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.
Esta historia es de la edición October 20, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
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Esta historia es de la edición October 20, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
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Sleightholme shows he has pace to burn
OLLIE Sleightholme recently clocked his fastest sprint time and is racing to cement his spot as an England starter.
McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
EXETER fly-half Olivia McGoverne has opted for club over country which will rule her out of contention for New Zealand’s World Cup bid in 2025.
Trinity aim to get the culture right
HIGH-FLYING Trinity have made a remarkable turnaround this season after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, heading into this weekend unbeaten and are now eyeing up promotion from Level 7.
YOUNG GUNS
Louie Gulley experienced the environment of England U20s’ World Championship triumph up close this summerand now has a burning desire to become an age-grade star. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker was part of Mark Mapletoft’s squad but didn’t manage to make an appearance during the tournament.
The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
CAMBORNE maintained their lead at the top of the table with a bonus-point win against their nearest challengers in a pulsating game.
A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher
A highly entertaining and enthralling contest between two sides fighting at the foot of the table was eventually won by Esher after the lead had changed no less than seven times throughout an absorbing afternoon.
Chiefs in hunt for new investment
TONY Rowe has confirmed the search for new investors into Exeter Chiefs has begun as he looks to safeguard the longterm future of the Premiership club.
McParland keen to shine for England A
NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland feels he has returned a better player following a nasty injury that denied him a World Cup winners medal and is now ready to fly into a new opportunity with England A.
Undercard get chance to show their A-game
ENGLAND’S A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard provide the opposition at The Stoop.
England look like a clueless rabble
I WATCHED with a growing sense of bewilderment as England yet again took to the field against Australia looking to all intents and purpose as if they had just been introduced to each other on the coach into Twickenham.
