I don't think that rugby is viable in its current form. I stated at the time that I think more teams in the prem will enter administration or go after what happened to us and Worcester. All
clubs are in trouble, and if any of Bristol, Saracens or Baths owners left they would likely fold overnight.
For rugby to survive it finally has to admit that it is a minority sport away from the test arena. It is not going to go the way of football. It will mean less wages, but I also do not buy this argument that rugby players need exorbitant wages as their careers are short. The aim should not be to have players ready to retire from all forms of work in their 20-30s and renumerate them as such. It should be to give them a decent wage, but also prepare them for what will be a longer working career outside of playing. I found the anonymous Welsh player this week complaining of their ?280,000 per annum not being enough exceptionally poor and a sign they are not living a reality that they need to.
A well structured 2 divisions with 12 team with promotion and relegation, with a solid pyramid below down to grass roots is needed. We need to stop chasing unworkable financial horizons, and we need to ensure that a democracy is held between the clubs, the league and the RFU. We cannot let owners of teams like Saracens and Bath push the rules and hide their misdeeds, as they are one of the reasons we are where we are.
We're a modest sport, lets start behaving like it for the good of the game.