Premiership 2021-2022

[Scott1]

Are we any closer to knowing if it will be a closed shop again? I hope so,it certainly didn’t effect this season at all. 13 teams this season,14 the season after hopefully.

[kk20gb30]

Fixtures released July 13 :

https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news ... xtures-day

[Cagey Tiger]

Are we any closer to knowing if it will be a closed shop again? I hope so,it certainly didn’t effect this season at all. 13 teams this season,14 the season after hopefully.

Yes we are and no it isn't.

From the BBC website:

"Next season's second-tier winners are also set to go up, with no prospect of Premiership relegation until 2023-24.

That will come in the form of a play-off before an annual one up, one down system returns for the 2024-25 season."

[mol2]

This is a compromise as it will allow Ealing to come up in a year.

After that it will be very difficult to gain promotion. Sides play a season with the budget and playing squad commensurate with the league they are in be that Premiership or Championship and that is what goes into the play offs.

At present promoted sides get some time (the off season) to recruit and prepare that squad for the premiership which won't happen with play offs, so they have to beat a Premiership side with a Championship side to get promoted and only then can they build a side. Going to be more difficult.

I wonder what would prevent those sides assembling a side for the play offs - like the Barbarians are? Are they obliged to use their existing squad or can they sign half the All Blacks just for the play offs?

[Cagey Tiger]

This is a compromise as it will allow Ealing to come up in a year.

After that it will be very difficult to gain promotion. Sides play a season with the budget and playing squad commensurate with the league they are in be that Premiership or Championship and that is what goes into the play offs.

At present promoted sides get some time (the off season) to recruit and prepare that squad for the premiership which won't happen with play offs, so they have to beat a Premiership side with a Championship side to get promoted and only then can they build a side. Going to be more difficult.

I wonder what would prevent those sides assembling a side for the play offs - like the Barbarians are? Are they obliged to use their existing squad or can they sign half the All Blacks just for the play offs?

Generally agree. However, if you have a sugar daddy, like Bristol and Ealing have, could they not spend up to the Premiership cap whilst in the Championship and have a 'Premiership ready' squad and team when/if they go into the play-off? A big gamble I know, but didn't Bristol do something along those lines? If it worked, it would mean yet another club hostage to the whim/fortune of a single person (no good).

[Old Hob]

There is a cautionary tale in the demise of London Welsh who spent furiously trying to bolster their team and crashed and burned spectacularly.

[mol2]

Isn't the salary cap smaller in the Championship than the Premiership?

[Cagey Tiger]

There is a cautionary tale in the demise of London Welsh who spent furiously trying to bolster their team and crashed and burned spectacularly.

But didn't they do the vast majority of their spending after achieving promotion and only had 'leftovers' to choose from? IIRC very few of the players who achieved the promotion got to play in the Premiership. Or am I getting mixed up with someone else

[Old Hob]

I think you are entirely right. But they were always short of cash and I don't think could afford to gamble on buying players before their promotion was guaranteed. What the state of Ealing et al is, I haven't the foggiest.

[kk20gb30]

Wonder what the Gloucester faithful will make of this ?
Whats in a name , after all ? The Compeed Shed ......

https://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/50 ... rship-deal

[GETHIN EXILE]

I think you are entirely right. But they were always short of cash and I don't think could afford to gamble on buying players before their promotion was guaranteed. What the state of Ealing et al is, I haven't the foggiest.

London welsh had no option but to pick up "the leftovers" after fighting the court case to get their promotion. Unfortunately unlike Wasps they were not in a position (free transport to home games for season ticket holders & free tickets to try to get locals to sign up) to ensure they got sufficient income to support their move to Oxford.

[kk20gb30]

Season Preview , courtesy of the Bath unofficial board,

http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s105/st202137.htm

http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s105/st202170.htm

[GETHIN EXILE]

Wonder what the Gloucester faithful will make of this ?
Whats in a name , after all ? The Compeed Shed ......

https://www.soglos.com/sport-outdoor/50 ... rship-deal

They wouldn't need Compeed if their boots fitted properly

[kk20gb30]

Premiership 'ins' and 'outs' thus far ; All clubs :

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-new- ... hip-clubs/

[chipnchase]

I'm really looking forward to this season, based on some club rebuilds and no major changes to squads im going with the below.

1. Bristol
2. Exeter
3. Saracens
4. Leicester
5. Harlequins
6. Sale
7. Wasps
8. London Irish
9. Worcester Warriors
10. Northampton Saints
11. Bath
12. Newcastle Falcons
13. Gloucester