Championship clubs hit back at RFU's second tier plan
Second-tier sides have been in talks with RFU over future of the club game after demise of Jersey Reds, London Irish, Wasps and Worcester
Gavin Mairs, Chief Rugby Union Correspondent 22 December 2023 ? 5:12pm
The Championship clubs have rejected the Rugby Football Union?s plans for a new ?Premiership 2? competition, claiming they are not interested in a league that ?follows a franchise or selection-based model.?
The RFU this week unveiled plans for a franchise-based second tier to replace the championship, including a potentially reformed Wasps, with clubs invited to apply for a tender process by February, with the new league to start in 2025/26.
However, in a strongly-worded statement, the Championship clubs dismissed the plans, insisting that the RFU and Premiership Rugby must adopt a ?whole game solution? rather than introduce a franchise system at the expense of meritocracy.
?The Championship clubs are not interested in a league that follows a franchise or selection-based model,? said the statement.
?That means a league in which clubs are chosen to be part of a new tier two because of a commercial, geographic or financial consideration, rather than gaining membership by virtue of promotion and relegation.
?Meritocracy is a longstanding principle of rugby in this country, even if franchises might work elsewhere and in other sports. Basing entry to Tier 2 on minimum operating standards or on the perceived importance of their ?brand?, rather than merit, would de-prioritize the quality of rugby, of coaching and player development in Tier 2 at a time when Tier 1 is already cutting squads back.?
The RFU insists it wants to work with the Championship to create minimum operating standards that would cover everything from stadiums to player welfare and create a more sustainable, marketable second tier as well as a surer path to promotion to the Premiership.
But the Championship clubs hit back, claiming that the decision by the RFU to slash their funding from ?600,000 to ?160,000, was a critical factor in the governing body failing to commercialise the second tier.
?We share the RFU?s view that a second tier must be viable and of the highest possible standard,? the clubs added. ?This requires continual improvements over time on and off the field, but the critical point, which the RFU knows, is that these improvements have to be developed and paid for.
?Unfortunately, while so little funding is allocated towards the second tier in general, our attitude has to be progressive, and clubs need time to build a business plan. We have constantly urged earlier disclosure of funding plans to allow time for our clubs to plan with confidence.
?The RFU has now chosen to criticise our attitude to their flawed proposals, which we do not believe represent a whole-game solution. Not only do we need a whole-game solution, but we need a whole-game response to the proposals laid out by the RFU, so in the New Year we will be making public our views on the details ? as far as we can ascertain them ? of the Premiership 2 plan.?
Topic: DECEMBER (Read 6082 times)
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