Premier Rugby will tomorrow make a final attempt to sell its plan for six extra fixtures in the Guinness Premiership to Twickenham, but it will not receive a sympathetic hearing. The clubs are concerned that, with the economic downturn starting to impact on the sport, long periods in a season without a home fixture, which often happen under the current system, would drive some of them to the wall and that a lopsided Premiership, which would see clubs play six others three times, was the surest way to balance the books.
The Rugby Football Union is unhappy with the expansion plan for a number of reasons. It argues that its proposed Anglo-Welsh development tournament, which has a broadcaster and a potential sponsor in waiting, would fill the gaps left during the two international windows without adding to the burden on senior players.
Under the club proposals, there would be only one free weekend in a nine-month season spanning the beginning of September to the end of May – the one that precedes the start of the Six Nations. Every international weekend would see a full league programme and three rounds of matches would be held in Christmas week.
It would mean any fixtures that had to be rescheduled because of weather problems would be given a midweek slot. The RFU is also concerned by the impact the move would have on the England Under-20 side, who play in age-group Six Nations. Clubs currently have priority, but this year only two Six Nations weekends clash with league rounds.
"We would need to resolve the Under-20 issue," said Mark McCafferty, the Premier Rugby chief executive. "But we feel our plan is the best way forward for the clubs. The proposed Anglo-Welsh competition would bring in next to no revenue and it would not be a draw for supporters.
"The bottom line is that if we do not change a few things, there will be clubs in danger. Half the clubs will be operating at a loss this year and the main reason we did not reduce the salary cap was that, on average, wages have risen 20% in the last 18 months. It was agreed that contracts had to be honoured.
"We are aware of player welfare issues, which is why we have consulted with the Professional Rugby Players' Association over this. There will be no change as far as the elite England players are concerned and the overall effect of our proposal would be to increase the amount of meaningful game-time young England-qualified players get."
McCafferty said there was no room to expand the Heineken Cup and that an Anglo-Welsh league was a non-starter, not least for the adverse effect it would have on Irish and Scottish rugby. "Our plan is not perfect, but these are not normal times and we have to make sure clubs do not get into difficulties. We hope to persuade the RFU of the merits of this."
Bristol nearly went to the wall last month before a £2m investment ensured they would survive until the end of the season. Today they parted company with their general manager, Corin Palmer, as part of a cost-cutting exercise. The wing Anthony Elliott also left the club.
Toulon announced that the Sale director of rugby, Philippe Saint-André, would take over as head coach from Tana Umaga in the summer. Saint-André will take more of a back seat at Edgeley Park for the rest of the campaign, deferring to his successor, Kingsley Jones, and the former New Zealand centre Umaga is coming out of retirement at the age of 35 to help Toulon pull away from the relegation zone.
