Can't start
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Forum Name: The Championship
Forum Description: Discuss the 12 clubs forming the English Championship.
URL: http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=18517
Printed Date: 17 Sep 2024 at 19:39
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Topic: Can't start
Posted By: The Blues
Subject: Can't start
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 16:26
| So the South East are now in another lockdown, must delay any possible start if at all for 20/21. |
Replies:
Posted By: Abbotsman
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 16:51
| Or forget it all together. To start a season now will end up very messy. Start a new season in full in September when hopefully life is back to some normality. As for Sarries, they are where they are for a reason. |
Posted By: Oldman1
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 17:05
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RFU have to come up with something that allows Saracens back into the Premiership, or face the legal battle that will ensue. Personally I think a second season in the Championship for the cheats is no bad thing, but I support community rugby and think RFU money should be spread among all clubs not just the top boys.
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Posted By: Westcoaster
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 17:38
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"RFU have to come up with something that allows Saracens back into the Premiership, ...." NO THEY DON"T. Not if they have even a smidgeon of integrity among them  ------------- Come on Jersey........ |
Posted By: Keppeltitan
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 18:07
| Don't mention Rfu and integrity in the same sentence. |
Posted By: Runitback
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 19:46
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The season is over, ridiculous to think otherwise . . reality to kick in. Start 21/22 ------------- Run with it |
Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2020 at 19:49
| Absolutely - I think hand on heart/brain that was the reality back in March but none of us wanted to accept the inevitable! |
Posted By: corporalcarrot
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2020 at 11:09
------------- Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD. |
Westcoaster wrote:Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2020 at 11:16
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I guess they will try to have a season in some shape or form, even if it is 4 regional pools of 3 and the top of each goes to a semi and final somewhere in April/May/June. There won’t be relegation. Blues, Ampthill, Sarries Ealing, Scots, Richmond Pirates, Jersey, Hartpury Cov, Nottingham, Knights
That would be 4 games for the pool teams only and 6 games as a minimum for finalists but more like 8 to have 2 legged semi’s and finals. Whole season can be done in 2 months. If the RFU committed to the reduced season funding for those 2 months it would be probably be financially viable without fans given furlough is covering a chunk of the wages costs currently. |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2020 at 12:09
There is a lot of sense and realism in your suggestion - the only thing I would say is that such a truncated season should not have promotion or relegation. I realise that the drive for a re-start is partly to get Saracens back in the premiership for Sept 21 season start - but as I have said before they cheated, then chose to be relegated and should not get any preferential treatment to get them back up. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2020 at 14:30
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I have always had the opinion that Saracens will never play in the Championship and I am even more convinced that this is the case. Unfortunately.
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Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2020 at 21:02
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I hardly think it's fair to try and extend the punishment handed out to Sarries after all even they cant be blamed for C19. The 20/21 Prem season is ongoing but can it continue ? Under the circumstances it makes sense to face up to the challenges facing the game not seek revenge.
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2020 at 21:49
It would not be an extension of the punishment at all. The punishment was 35 point deduction initially, which Saracens then opted to take relegation rather than offer up their books for further scrutiny (obviously had further things to hide). The points deduction was increased to 105 points merely to ensure they would be relegated. There was no suggestion that this was for 1 season only as they would need to get promotion to return. If the championship isn't played why should they not remain in the championship until they are promoted by winning the next available championship season - be that this season or 2030-31 or any season in between. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Bigmal
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 09:46
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Because it is professional sport and in rugby's case the RFU has allowed a huge problem to develop.
I don't care either way but it is clear that the professional model in rugby is a real problem given the current situation.
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Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 12:16
Spot on.
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Posted By: stadium
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 14:24
| All the London based pundits on this weeks BBC Rugby blog think the Premiership will be ringfenced with probably 14 teams. They seem to be promoting Ealing with Saracens.Surprise Surprise. |
Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 15:43
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No way the Prem clubs will agree to split the money 14 ways especially after this financial season |
Posted By: Robb
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 15:52
So These London pundits want 2 London clubs locked in and given to the Premiership? How convenient! Nah no chance of that, The Premiership cartel won't want Ealing in there. They aren't one of their pet projects like Exeter.
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 15:53
Currently split 13 ways isn't it, so only a slight reduction - however I take your point re the financial problems most teams have currently ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 16:44
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If that happens at theend fo this non season - you are going to need to promote some National 1 sides. If you do that, would it make sense to do the big reorganisation in this long off season - rather than waiting for 2022. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2020 at 20:08
Personally, despite the need to get Saracens back in the top level (certainly not my way of thinking) I cannorpt see how the re-organisation can possibly go ahead without a full season of proper rugby so that all teams have an equal chance to play for their new position in the pyramid. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 00:29
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I would say that if you were to promote an additional four sides from Nat 1 to the Championship it would be Rosslyn Park, Rams Chinnor and Blackheath. There is a seven point gap from Club to Plymouth. While there were four games to go do you really think Albion would have closed that gap. Similarly, with six up if that is what is decided as there is a similar gap between Darlington and Elthamians. Of course, I speak as a fan of a fast track side, Cambridge would have hoped to do better in Spring. And no club would not be shut out indefinitely, both Plymouth and Darlington are a great clubs with excellent support - of course they would be in contention for promotion. Whether they were placed in a second National league or in a regional conference. And as we do not expect the Championship to get any central funding - there would be no financial advantage to being in the higher league. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 12:02
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If there was any move to promote two teams this season I would expect, even demand, a legal challenge on the premise that insufficient notice was given, a full season was not played, and a rigged pool structure was created to attempt to facilitate a Saracens / Ealing play off (putting 12 balls with numbers on in a bag and drawing them out and leaving it to chance what pool you were in would be better and if Ealing and Saracens are in the same pool then Tango Sierra) I cannot see anything other than Saracens going up (highly likely unless the Knights can upset the apple cart  ) and Warriors / Irish / Tigers or one of the other 3 lower ranked team (not to show any favour) coming down. Perhaps 2022 season will bring some stitch up arrangement.------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 12:14
| The ‘balls in bag’ approach would be less fair than the proposed arrangement with 1/3/5/7/9/11 in one pool & ‘even’ ranked teams in the other. Can CpK or anyone suggest a fairer method? |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 12:16
| Personally I doubt there will be anyone relegated from the Prem in 2021 & possibly for some time after that... |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 20:36
Although those league positions were made up, with a lot of games to go (7 I think). Blues for example had just started to pick up form and we were expecting a rise up the table having played both Ealing and Falcons twice with a 5 pointer guarantee against Yorkshire/Leeds.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2020 at 22:46
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Even if Sarries and Ealing had been in the same group, they probably would have gone for a top-two and semi final formula in an effort to ensure a similar final-tie scenario.
------------- Our Club |
Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2020 at 11:06
Neither team is invincible and they could well get turned over in away games at places like Jersey, Pirates, Bedford etc. In the first game of last season Pirates beat Ealing comfortably, so it could happen again.
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Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2020 at 13:15
I said 'in an effort to'. We all know strange things happen. ------------- Our Club |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2020 at 21:41
| There have been a few COVID wins in the Premiership and European Cups... Newcastle were one of the ones to benefit from this. It probably increases the chances of the Premiership not having relegation but still promoting. |
Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 09:24
But if the same thing happens when The Championship gets going would the same apply?
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Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 11:17
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So the week before the Championship play off final Sarries have a mass outbreak of Covid-19, are unable to put a team out for either play off match and therefore Ealing are awarded the automatic promotion place.....discuss |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 15:40
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Tango Sierra Saracens btw it won't be Ealing it will be Donny Knights ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: Monkey Magic
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 16:08
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Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 16:15
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"Panel" decisions haven't been used at any level to determine likely outcomes as far as I know so how could it be justified just to suit Saracens (and the rest of the Premiership)? OR am I being naive? The two Covid games at the weekend were adjudged 4pts and 2pts so I wonder if that was to create a precedent for that very scenario should Saracens be affected down the line? On another note, if there is another team required in the Premiership and its all about who's got the most money then it should be opened up to anyone who wants to bid subject to meeting the necessary requirements regarding ground capacity and facilities etc so good luck to Ealing, Donny, Pirates et Al should they wish to be considered
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Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 16:35
Well decisions were made by PRL to suit the Cheats for six years (letting them ignore the salary cap and keep the trophies they won by cheating) so it won't be any surprise if they more rules are ignored to get them back so they can carry on as usual. Sadly for anyone who wants the Premiership to have any credibility..
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 20:22
Have to agree - everyone knew they were cheating, but by turning a blind eye the authorities created the finale outcome. Stamp down on it early and it would have been a slapped wrist and 5 or so point deduction. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2020 at 21:02
| Fact is that it was uncovered by a Daily Mail journalist - without that it would probably have been swept under the carpet. |
Posted By: KnightsBoy
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2020 at 07:07
So so true, unfortunately....
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2020 at 12:48
But anyone involved in Rugby knew they weren't legally below the salary cap for years - how could they be with the amount of internationals they kept adding to their squad. When it was made general knowledge - the authorities were forced to act. It speaks volumes that Saracens even then refused to open their books to the authorities and chose to take relegation instead (possibly a much lesser punishment than they might have got if they had?)- one wonders what else those books might have revealed? ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: stadium
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2020 at 16:28
| Saracens will be back in the Premiership next season even if they never play a game in the Championship. The Powers to be have already made that decision. |
Posted By: Robb
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2020 at 16:37
| . |
Posted By: Rucking Idiot
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2020 at 17:31
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PLEASE, can someone in a Senior Management role at the RFU comment on the above. Chinese whispers can be as dangerous as C19 ------------- If it looks like a duck & quacks like a duck it's just my rucking luck! |
Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2020 at 17:51
I can't, I'm still laughing at the thought!
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Posted By: Taffy
Date Posted: 31 Dec 2020 at 12:30
The precedence was set by the 45th President of the United States
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Posted By: Dad
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2021 at 15:42
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Surely having trialled it with the womens pro15's that format woud be used - a 3 yr licence to be in th prem based upon meeting certain crteria which include but are not limited to on field results Allows then to choose whatever criteria they want to come to the conclusion they want
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2021 at 18:11
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Watched the Bristol v Newcastle today (nearly missed it as the 19:30 ko became 15:00) During the commentary the thoughts that there 'might not be any relegation from the premiership this season' were aired - what wasn't mentioned was whether there would be any promotion or not. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2021 at 21:07
Yes, I watched. They (BT Sport) were flagging that this topic will be discussed in their 'Rugby Tonight' slot on Sunday at 5.15pm after Tiggers v Barf. |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2021 at 22:38
I will set a recording - it seems that ring-fencing is rising to the surface again - with or without Saracens remains to be seen. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: stadium
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2021 at 09:07
| My New Years prediction.The pundits and Premier Clubs want a 14 team Premiership ringfenced after promoting Saracens and another "London" Club Ealing. It is going to be a fix and the RFU will not object because it suites the England team set up. Jones needs the Saracens players playing Premier Rugby. Ealing to share ground with Quins with their 300 live supporters made up with cardboard fans on seats. |
Posted By: Welshie7
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2021 at 10:48
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IMHO 13 teams ring fenced unless Ealing commit a boatload of cash! Prem clubs will not want to divide their pot of gold more ways than necessary. By having a weekend ‘off’ they can claim it is about player welfare. Scrap the Premiership Cup. All talk of Premiership/Championship Cup not feasible. Too many Championship clubs depend on DR/loan players too much so players would be playing against home clubs potentially.
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Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2021 at 11:18
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Whilst i love the end of season excitement that relegation brings in some years, it is surely the sensible thing to do for the next 3 seasons to have no relegation from the Premiership. Outside of Saracens and Ealing no other Championship club has anywhere near the financial resources required to exist in the Premiership. No relegation would mean that the Premiership and Championship clubs could much more easily seek to operate within their resources. What is exciting me at the moment is the number of good young English players getting a chance in the premiership due to Covid-eg the Wasps half backs and the 21 year old Bristol hooker who yesterday was man of the match on his Premiership debut. Taking away the threat of relegation would allow clubs to give even more opportunities to these players rather than feel the need to import from the southern hemisphere to avoid the dire financial consequences of relegation. |
Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2021 at 12:05
I bet you my shirt, my house, my car, my pets etc that the Prem won't be ring-fenced with Sarries outside the fence...
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Posted By: Stalwart
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2021 at 12:16
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"I bet you my shirt, my house, my car, my pets etc that the Prem won't be ring-fenced with Sarries outside the fence..." Spot on.
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Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2021 at 12:38
| You forgot to put your kids on the betting slip?!?! |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2021 at 13:27
Unfair as it may be, I very much agree with you, the Premiership will be ring-fenced with Saracens added (wether or not they play a game this season). The big question is will there also be a 14th team and if not will championship sides take the decision to court? ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 08:47
I would expect a significant challenge to be put up - sufficient notice and planning time needs to be given to do this. And assuming that Ealing will finish 2nd is still a bit of a miscall in my opinion. A season disrupted by Covid-19 and not all matches being played is not, again in my opinion, a legitimate way of doing things. ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 09:07
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A challenge to what end? What waste even more money they do not have? Do Doncaster or any other Championship club other than Saracens and possibly Ealing have the financial resources to not be an embarrassing addition to the Premiership? Remember London Welsh losing every game in a Premiership season? Ask any of the players from that squad what kind of season that was. |
Posted By: Scrumtime
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 09:20
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Can I just ask, apart from throw a load of money at it. What have Ealing done to deserve a place in the Prem? If they had gone unbeaten each season apart from the Prem side thats come down I could understand it, but thats not the case, not at all! Have they been 20/30 points better than another side, over the last 4 seasons,no they have not! Why should Ealing get a ticket, if there is one, because they have more funding than anybody else in the Champ. Why not Doncaster and grown the game again the the north or Cornish and grown the game in the south west along with what Exeter have done.That would better for the game for sure. I really cannot for the life of me see why it should be a shoe in for Ealing just because they are well backed at present!
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Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 10:25
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ST you have answered your own question -they are the only ones who can afford to even stand a chance of putting a squad together that will not be heavily beaten every week and thus be an embarrassment to the competition. All current Premiership teams, even those at the bottom end of the table, contain players of proven international calibre. Doncaster, Pirates or Jersey each only have a handful of players with some Premiership experience and have nowhere near the financial means to pay for players of the calibre required to be competitive. |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 12:15
I would much prefer that Ealing win their way into the Premiership. However, over the past several seasons they have shown a level of consistency that is a clear step above the rest of the Championship. They are pretty much smack in the middle between the relegated team and the rest of the Championship "pack" based on a review of the last 4 seasons. See details below.
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Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 12:47
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Very telling stats, good work .
It does show the huge gap between the Premiership demoted team and the second placed team . The gold plated parachute payment helps. It is always about money. ------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. |
Posted By: Runitback
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 12:57
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At risk of getting back to the topic in question . . . I cannot see how the Championship season can start. The RFU needs to call it now. Other than Ealing, Donny and Sarries none of the other clubs can commit to the testing regime required, especially without a guarantee of fans being able to come and watch matches in March. It would be financial suicide . . unless the RFU pays for all testing, which they cannot afford to do! In my opinion Sarries need to be sent back to Premiership and any club in the Championship or National 1 tender for the right to buy a "Franchise" as with the Women's Premiership! Who could meet the criteria, as regards stadium and finances. Or open up the 14th place to any team in the World . . . a South African franchise for example?? ------------- Run with it |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 13:12
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I think the SA sdies are joining the Pro14. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 13:16
Saracens were relegated for at least one season - if 20-21 is null and void they should take their place in the Championship for 21-22, no relegation from Premiership this season (assuming it finishes). South African franchises - 4 are joining the Pro14 competition next season, the other 2 are broke. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Mark W-J
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 13:25
But if there's an opportunity to be the 14th team in a ring-fenced Premiership then clubs like Donny, Jersey and Pirates would be mad not to to give it one big push for a once-in-a-lifetime, never to be repeated chance to join the elite. Also, don't forget that our first year in the Premiership wasn't a complete disaster, although it did end in disappointment. Our 23 points has only been bettered by the relegated team twice in the last ten years - even Bristol only mustered 20 points in 2016-17. Having the right man at the helm makes a hell of a difference.
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Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 13:43
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MWJ whilst appreciating your dreaming that once in a lifetime season results in ; London Scottish and Richmond sent to the bottom level of the leagues and needing more than a dozen years to get back to Level 2; London Welsh now at Level 8, Bedford now a subsidiary of Northampton Saints and Rotherham slowly but steadily dropping down the leagues. Is it really worth it? Touche on the 23 points however. |
Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 14:13
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As far as I am concerned the only way to be included in a ring-fenced Premiership is to win a place on the field. If there is no Championship this year and the Premiership want two more teams next season then promote Ealing and Pirates (second and third in the last Championship season). If Pirates don't have the necessary facilities then keep going down the last Championship table until you find a club that does. Saracens were relegated to the Championship and are therefore out of the picture. If the promoted clubs struggle to compete well that's the problem with ring-fencing so tough.
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Posted By: Mark W-J
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 14:51
Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what we went through four years ago. Although having said that, we've had two and a half great years working our way back up through the regional leagues (Level 6 next season, whenever that may be). But I think if there's a chance to be part of a ring-fenced elite, with equal funding but without the fear of relegation, and therefore having the chance to grow slowly rather than spending like mad to survive one season, then some of the more ambitious clubs would fancy giving it a shot. And I think Bedford are actually a good example of why they'd want to do it - why not become the parent club to a Championship partner instead of losing your own identity and being a subsidiary of a Premiership side?
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Posted By: dropout22
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 15:35
Year after year investment into the current playing/training facility Built from scratch a top level academy programme Consistent 2nd place finishes in the last 3 seasons (yes i know 19/20 was done on PPG) Winning the last ever cup final played versus a strong London Irish side. In terms of growing the game , Doncaster and Cornish Pirates would be a good move however at this moment in time neither are ready - A side in both Cornwall and Yorkshire would be ideal in the next 2-3 years.
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Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 16:05
what would you suggest CPK? i'd also urge anyone else whose posts focus on identifying problems to have a stab at proffering a solution. they ain't easy!
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Posted By: corporalcarrot
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 19:00
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I would opt for automatically promoting the top two teams in the Championship and would bet a bottle of my homemade Blackcurrant Rum against a hot bovril that they would be Sarries and Ealing. I would have no relegation from the premiership this season but promote 4 teams from Nat 1 and provide that not more than one of them should be based in Greater London. In subsequent seasons I would maintain 14 teams in the Prem & Championship by a system whereby the bottom two teams in each are automatically relegated and replaced automatically by the top two teams in the league below. I would scrap the regulations which preclude teams from higher leagues because of obscure ground criteria. ------------- Dont kick it. Pick it up and GO FORWARD. |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 19:02
Already stated my thoughts, No relegation from Premiership this season, London Irish already awarded more points for calling off games than they have won on the pitch, 4-2 is a farce. No promotion from the Championship until they play a full & proper season - if that means Saracens stay down so be it, absolutely no sympathy for them at all. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: paddym
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 20:02
Think you'll find Irish have actually more points from playing than for called off games.
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Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 20:45
My apologies, although they would be bottom if the system had retained 5-0 as last season and this seasons Euro games. I would also say I believe 5-0 is very harsh, however 4-2 is too much the other way - possibly 4-1 or 5-1 would have been better if it was going to change at all. You could not play a game and end up on at least 44 points! ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 22:12
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End of 20/21 Saracens and Ealing put into the Premiership. 21/22 Prem season is 14 clubs, 26 league matches no Premiership Cup. No relegation from Premiership for 3 seasons. Championship season 21/22 of 10 teams , top 4 in semi-final and final play offs 2 leg play offs (20 or 22 matches) position 5-8 in semi-final and final play offs (20 or 22 matches) position 9 and 10 play off home and away (20 matches). No relegation from Championship. End of season 21/22 top two Nat One teams promoted to Championship making it 12 teams ( 22 league matches) top two play home and away final (24 matches). No relegation from Championship. End of 22/23 season two Nat One teams promoted to Championship making it 14 teams (26 league matches) top two in one off play off final. At end of 23/24 bottom of Premiership plays top of Championship in two leg aggregate score play off. If Championship team wins they have choice of promotion or not. If not the Premiership team stays put. The lack of relegation from both Premiership and Championship for 3 years enables all the clubs to begin to recover financially from the current crisis. It also means more Academy players given opportunities in meaningful matches. Two teams being promoted from Nat One allows a meaningful/competitive league happening below the Championship. 14 teams in Championship from 23/24 means league programme is now 26 league games, a one match top two play off final at Twickenham and no meaningless cup competition . From end of 23/24 one down/one up between Championship and Nat One. By the end of 23/24 the remaining full time Championship clubs will have become non full time. The Championship will become the top tier of non full-time rugby, the Premiership the top tier of full-time rugby. |
Posted By: Camquin
Date Posted: 05 Jan 2021 at 22:34
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There is a plan to reorganize the leagues at the end of the 2021-22 season - so if you are making changes, do them all then. ------------- Sweeney Delenda Est |
Posted By: Scrumtime
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2021 at 07:43
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Marigold...outstanding that makes total sense.... Therefore chances of it happening or the RFU or NCA taking note are not very high, in fact next to none, because they have not spent tens of thousands on surveys, but you have hit the nail on the head, well done
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Posted By: Runitback
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2021 at 14:01
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Marigold . . . I think the majority on here would agree 100% with your brilliant post . . however it would require the RFU to ask Deloite and PWC to analyse in more detail and cost several £100,000!!!!!!! ------------- Run with it |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2021 at 14:11
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Marigold - it is a solution, however I would suggest once the ring-fencing of the Premiership has taken place then it will remain for a long time, if not forever. Also last season's Premiership barely had a game with nothing on it, be it top 4, European qualification or relegation - this kept the excitement going to the end. Compare this with the NFL, where supporters of at least one team have cheered their own team losing as it was likely to result in them being the worst side in the competition and receiving the first pick in the draft. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Rich
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2021 at 20:12
You might want to reconsider the relegation point...
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Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 06 Jan 2021 at 21:44
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Rugby journalist Jon Newcombe on Twitter this evening... "I’m hearing that Saracens will play Ealing and Donny in a triangular friendly tournament in a bid to give their players vital game time ahead of what is hoped to be the start of the Champ season. More games v SA sides also in the offing"
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Posted By: KnightsBoy
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 07:08
Haven't heard a thing through the club yet.
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Posted By: MalMundy
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 10:30
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Just posted on Donny website follow the link https://www.drfc.co.uk/knights-to-compete-in-trailfinders-challenge-cup/" rel="nofollow - Knights to compete in Trailfinders Challenge Cup. - Doncaster Knights (drfc.co.uk) ------------- We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 12:01
Well it wouldn't have apart from Saracens taking 'voluntary' relegation. I was thinking of the previous season when I posted. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 12:02
One way of Saracens getting promoted if Championship is cancelled? (Assuming they win) How are they proposing to play SA sides when no flights allowed from SA to UK? ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: Welshie7
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 12:43
| Presume professional sport is an exception a la the European fixtures? |
Posted By: Steve@Mose
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 13:39
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55417014" rel="nofollow - Rainbow Cup
So maybe Sarries having a match against a Saffer team's reserves - presuming they're going to be flying in with quite a large squad to provide adequate injury cover?
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Posted By: kingsheathlad
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 14:38
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They could play Sale, they have a few South Africans. 😁 ------------- Cauliflower ear. |
Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 18:50
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Saturday, 16thJanuary – 3.00pm KO Ealing Trailfinders v Saracens Saturday, 23rdJanuary – 3.00pm KO Doncaster Knights v Saracens Saturday, 30thJanuary – 3.00pm KO Doncaster Knights v Ealing Trailfinders Saturday, 6thFebruary -1.00pm KO Saracens v Ealing Trailfinders Saturday, 13thFebruary – 4.15pm KO Saracens v Doncaster Knights Saturday, 20thFebruary – 3.00pm KO Ealing Trailfinders v Doncaster Knights ------------- Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. |
Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 19:14
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Here's a novel suggestion, why don't all these energetic professional athletes from all sports actually do something useful like volunteering to be trained to administer the vaccine or get involved in the logistics of delivering the vaccine, getting people to the vaccination points etc etc instead of wondering when they will be able to start lining their own pockets again
We would be back to "normal" a lot quicker if they did.
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Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 19:58
a very sour post on what is, after all, a rugby forum. do you go onto Prem/ Pro14 sites and troll those congregations with your oh-so-clever 'novel suggestions' as they try and chat about their sport, or is it just us? |
Posted By: covmick
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 20:27
Your point , has been done by Cornish Pirates. In one of the lockdowns, I read of CP players helpimg at at a medical centre. Your suggestiom is a very good one. It could be devoleped and made into a very good structure to help out in the community. Their was oppositiom during the 2nd world war to groups. Women workers, Land Army, ARPS, Civil defence, WVS and many more organisations proved there worth,. Could Rugby Clubs band together and form something? ------------- covmick/Michael Carter |
Posted By: PiffPaff
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 20:33
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islander, think TB is just making the point that whilst the odd-few championship clubs make plans to play a triangular tournament with no real point, the rest of the world is still suffering the effects of the world-wide pandemic and have other things/bigger fish to fry.... you know like living thru it! Basically all forms of the game in the country have been affected and the pale light that appeared at the end of the tunnel when the game moved to Stage E has dwindled into the darkness. I'll give it 5 weeks before the RFU decide to pull the plug on rugby for this season, i.e no friendlies, no shiny tin-pot cup competitions - all report back for pre-season 21-22. So yes it does leave a sour-taste that anyone should be thinking about playing particularly as RFU CEO feels the Championship is more aligned to the "Community Game" than the "Elite game". A community which is under pressure to keep going in very trying times. One would assume all 3 clubs are paying for their own Covid testing, is that not a gross waste of much needed funds that should stay at the clubs in question to pay salaries of non-playing staff and other costs? We (the game) are in this together, if we can't play, can't socialise at our clubs or even go and watch a game live then we have to suck it up and wait this out whilst offering to help if we can to get the rest of society thru it in whatever form we can. Now you're sat in Jersey, thinking we've only had a few cases its not really that bad. Believe me elsewhere things have quite bad and the new strain of the virus is making things worse day by day. Now I don't know you but I quite sure if I'm sat in a Bar in Paris, Rome, Edinburgh or Richmond in a few years after a 6 Nations Game (remember them) we'd probably have drink, chat rugby sh*t and have a laugh because that is in our DNA as rugby people. Also in our DNA as human beings we need to be part of the combined effort to get society up and running and until such time rugby is a distant memory of something we love but at the moment we have to live with out. ------------- Crouch, Bind, Tweet! |
Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2021 at 21:07
| Sour - maybe? Trolling - absolutely not, I was merely intending to echo what many others have expressed on various threads across this forum in that there are far more important issues to address than getting our beloved rugby up and running. If you believe the risk to be insignificant, or fake news maybe, perhaps you would care to invite the South African flights to divert to the Channel Isles so that they too can have their rugby "fix" come what may like others who cannot see the wood for the trees |
Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2021 at 09:47
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Whilst respecting differing viewpoints on whether or not rugby should continue I do have a significant concern about whether the Championship will be safe to return and I am not talking about Covid 19. Before the season starts on March 6th there is already a huge discrepancy within the league between the full time teams and non-full time teams in terms of training time, ability of players, facilities, analysis, medical support and more. Now we have a situation where 3 of the full time teams, who have been doing full on training for months, will have 4 tough warm up games ahead of the start of the campaign compared to maybe one or no matches for the part time teams. So on March 6th we could have fully fit international calibre players against part time nowhere near match fit players. A recipe for disaster? I understand there is a desire to solve the Saracens issue on the pitch, but why not just have the full time teams ; Saracens, Ealing, Doncaster, Pirates and Jersey play home and away and then have a top two play off ( if only one team to be promoted). There will be no crowds or TV revenue so I cannot see what is in it for the part time teams? They can, like the rest of rugby this season, just mothball and plan for season 21/22. |
Posted By: Mark W-J
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2021 at 10:13
We won't have any competitive rugby on 6th March. Partly because we'll still be in lockdown, or moving slowly towards some semblance of normality, but also because teams won't have had any preparation, which - as you say - is vital. I would also say that, from a safety point of view, the disparity between Saracens and Hartpury or Richmond is smaller than the gulf between Australia and Uruguay (for example), two teams who have played each other in the last two World Cups.
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Posted By: Taffy
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2021 at 11:53
On the other hand a lot of hard work has been carried out by many "energetic professional athletes" Bedford Blues and the Blues Foundation have been supported by the players and coaches running food-bank collections, supporting mental health well being, raising money in the #TryJanuary challenge and have provided support to Bedfordshire’s most vulnerable throughout the pandemic!
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Posted By: Thatbloke
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2021 at 12:25
| That's very reassuring to know that Blues and Pirates (from an earlier post) have been prominent in helping their local community. Well done both!! |
Posted By: WEvans
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2021 at 14:09
| I think if you listed all the rugby clubs who have officials and players helping the local community in Covid related activity it would be a very very long list. |