Warriors welcome today’s decision by the RFU Council to approve a moratorium on relegation from the Gallagher Premiership at the end of the season.
Rugby clubs, like most businesses, have suffered financially because of COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic continues to pose challenges on and off the pitch.
We believe that today’s decision is both sensible and pragmatic. It allows clubs in the Premiership and Championship to plan ahead with a little more certainty and to give serious thought to future ways of reinvigorating rugby at all levels in England.
It also gives time for clubs to work closely with the RFU on a future structure for professional club rugby in England that is both sustainable and which best supports successful the England national side.
We do not support the view that no relegation will make the Premiership less competitive. Clubs still have the significant incentives of top four places for the play-offs and top six to qualify for the European Champions Cup. No professional club wants to finish bottom of the table.
With a 13 club Premiership for 2021/22 there will still, as currently, be 12 places available in European competitions which means that the club that finishes bottom would miss out on European rugby in the 2022/23 Season.
As a club we have, in the past, benefited from promotion and relegation between leagues and we would never wish to block the progress of other clubs who have the ambition, financial stability and infrastructure to compete at the top level.
We do, however, support the RFU view that new minimum standard criteria, investment in facilities and club funding should be discussed to ensure that if a club is promoted to the Premiership it can add value to the competition and be competitive and sustainable at that level.