THE English Championship Proposal put forward by Ed Griffiths is an intriguing 76-page document that outlines a way forward for the English second tier based on it becoming a model professional league.
Many of the ideas in the proposal are well framed and make good business and administrative sense, despite Griffiths being under fire on various website comments forums for being a Premiership fifth columnist.
Most of the hostility centres on his recommendation to the 11 Championship clubs that they accept a four-year moratorium on promotion and relegation – and while I share the dislike of the concept, the personal attacks are pathetic.
Unfortunately for Griffiths, it means that an otherwise professional proposal is holed beneath the water line, because he has failed to grasp the most important issue of the lot. Namely, that it would be suicidal for any club with any ambition to progress in a professional sport to accept the portcullis coming down on the principle of annual promotion and relegation.
This is particularly the case with Ealing Trailfinders, who will be hellbent on upsetting the Saracens applecart when the Championship season gets underway.
Whether Ealing will have assembled enough clout to trouble Saracens is unlikely – but it will not be for lack of trying. What is surprising is that some reports have suggested the Griffiths proposal has met with unanimous approval already, with the implication that it is about to be rubber-stamped by the Championship clubs.
My understanding is different. The proposal, submitted to the 11 clubs in early July, has a three stage process.
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Denne historien er fra August 02, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
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Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
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Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
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Barrington ready to power up the Mob
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Skivington keen to build identity
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Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
