Premiership Rugby, who organize the Premiership Cup, have only invited the top 10 teams from last season’s Championship into what will be a streamlined 20-team competition, with National One champions Chinnor and last year’s bottom club Cambridge left out in the cold.
It was first mooted in May that only 10 of the 12 Championship clubs may be involved but the bad news was only confirmed to the two disappointed parties recently.
Both clubs have been offered a small amount of compensation – but nothing like enough to cover the loss of three home games – and are now scrambling around trying to find matches to fill the huge holes in their fixture list.
Easter, Chinnor’s DoR, has some choice words to say about the people running the game in England.
“Amongst all the celebrations of our triumph last year was the prospect of being in the Prem Cup, but rather than Prem Rugby saying ‘you’re welcome, you’re included, we want to help grow the game, have a little bit of time in the sun yourselves’, they have pulled the rug from under us. It is a cartel wielding its axe of power. It is anti-competition,” he said.
“The show is the show and it has been like that for the last 20 years in English rugby. If you’re not a top feeder you don’t really have much say in the direction you are going to go or how things should be done. You have got pretty inept people making decisions most of the time.
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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.
