[size=10pt]Owners in talks to expand Premiership to 14[/size]
Advanced discussions are taking place to increase the Premiership, English rugby’s top domestic league, by an additional two teams in 2012, ring-fence it for two or three years and do away with the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
The proposals, debated at a recent series of meetings involving club owners and chief executives, are part of a five-year strategy aimed at growing the club game.
“There was a general consensus that we should look properly at expanding to 14 teams,” confirmed Mark McCafferty, chief executive of Premier Rugby, which represents the 12 elite clubs.
“In 2012 we hope to secure a big increase in TV revenue, which will remove some of the obstacles to expansion where people are worried they will get less money because there would be 14 mouths to feed rather than 12. My view is that we can solve the financial issues and get the jam, if you like, spread thickly enough for everyone to be happy.”
On a day when Worcester’s battle with Leeds to remain in the Premiership is attracting huge interest, the prospect of a temporary suspension of promotion and relegation will alarm many. “There has been talk of a two or three-year moratorium to absorb two new clubs and then there would be a debate on how you gain access after that,” said Worcester’s owner, Cecil Duckworth.
“We are exploring all the issues,” said McCafferty. “But we are conscious of the need to protect the integrity of the competition. By going up to 14 teams you increase the number of games that overlap with internationals and therefore you have more occasions when elite players are absent from their clubs.
“There is also a choice to be made between having two competitions – an expanded Premiership and Europe – or retaining the Anglo-Welsh Cup, which provides breathing space and offers a chance to test different players.”
