NATIONAL One leaders Rams are among the clubs to have submitted an expression of interest to join the new Tier 2 League proposed by the RFU.
Reading-based Rams have gone through the 16-page Minimum Operating Standards document and are confident they can meet the mandatory requirements within the timeframes set by the RFU.
A draft copy of the document, which TRP has seen, states that the minimum total licensed capacity of the club's principal
A draft copy of the document, which TRP has seen, states that the minimum total licensed capacity of the club's principal in time for the inaugural season of the competition, which will replace the Championship, in 2025/26.
Rams' Old Bath Road ground already meets that figure and they'd have over four years to increase the number of seats currently inside the ground from 300 to the 800 required by July 1, 2028.
Dedicated press rooms, TV gantries and changing rooms of a certain size, and close to the principal playing area, are some of the other criteria stipulated by the document.
"I think it is a good document. When you look through it, it seems pretty reasonable to me. I think some Championship sides won't have any problem meeting the criteria, some National One sides won't have too much of a problem," said Rams' chief executive Gary Reynolds.
"I think everybody knows we have to have certain minimum standards.
If rugby wants to be taken seriously outside of the Premiership and the Six Nations and the World Cup then we have got to go to work and make it more at tractive for people to come along and watch a tier two or tier three game."
Esta historia es de la edición January 28, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 28, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
