The club that finishes 10th will meet the Championship winners in a home-and-away play-off, but only if the side seeking promotion fulfils the minimum-standards criteria.
The criteria have long been a source of frustration for aspiring Championship clubs who see them as a means of keeping them out of the top flight or facing the prospect of going bust, like London Welsh in the 2010s, spending millions of pounds to meet the conditions and getting immediately relegated with a fatal drop in income.
The creteria have been relaxed this year. Championship clubs have four years to meet the stipulated ground capacity of 10,001 but they only have until the end of January to submit detailed proposals of how they would meet the conditions. A concern is that planning permission is unlikely to have been granted by then meaning only Doncaster, the one side in the second tier that satisfied the conditions last season, will be a play-off candidate.
The Championship will be expanded to 14 clubs from 12 from next season. Three Premiership sides who went bust two years ago, Wasps, Worcester and London Irish, could be fast-tracked into it if they reform rather than starting life again at the bottom, the fate of Richmond, London Scottish and London Welsh in the past, but only the Warriors currently have a ground.
The move to bring them back has more detractors than supporters, but what they would bring is ambition. There would be less chance of a reprieve for the Premiership’s bottom side and it was not a good look for the top flight last season when Newcastle survived despite not winning a match.
The Falcons lost their first four matches this season, extending their losing streak to 25 in a run stretching back to March last year. Their director of rugby Steve Diamond believes the side that finishes bottom will face a play-off and has no time for those who say Newcastle are not worthy of their place in the Premiership.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 20, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 20, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Daley-McLean backs Harrison
KATY Daley-McLean is backing Zoe Harrison over Holly Aitchison in John Mitchell’s fly-half conundrum due to the Saracens 10’s formidable goal kicking, which she feels will give England an edge during tight knockout matches in next year’s World Cup.
Diamond still has faith as Falcons battle on
THE Premiership’s bottom two sides, Newcastle and Exeter, faced each other at Kingston Park on Friday night – a match which ended in victory for the Falcons – with talk of relegation back on the Premiership menu.
Batley sets sights on reaching top
JOE Batley has two remaining targets in a career that started at Gloucester 10 years ago – help Bristol win the Premiership for the first time and gain international recognition.
Confused path to rules of combat
TRYING to obtain an even rough timetable over the class action being taken by players claiming negligence over concussion and brain injuries has been difficult to say the least but I have been busy on your behalf ringing around various interested parties.
Life with Welsh was such a roller coaster
To play professional rugby was such a privilege and something I never expected to happen once I left the south-east to go and do a master’s in chemistry at Bath University.
Watts wins it for Leeds with last-gasp goal kick
WHEN these two teams met last season, both games were high-scoring affairs that were in the balance right until the end.
At last! Falcons end record losing streak
NEWCASTLE finally put an end to their 25game losing streak in spectacular fashion on Friday night at Kingston Park.
YOUNG GUNS
Max Clein is enjoying learning from his childhood hero Sean Cronin at Munster and hopes to emulate the Ireland legend’s career.
Saracens go top in last-minute drama
THERE is a reason why Saracens have been serial winners down the years – they never know when they are beaten.
All Blacks will have to be at their best
IN some ways the New Zealand system means that they are not at full strength between World Cups. You can see it in the way fly-half Richie Mo’unga, blindside Shannon Frizell, and veteran lock Brodie Retallick, who are all in Japan, are ruled out by taking up overseas contracts, despite being number one picks before they went.
