From a business point of view, I can totally understand why PREM Rugby bosses chose to ringfence English rugby’s top division and move to a franchise model.
After the league’s financial struggles post-Covid and the demise of Worcester, Wasps and London Irish, it was clear there were significant problems to rectify. The vast majority of PREM teams, with the exception of Bath and Bristol, are still not sound financially. Teams struggle to make a profit.
This is not necessarily a criticism, but scrapping relegation has been all about the league’s balance sheet. In doing so, chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor has probably strengthened the PREM’s financial position, but has also risked its sporting reputation.
It’s a very tricky scenario to manage and I can understand both sides of the argument. It is quite clear to me that Red Bull would not have bought Newcastle last summer if the side had been at risk of relegation. I’m sure the huge amounts of money they ploughed into the club arrived because they knew what was coming.
I’m also certain the incoming American investment at Exeter Chiefs led by Bill Foley, the owner of Premier League side Bournemouth, has come because they know their money will not be put at risk by the potential of dropping down a division.
But even the new owners of the PREM clubs must think deep down that the sporting jeopardy of the league is being put at risk. This is where the PREM need to be really careful. Only time will tell, but I do wonder if they will come to regret this decision.
The weekend just gone showed the danger of scrapping relegation – Noah Caluori ran in five of Saracens’ 13 tries at Sale on Sunday in an 85-19 hammering
On Saturday, Gabriel Hamer-Webb ran in four tries of his own as Leicester outclassed Newcastle Red Bulls 62-3
Gloucester’s horror season hit another low in a 53-12 thumping at Bristol on Friday night – but because of ringfencing, the defeat does not bring any sort of jeopardy
Look at last weekend’s Premier League action. Clearly, the game with the most interest was Manchester City against Arsenal with both teams fighting it out for the title. But there was also a huge amount riding on the matches at the other end of the table, such as Tottenham’s clash with Brighton.
The fact a club as big as Tottenham could drop into the Championship is the very definition of sporting jeopardy. That is what the PREM badly lacks.
We saw that at the weekend, with the four teams at the bottom, who have nothing to play for and no threat of relegation, not turning up.
Newcastle, Harlequins, Gloucester and Sale were all awful, conceding a mammoth total of 248 points across their four matches.
On Sunday afternoon, I sat down and watched Sale’s 85-19 home hammering by Saracens. It was a terrible watch, lacking any form of competitive nature. I have to admit it wasn’t long before I switched over to the football.
Those sorts of matches won’t help grow the PREM’s audience. In fact, I think they will actually turn people off. It was hardly a surprise that Northampton’s win at Exeter was the best game of the weekend as both teams still had something on the line.
British sport as a whole is based on the premise of promotion and relegation. The PREM’s bosses clearly disagree, but I would love it to be a part of the league’s future. Look at French rugby. There is promotion and relegation between the thriving Top 14 and the Pro D2 below it via a play-off. In an ideal world, that’s what I’d like to see in England.
My model would see the side that finishes bottom of the PREM play the winner of the Champ in a two-legged end-of-season play-off match.
It was hardly a surprise that Northampton’s last-gasp win at Exeter was the best game of the weekend as both teams still had something on the line
And it’s no wonder that the French Top 14 is so much more exciting, given all of their teams actually have something to play for all season long
I’d like to see the four Welsh teams in the United Rugby Championship join the PREM to create an Anglo-Welsh league
The real entrepreneur in me would also like to see the four existing Welsh teams join the PREM to create an Anglo-Welsh league.
That could really maximise crowds and profits. I do wonder if the new owners coming into the PREM really understand the psyche of English rugby. The franchise model of 10 teams, to me, just feels a bit safe.
The PREM are playing with fire. Ultimately, even new investors will want the PREM to be a competitive sporting league. At four of the five games last weekend, there was none of that on show.
