Despite there being no relegation from the top flight, Worcester, Wasps and London Irish have gone into administration and have been expelled from the Premiership in what has been the darkest season English rugby has ever endured.
Varndell, who made 180 Premiership appearances and scored 92 tries across his time at Wasps, Leicester and Bristol, is devastated that his beloved Wasps have been forced to start over again at the bottom of the pyramid but says it reflects the current torrid times.
He said: “I’m absolutely gutted. Gutted because I was a Wasps player and I spent a lot of happy years at Wasps. It’s sad for players past and present but also for the game because Wasps added a huge amount to English rugby over the last 30 years. It’s a big part of the English game so for them to start from level zero is so upsetting but just shows the big problem in the English game with Worcester and London Irish following suit.”
Former winger Varndell is bemused at how the unthinkable has happened three times this season. With the sport seemingly shrinking, he worries about where the next generation of rugby fans and players will come from.
He said: “There’s got to be some massive restructuring as this can’t happen again. We can’t go into another season with any more teams going because it doesn’t look good for English rugby.
この記事は The Rugby Paper の June 11, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Rugby Paper の June 11, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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.
