Congratulations Newcastle

[Galfon]

Promotion awarded based on record to date.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52133983

Carnegie have been allowed to play in a lower league next year.
Ealing don't appear ready to swallow the bitter pill just yet..

[Galfon]

Ealing DoR before announcement:
“Premiership Rugby aren’t prepared to end their competition yet, so why are we lumping the Championship in with the community game and being told to call a halt.”
Ealing TF tweet later in day of announcement:
“Congratulations Newcastle on your promotion back to the Premiership.”

Ringfencing would be a pity for the ambitious set, including Ealing, but it looks inevitable.

[Puja]

Ealing DoR before announcement:
“Premiership Rugby aren’t prepared to end their competition yet, so why are we lumping the Championship in with the community game and being told to call a halt.”
Ealing TF tweet later in day of announcement:
“Congratulations Newcastle on your promotion back to the Premiership.”

Ringfencing would be a pity for the ambitious set, including Ealing, but it looks inevitable.

My major issue (apart from the fact that I'd prefer a fully pro and ringfenced two tier Prem of 10 and 8 clubs (with applications for entry to the bottom tier considered every X months)) is that there are 13 viable clubs. We cannot have a 13 team top league - the season does not want more games, an odd number of teams is massively awkward to schedule, the player pool does not need further dilution, etc.

So who do we leave without a chair if we're ringfencing?

Puja

[Stom]

Ealing DoR before announcement:
“Premiership Rugby aren’t prepared to end their competition yet, so why are we lumping the Championship in with the community game and being told to call a halt.”
Ealing TF tweet later in day of announcement:
“Congratulations Newcastle on your promotion back to the Premiership.”

Ringfencing would be a pity for the ambitious set, including Ealing, but it looks inevitable.

My major issue (apart from the fact that I'd prefer a fully pro and ringfenced two tier Prem of 10 and 8 clubs (with applications for entry to the bottom tier considered every X months)) is that there are 13 viable clubs. We cannot have a 13 team top league - the season does not want more games, an odd number of teams is massively awkward to schedule, the player pool does not need further dilution, etc.

So who do we leave without a chair if we're ringfencing?

Puja

Surely it's the last team down...

So Saracens

[Digby]

Luckily we don't need to worry now Pichot and Bill are both saying they'll deliver on global seasons, what could go wrong?

[Puja]

Luckily we don't need to worry now Pichot and Bill are both saying they'll deliver on global seasons, what could go wrong?

I'm slightly worried about the thought of Pichot gaining ultimate power. Beaumont's not exactly a revolutionary and he's running with Laporte who is in love with the clubs, but Pichot has struck me as slightly unhinged as an administrator.

Puja

[Digby]

Pichot is entirely rational providing one accepts his prioritisation of Spanish speaking nations and that he views himself in much the same way as did Ozymandias