Ring-fenced Premiership back on the table
NEWS: The bosses of England’s 12 Premiership clubs are seeking talks with the Rugby Football Union over ending promotion and relegation to and from the top flight.
Fears have been raised about England’s top clubs forcing a breakaway, but the league’s governing body Premiership Rugby has pledged to thrash out a way forward with the RFU.
The RFU’s interim chief executive Nigel Melville branded the idea of ring-fencing the Premiership this season as “wishful thinking” in December.
But England’s top-flight clubs agreed at Tuesday’s monthly Premiership Rugby board meeting to seek out a summit meeting with RFU chiefs.
“Our key objective is to deliver long-term financial sustainability for professional rugby in England,” said a Premiership Rugby spokesperson.
“Now is the right time to sit down with the RFU, who are our partners within the Professional Game Agreement.
“We will be coming back to the next Premiership Rugby Board meeting on 9 April with an update.
“These crucial discussions are about deciding the most effective structure for the top end of the game in England. They have to be structured, balanced and create the best long-term solution for English rugby.”
In a statement to the BBC, a spokeswoman for the RFU said: “The English game is continually evolving, and we would look at any proposal through the lens of what is right for the game.”
Premiership clubs believe removing the financial imperative of staying up will give more opportunities for young English players.
However, several clubs in the second tier Championship have threatened to take legal action if they are excluded from the Premiership.
Agence France-Presse
