Northampton Saints celebrate winning the 2019 Rugby Premier League Cup Final. Photo: Tony Marshall/Getty Images. Premier League Rugby Cup next season, which will feature the top two tiers of English rugby union.
Premiership Rugby confirmed on Monday that they intend to split the 24 teams, including the Wasps, into four groups of six based on league position this season.
The pool match will take place over five consecutive weekends from September 8 to October 8 during the World Championship, with semi-finals and finals scheduled for February and March.
“It has been many years since Premier League and Championship clubs clashed in cup competition,” said Phil Winstanley, director of rugby at Premiership Rugby.
“The Championship plays a crucial role in the English game and we looking forward to resuming some of the old rivalries.
The Saracens will take on the Ealing Trailfinders during their Championship season, a match that could be revived in a new cup format. : David Rogers/RFU via Getty Images
“With the Rugby World Cup taking place in France, this competition will no doubt give the best young English talent an opportunity to make their mark on teams before the start of the Gallagher Premier League campaign.”
Conor O'Shea, Executive director of Rugby Union, announced the move, which could be «part of a long-term solution for the game» and Steve Lloyd, chairman of the championship clubs committee, welcomed the sense of collaboration. .
“The new cup format is the result of close cooperation between the Championship, the RFU and the Rugby Premier League,” said Lloyd.
“Clubs are thrilled with the possibilities that the other format brings, as well as the experience of the game. Premier League parties and the opportunity to welcome new fans to our clubs and expand our audience.»
Telegraph Sports Analysis Needle and local bragging rights could make this a serious competition
What time. The announcement of the new hybrid cup competition came less than 24 hours after it was confirmed that the final weekend of the Premier League regular season would make very little difference.
The victory of the Saracens over the London Irish, which was ultimately comfortable despite a shocking start from Mark McCall, means that the top four have been decided. Barring a miraculous result between the Harlequins and Leicester at Welford Road — the Tigers could theoretically drop to fourth place if they are crushed — the semi-final is settled.
Of course, there is no relegation, which means that the only real danger is the fight for the eighth and last place in the Champions Cup. Good luck with your gender determination.
In an interview with Telegraph Sport in December, Premier League Rugby chief executive Simon Massey-Taylor promised that the process of restructuring the league for the 2024-25 campaign, with the top league expected to cut to 10 teams will put the burden on the second level buff.
For now, it looks like there will be a relegation play-off next season between the last-placed Premier League team and the championship winner. In any case, this new cup competition can be of great help. In truth, its introduction is not difficult.
First, the clubs in the Premier League and the Championship playing each other in cup competitions have become clearly boring. The combination of 24 clubs on two levels adds variety. There is room for renewed local rivalry. Leicester Tigers or Northampton Saints against Nottingham or Coventry would be a lot of fun. Cornish pirates fighting the Exeter Chiefs or the Gloucester, another intriguing showdown; People who liked Kaldi Vs Sale Sharks also liked.
Champion clubs should be able to attract more fans to major events. For viewers there will be intrigue and fresh storylines. Trainers, as well as medical and analytical departments, should be able to share knowledge. Premier League teams will almost certainly see motivated late developers eager to prove their point, which could force them to rethink their kit. With the A League stuck in the abyss, the Premier League Cup will remain a critical pillar for recent academy graduates. These young people need playtime. So much the better for it to come in a meaningful environment. Hope there is some needle.
In short, this tournament should bring together more professional players in the country and has every chance of becoming an important part of the English calendar. Let's hope this will help bridge the gap between the two top divisions, although that won't be possible without proper funding for the Championship. Having beaten the Ealing Trailfinders this weekend and set their course for a championship win, the Jerseys are sure to be fired up to take on top-tier rivals. The Ealings themselves can point to recent victories over the Saracens, Newcastle and Gloucester. Although they are still looking to escape the Championship, it's better than nothing.
Success depends on how serious the Premier League clubs are about the competition. Again, they must do. Aside from the importance of local bragging rights — Gloucester, for example, would be seriously hurt if Hartpury ratted it out — the tournament will form a large part of their pre-season schedule. As Winstanley pointed out, international players will be absent from the World Cup and will have the opportunity to apply to qualify.
Eligibility and registration will need to be carefully monitored for the fairness of the tournament, especially where Premier League clubs contribute a large number of players to the lists of Champions. The relationship between the Harlequins and the London Scots comes to mind. It doesn't make much sense for individual players to represent two clubs in the same tournament. An injury crisis could lead to a special resolution.
On the face of it, unless he turns out to be a cynical sweetener that keeps the fencing up, the revamped Premier League Cup smacks of intelligence and cooperation. We don't often get to say that about rugby union administration.
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