No.

The only (slight) surprise is that the content of the article doesn't quite back up the headline...Whether that's because they don't understand the rules of grammar, or because they're trying to sensationalise their own article I don't know....

I'd say both, the standard of journalism these days is similar to the tv show "Drop the dead donkey"

What happens top the 10's of millions pounds worth of debt owing to everybody?

Is that just swept under the table?

Good question, but don't hold your breath waiting for a sensible answer

Two teams without grounds plus a ground without a team and not a penny to rub together between them. 

Those clubs that do watch their pennies and pay their debts must wonder why they do it as it doesn't seem to bring them any advantage.

If they took the TV money that they would have paid the three bankrupt clubs and paid that to the ten teams in Premiership 2, then you could find £3m per side. And £1m from a title sponsor and as £2m from the club's own income - then you have a budget of about £5m, or which about £2.4m could go to players, so am average wage of £60k for a squad of 40.

But no club would pay that, they would look at the extra £9m or £10m available to the Premiership sides and offer salaries of £120k to try to win promotion - and the right to lose more money.

I'd say both, the standard of journalism these days is similar to the tv show "Drop the dead donkey"

I now have a vision of Damian Day reporting amidst the ashes of English Rugby, whilst holding a child's teddy bear!!!

The article suggests its 25/26.

Or are three franchises about to get dumped on at the end of 24/25?

How many spots are there in the French and Japanese leagues for English players.

I'd say both, the standard of journalism these days is similar to the tv show "Drop the dead donkey"

I now have a vision of Damian Day reporting amidst the ashes of English Rugby, whilst holding a child's teddy bear!!!

One that is readable 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/rugby/wasps-worcester-and-london-irish-handed-lifeline-talks-to-include-them-in-new-premiership-2/ar-AA1d2voF?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=7cc676330f5843c39e0dcf8fda1e3784&ei=9" rel="nofollow - https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/rugby/wasps-worcester-and-london-irish-handed-lifeline-talks-to-include-them-in-new-premiership-2/ar-AA1d2voF?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=7cc676330f5843c39e0dcf8fda1e3784&ei=9

Any other sport, this would be considered unsporting.

What strikes me here abotu the criteria is that they are basically the same as the ones that IMG and Rugby League are considering. 

Also who decides in how great a brand name is?

There is also the question that, if you take away the TV coverage, can those "brands" attract a crowd. Especially after two years of no rugby. Would it be a bigger crowd than a current Championship club?

And of course, where on earth could they play?

"“We need brands like Wasps and Worcester in the Championship.."

Really? Do we?

"..and there must be a way in the medium term to bring them back more quickly by restructuring the Championship to refranchise them in the right place in the country,".

Well there we have it folks. Let's give the rules some rubbery qualities when we need it.

You cannot have a business go bust and then allow them to re-start again  without being held responsible, others will see that as a licence to do the same thing. I use Wasps because we know a lot about what happened, I'm less sure about the Worcester and Exiles situation. No business or "brand" can be allowed to treat employees and suppliers with contempt, be it a corner shop or a rugby club.

I looked on the London Irish board, the fans there are pretty sanguine about their situation. They realise the club does not even have the proverbial pot to micturate into. And if they did, the administrator would sell it.

Also on the Quin's forum, there is disquiet about losing home games.

The forum users are the hard core fans, who are not enamoured of the games at Twickenham, and now will only get seven home Premiership games at the Stoop, plus two in Europe and three in the cup - two of which will be against Championship clubs.

Yes there are quite a lot of "fans" who seem to measure club support against what is in it for them. Clubs are in the deep and brown smelly stuff, all of them and they are going to need all the help they can find to stay in the pro game. To para phrase a well known saying it's  " ask not what can your club do for you, but what can you do for your club"

Some seem to think there's some sort of privilege they get when they buy a ticket for the season, like buying a pound of flesh and only getting 12 ounces. There will be more big clubs vanish unless something radical happens, Newcastle have begun by paying players what they can afford, Tigers also did this by asking players to take a pay cut a couple of years back, players like Manu Tuilagi walked away and took the club to court, that is not going to sustain the pro game for long.

Eventually and it might take a few years, but players will realise that the money has gone, £million pound players will be gone, less mercenaries in the game. Lets not pretend, new players join small local clubs because of a couple of reasons, their parents might have been involved in the game, or they are watching International or Premiership games on the telly. National league teams will thrive with a fully functioning top level, the game will function at International level if we have a strong top level, but someone somewhere needs to pull there necks in and realise we do not want a system like Scottish soccer(or rugby) where there are two teams and a lot of much lower grade teams to make up the numbers, it does not work.

https://bedfordrugby.co.uk/news/2023/06/blues-unite-behind-same-jersey" rel="nofollow - Blues to unite behind same jersey : Bedford Blues RFC (bedfordrugby.co.uk)

Small steps. Positive step to reinforce club loyalty and brand, especially if the Colts take theirs to University. Full stash to Colts would be even better to spread the word.

One does have to ask, at what point is one's club taking the mickey.

And I have been a Quins fan since 1970.

please accept my condolences BE57

Rugby if you don’t make as much as you can on the match day you are reliant on one person to pump money in.

They'll need more than that if they're serious about buying Viktor Gyokeres! 

I do hope you are correct,  if the 3 clubs in question wish to start up again they can start at he bottom of the ladder.

Totally agree but not worth worrying about until a more credible source reports it.

Well said that man

Looking at this in black and white, (stoopid, I know), can we really expect to see 3 teams, 2 without a ground, all with no players, coaches or support staff, nor a financial backer.  Not having played a game of competitive rugby for at least 1 season, to come along at the begining of 24/25 or even 25/26 season and say: "Hi, we're the new Wasps/Warriors/Irish and we're here to brighten up your Prem 2 league.  Oh, and by the way 3 of you must drop down to the lower league to make room for us, 3 from that league must also drop, and so on down the pyramid."

I don't think the RFU/PRL would have the money or wherewithall nor backbone to defend a joint action that would undobtedly be taken by quite a few clubs.

Realstically I can't see it happening, so it probably wil!

In other words the plan for Rugby League.

You make a good point Workerbee.

Some things there will need definition for sure:  Ground capacity: seating, standing, combined?

Brand name:  I presume you mean a National sponsor who may well be familiar with the likes of Wasps, Warriors, Irish.  What about the rest of us local yokels, "The Cornish what?, Ealing who? and yes I know where Jersey is, but it's not in England, is it?" etc. etc.  Apart from the three obvious there are just not enough well known names below the Prem to attract a big sponsor, unless one is willing to cover both Prem 1 & 2?

They have large support: Coventry and Bedford probably tick that box.

Internet footprint:  How is that even measured?

10 year plan:  I hope that applies to prem 1 as well because reading that could be a giggle.

IN which case, what would stop Manchester United or Chelsea applying?

Regional - more likely Aston Villa than Manchester 

and Racing for the Jersey franchise - Rennes, Roazhon Park 30 000 seats 

Common sense?

£8 allegedly

To be fair, the Hummel Coventry City ones are much praised by the fans.

Not all Chinese-made stuff is tat.

Priced for profit, agreed.