December. The submission of an Expression of Interest is without prejudice, and in no way constitutes an obligation, either on the club, university or college to pursue a place in the league, or to enter into an agreement with the RFU; or on the RFU to develop the RFP process or to enter into an agreement with any club, university or college. This Expression of Interest stage is an initial and indicative exercise, with the intention of gauging the level of interest among clubs, universities and colleges, prior to circulation of the RFP, whose contents will supersede the information given within the documentation provided here. However, failure to submit an Expression of Interest by the stated deadline may mean that a club, university or college is not subsequently invited to submit a proposal for the award of a place in the league. If you have any queries regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact tier2@rfu.com, otherwise we look forward to receiving your response, as appropriate, in the near future. Yours sincerely, Conor O’Shea Executive Director of Performance Rugby/Tier 2 Board Member Rugby Football Union INVITATION TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Introduction The Tier 2 Board was established in July 2024 with an independent Chair and representatives of the Championship Clubs and the Rugby Football Union. The Tier 2 Board has had delegated and reserved to it certain regulatory and other powers in relation to the operational and league management functions of the Tier 2 league. The Tier 2 Board will be responsible and accountable for driving the growth strategy to achieve the commercial aims of the Tier 2 League. The RFU will invest approximately £4m per year in club operations, central growth strategy and player development incentives. Clubs will be expected to cover their own costs, in line with the MOS. Clubs, universities and colleges are asked to consider costs carefully, and whether they will be able to meet them, before submitting an Expression of Interest. Criteria Once request for proposals are received, the submissions will be reviewed against the following criteria: Player Base Clubs will be expected to have a registered player base of 45 adult players, of whom at least 30 can play at the second level of the men’s domestic game and in order to field a first XV. In addition, clubs will be able to dual register up to 15 players. It is expected there will be an England Qualified Player (EQP) requirement set for all league fixtures, which may require clubs to play a certain number of EQPs in their match-day squad. Minimum Operating Standards Framework The ability to meet Minimum Operating Standards which will be demonstrated through the completion of the self-assessment process, similar to that which the Championship clubs have completed, prior to entry to the 2025/26 season. These standards have been produced in consideration with benchmarks from other sports properties and refined in consultation with Championship Clubs, NLR, PRL and RFU representatives. Those standards, while uncosted, are progressive and deliver the ambitions and strategy for the new league, while also remaining achievable for current Championship clubs and aspirant clubs from the wider game. Included in the pack you can find the minimum operating standards in detail for Year 1 (2025/26) and the focus is on an applicant Club’s ability to meet the Essential standards. Tier 2 Minimum Operating Standards for 2025/26 | Rugby Football Union (englandrugby.com) Financial Viability The ability to demonstrate financial viability will be assessed against the financial elements of the Minimum Operating Standards with a template provided. League Central Objectives The ability to align with the league central objectives. This will be assessed against three areas: Player Base & Competitiveness; Commercial and Geography This will enable the selection panel and the Tier 2 Board to review in detail the clubs' strategies to ensure that clubs’ ambitions are backed by careful and realistic planning, and that they are able to demonstrate an alignment with the league central Growth Strategy. Non RFU Leagues For any applicants that are not currently in the league structure, consideration will also be given to the following elements: a. Membership of the RFU or evidence that an applicant can comply with the relevant provisions of RFU Regulation 3.4 (Membership of the RFU); b. If entering the league structure otherwise in accordance with RFU Regulation 6, consideration will also be given to RFU Regulation 5 and in particular the provisions relating to Rugby Creditors. The Tier 2 Board will make a final recommendation to RFU Board which will approve the final number and composition of teams for Tier 2 2025/26 season in January 2025. Participation Agreement Clubs, universities and colleges which are included within the league will sign a participation agreement with the RFU which sets out the terms and conditions of participation, and the respective obligations of each party. |
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No 7 ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Location: LONDON Status: Offline Points: 1874 |
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Sid will be happy about the invitation to the Universities
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Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
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Camquin ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 11323 |
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About £4million in funding. So funding about £250k per side, with the rest spent on central marketing. Hardly an earth-shattering increase. And up to 15 dual registered players per squad. |
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Sweeney Delenda Est
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