Cups

I think you could fit it in, because we used to.

I am assuming the 10 are too precious.

So it would look something like this

Nat 2 clubs in the first round, which you would want in early September. (20 matches - two teams have byes)

Nat 1 clubs would enter the second round in October (18 matches)

Championship Clubs would enter in the third round - the round of 32 in November

The fourth round in December would be mainly - but not exclusively - Championship clubs

The Quarter finals would be in February.

Semi-finals over Easter.

Final in May

What there isn't is a sponsor willing to pay enough to cover travel costs, let alone any match fees or win bonuses.

69 matches, 50 players and coaches per match, £100 match fee, plus travel for the away sides on average

You are looking at needing somewhere between, £500k and £1m a season needed n sponsorship.

Now, of course, the RFU should be able to find that - but we know they won't.

It seems a lot of enthusiasm for cup competitions is rose-tinted, and recent evidence isn't exactly positive either in rugby - the Papa John's end of season cup format for level 5 and below hasn't been a roaring success - or football - the FA Cup has become effectively downgraded in recent seasons, featuring under-strength squads and below-average crowds. This is a shame, I think, but I feel it's necessary to assess how things are, rather than how they were, or how some of us would like them to be...