TRP - no relegation and a 13 team Premiership next season

[Heathen]

https://twitter.com/TheRugbyPaper/status/1350566838678286342/photo/1

[wasps]

I can accept the ring fencing
I can't currently accept the 13 team league.

It's a decision that's being made solely to placate a team that has systematically cheated for years.
I accept that they're share holders and need to agree to any decision, but it still stinks.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Any news about the prop signing that was hinted yesterday by Jon Newcombe?

https://twitter.com/RugbyTimes/status/1350534965197500417

[Heathen]

Big splash on Hislop joining us. Neils in another post mentions that Elliott Millar Mills, also a prop, is joining from Ealing and Vellacott going to Edinburgh.

I wonder if these are guys that Neil Fowkes has looked at and reckons that they could make the grade in the Premiership?

[MarleyWasp]

So that's Ealing being promoted and nobody going down then...

[coddy]

So that's Ealing being promoted and nobody going down then...

If only.

[DGP Wasp]

I can accept the ring fencing
I can't currently accept the 13 team league.

It's a decision that's being made solely to placate a team that has systematically cheated for years.
I accept that they're share holders and need to agree to any decision, but it still stinks.

I agree. However, there are 13(?) share holders and only 12 places in the league, so there has always been at least one Prem share holder sitting it out. If this situation had presented itself a year or two earlier, would they be so keen to placate Irish or Newcastle? I suspect not. I don't think it's Sarries'share holding driving this, rather their recent (ill-gotten) success and their contribution to the England squad.

[Skippy]

If they're told to stay down, the best players will leave to join Premiership clubs. Problem solved. It'll cease to be a bums on seats club.

[DGP Wasp]

If they're told to stay down, the best players will leave to join Premiership clubs. Problem solved. It'll cease to be a bums on seats club.

Wouldn't describe them as a "bums on seats club" in the true sense.
All those trophies and a squad dripping with British Lions and even while they were still in the Premiership they couldn't fill one of the smallest grounds in the league. The rugby public can't stand them, the love in is with the media.

[westwaleswasp]

That is the reason why I will not  buy TRP again until they stop spouting Nigel's paid for propaganda. There are too many Sarries apologists out there in media land, and you have to question how many pro Sarries opinions have been bought. The rugby public know when something stinks.

[SteveTodd]

I can accept the ring fencing
I can't currently accept the 13 team league.

It's a decision that's being made solely to placate a team that has systematically cheated for years.
I accept that they're share holders and need to agree to any decision, but it still stinks.

Whilst I sympathise with your feelings about Saracens, I am much more concerned about Wasps surviving their precarious financial situation, than punishing Saracens, and an extra 2 games per season will help.

But how long is this for, one season, a few seasons or for the foreseeable future? Speculation here suggests maybe up to 14 teams! https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jan/17/rugby-union-premiership-relegation-expansion. The article also points out that central funding would be diluted with more clubs being in the premiership (something that I overlooked).

[Peej]

Ringfencing is the right idea given the shambles of this season, but I think Sarries should be kept out in the wilderness. Fuck 'em , frankly.

What will most likely happen is that we'll go to a 14 team league, with a dreaded conference system, which I utterly despise.

[hookender]

I hate the idea of ring fencing but I can see the sense of making the league up to 14 teams. So maybe a team up up for the next two valid seasons with no relegation ,with a one year deferment after that to allow last team up time to establish themselves.
 
Wouldn’t need to be a conference system - french handle it ok ,just drop rugby cup if needs be. Extra games would allow bedding in of youngsters.

Another benefit having extra two clubs in league could be extra players for international duty , might not have so many missing from each team.

[andermt]

That is the reason why I will not  buy TRP again until they stop spouting Nigel's paid for propaganda. There are too many Sarries apologists out there in media land, and you have to question how many pro Sarries opinions have been bought. The rugby public know when something stinks.

It's why I stopped my TRP subscription, I only read it now as I can get it for free on pressreader due to the city libraries.
Every week the same columnist either supports Sarries or slags of PRL.

[coddy]

Add me to the list of former TRP readers who have stopped buying it due to Salarycens apologists.

Plus I have no time for Fissler either.

If the Championship reaches a conclusion in the next 6 months and Sarries come top then I will begrudgingly accept their promotion but if they just get handed a Premiership spot for next season without earning it then i'd be very disappointed in the PRL to say the least.