There has been some talk of expanding the premiership to 14 clubs and then dropping relegation. These "top" 14 clubs wolld be safe and simply have to compete against themselves. I am pleased to see that the idea is blocked, at least for now.
The basis of this has come from claims that the Magners League is stronger than the Guiness Premiership, and arguments that this is because the teams in the ML don't have to worry about relegation. In fact I think it comes a lot more from the fact that they don't have the same wage cap as the English clubs! That aside however, it is impossible to draw comparisons between the two systems. Wales, Ireland and Scotland play regional rugby, the teams in the ML are a region and they are able to draw from all the local clubs in their area. If you look at club level then they still have to compete to avoid relegation. But at regional level they don't because who would they play against if they were relegated - you couldn't really have the Scarlets playing against Cwmbran now could you! However in England we still have a club system, the Saints have their own squad to call upon but they aren't then drawing on talent from all around.
So,unless the English system is completely reworked to form regions, then the current system remains the best, and produces some exciting rugby.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
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