16 team Premiership from 2016? |
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minded
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Posted: 02 March 2015 at 1:06pm |
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THE PRINCIPALITY Premiership clubs have asked the Welsh Rugby Union to increase the size of the top flight, writes Chris Kirwan. The governing body are holding a meeting next week where they will discuss the request to add at least another two clubs and possibly four to the 12-strong league. The changes will not take place for next season with the existing clubs set to remain in the 2015/16 Premiership because Bargoed, who do not have the criteria for promotion, are running away with the Swalec Championship. The Premiership was cut from 14 to 12 in 2012 and that decision prompted Pontypool's failed High Court fight against the WRU. Pooler, Swansea and north Walians RGC 1404 are the current Championship clubs with the required A Licence for the top flight. WRU chairman Gareth Davies wrote in an open letter last weekend that a working party, chaired by former Llanelli chief Anthony Buchanan, is reviewing the domestic league structure. And the Premiership clubs have made it clear that more fixtures are needed and that the schedule needs to be sorted to avoid weeks of kicking their heels on the sidelines. The eight that did not qualify for this year's British and Irish Cup were faced with gaping holes in their calendar and a proposal has been made for them to have their own competition next season to fill the void. Recommended by The cross-border tournament is itself a touch shambolic with a heavy regional presence in squads at the expense of club players. That is likely to be exacerbated by the absence of the LV= Cup next season. Meanwhile, Newport and Dragons chief executive Stuart Davies plans to meet with Gwent's Premiership contingent to discuss how they ensure that the pathway to regional rugby is married with club success. The former Wales back row forward, who took over from Gareth Davies in January, said: "When I was playing I had a huge respect for Gwent rugby and still have the scars to prove it from Wednesday night visits to Tredegar, Newbridge, Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale where every side had a gnarled tighthead and a tough openside. "There's no doubt the talent is out there and it's about harnessing that and making sure the systems are in place to make sure they come through. "I want the Premiership sides feeding the regional side. I want that relationship to be harmonious and fair where the Premiership clubs are competitive, successful in their own right while also being a conduit for players to come through to the region." Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys and Bedwas are currently in the mix for the playoffs but the Black and Ambers are bottom of the pile and thankful that Bargoed are having such a fine season. |
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Once a monkey
Veteran Pull !!! Joined: 30 December 2008 Status: Offline Points: 15041 |
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Doesn't this dilute the talent pool even further, and move away from the Regional A set-up which would better bridge the gap between Regional rugby and the Premiership?
I get the point about fixture holes, but surely there are ways around that.
Huge respect for anyone playing this standard of rugby, but surely this just means a lot more plumbers, lawyers, painters, teachers playing rugby at this level.
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#George
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John
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In a structure where part of the purpose of any level seems to be to serve the needs of the level above, the four regions would/should have an input into the structure of the premiereship. And the representation should be equally spread across the four regions. That means 12 or 16 clubs. And regulated promotion/relegation. I agree there are ways around the fixture holes- regional B sides for a start so perhaps 12 sidesis enough.
Good luck Anthony- chairing that is a more difficult job than facing the pooler front row in their pomp. It's good to see that the Drags are talking to their region. If a bit delayed |
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157cb
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This would be a disaster not enough quality players for 8 teams in my view two teams per region ,with A fixtures to be played to fill the gaps in the season . |
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gofer88
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I think the prem can expand to 16 teams if there is another layer above it. In the absence of the LV cup the obvious answer would be the Aviva A league combined with B & I cup games for regional "A" sides, or as a minimum regional "A" games between the 4 welsh regions.
3 fixtures around mid - late September before B & I rounds 1 -3 and a further 3 post November internationals/ pre 6 nations that fits around the rest of the B & I schedule. Therefore regional squad players and developing prem/ academy players get crucial regular game time and we don't see the sorry mess that has been depleted teams in the prem coping with the knock on effect from international call ups, through to the LV cup.
Granted the premiership would get slightly weaker overall but the holes in the fixture list are costing clubs too much money as fans are not in the habit of attending games at 2.30 on a Saturday every week, therefore crowds are dwindling and subsequently the clubs have less money to operate. |
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Scarlets elite away supporters - Con Air
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minded
Admin Group Joined: 09 July 2009 Location: N18 Status: Offline Points: 11889 |
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Article from the fail this morning, potentially looking at Merthyr / Swansea / RGC being moved back up to a 16 team Premiership
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Ffidel Bennett
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Unusually perceptive article on Merthyr RFC by Andy Bowell in today's W. Mule - nah.. must have been a ghost writer.
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Westwalian
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Surely a 16 league team would further dilute the standard of rugby
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Defender of Priestland
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157cb
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Agree totally,this could be a disaster for the development of the younger players in the Premiership
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minded
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It might be a case that the A teams are still going ahead but the Premiership would become a 16 team amateur level league below. Wouldn't be treated as such a development pathway then.
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SospanMawr
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Why should Merthyr be fast tracked up? Because they plan to spend a lot of money?
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scarletsrules
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Merthyr finished 3rd in the Championship so they would be fasttracked due to that
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LLANDRE
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Where are we getting this money to fund this Scarlets A team. ?!!
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West is Best (Fin gwybod)
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Wil Chips
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Ponty will break away from the Prem I'm pretty sure.
I have a feeling that the current WRU have a clear view of what thy want the pathway from junior clubs to region to be. You're either on the train, or you're not. |
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SospanMawr
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scarletnut
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Edited by minded - 12 October 2015 at 12:14pm |
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I still wake up late at night and think of what might have been when tim stimpson hit that jammy penalty1
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