As the tournament has reached a point where it is far easier to get in than it is to get back out again, the organisers should consider opening talks with acknowledged experts in the field. Her Majesty’s Prison Service would be a perfect fit.
England’s “elite” clubs are now in the thick of a scrap for eight qualifying places. Which, with only a dozen teams in the mix, is barely a scrap at all. As Willie John McBride and his “99 call” Lions would have put it: “One in, nearly all in.”
There was more elitism in the Paris Commune. As Nick Cain correctly pointed out in these pages a week ago, the return to a 24-team tournament means the European Cup is no longer restricted to “the best of the best” – a sorry state of affairs, given the rich history of the tournament and its central place in the development of professional rugby.
Next season’s contingent from the PRO14 (or 16, or 18, or however many it happens to be this week) has already been decided: the four Irish provinces, three Welsh regions and Glasgow. Of this bunch, only Leinster, Munster and Ulster managed to win more games than they lost during their domestic campaign. Glasgow? They finished second in ten of their 16 matches – a record that should have seen them dumped in the workhouse for a season rather than invited to the ball.
Denne historien er fra May 30, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 30, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
