• Rugby Union

Gallagher Premiership News

News

  • News
  • Teams
  • Pundits
  • Sky Bet
  • Get Sky Sports
More from Rugby Union
  • Rugby Union Home

RFU warns ending Premiership relegation is 'wishful thinking'

By Sky Sports News

Last Updated: 04/12/18 6:07pm

0:38
Premiership clubs' plans to scrap promotion and relegation are 'wishful thinking', says RFU chief executive Nigel Melville
Premiership clubs' plans to scrap promotion and relegation are 'wishful thinking', says RFU chief executive Nigel Melville

RFU interim chief executive Nigel Melville has dismissed Premiership clubs' plans to scrap relegation as "wishful thinking".

The clubs are set to restart discussions on increasing the size of the Premiership to 13 teams and scrapping the process of one team being relegated and one team being promoted from the Championship each season.

However, Melville has poured scorn on the plans, saying: "I think that's called wishful thinking isn't it? Suddenly people want something to happen now. Well, no, that's not how it works.

Saracens are the reigning Premiership champions
Saracens are the reigning Premiership champions

"It's a competition regulated by the RFU. Should Premier Rugby want to change their structure, they can bring that to the PGB (Professional Game Board) for a vote there and then it would be put to the (RFU) Council. Nothing is going to change as regards this season.

"It's been talked about since 1995, and usually about this time of year. It's always when you've got a bunch of teams on the brink of a relegation scenario.

"This year, we've got six or seven teams within four points of each other, all looking over their shoulder thinking, 'it's going to be one of us'.

"Those are the regulations, that's what's going to happen this year - one team will go down, one team will be promoted. If we do want to look at this in the future, it will have to be approved by the RFU."

London Irish currently lead the Championship
London Irish currently lead the Championship

However, while Melville appeared to dismiss the plans in the short term, he did acknowledge that changes to the league structure may need to be discussed.

"You've got to look at the integrity of these competitions," Melville explained. "We have 13 teams effectively - 12 in the Premiership, one gets relegated each year and that team's bouncing back up again.

"Is that good for the Championship? You would question that. We need a few more teams to compete.

"The gap is getting wider and wider as the wage bills increase. We've got to really think about it."

Also See:

  • Stuart Barnes' Talking Points
  • Premiership clubs to discuss expansion

Trending

  • 1
    Pep takes blame for Mahrez not playing
  • 2
    Merson's FA Cup predictions
  • 3
    Dembele reveals why he left Spurs
  • 4
    Vettel: Ferrari are different in 2019
  • 5
    Fitter, stronger, a new boxing science?
  • 6
    WWE Elimination Chamber predictions!
  • 7
    Portsmouth on the way back
  • 8
    Whyte: Joshua loss won't shock me
  • 9
    Quadruple too much for City?
  • 10
    Ferrari and McLaren stay on message
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • Motorsport
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • WWE
    • eSports
    • More Sports
  • Score Centre
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Competitions
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Pub Finder
    • Team Sky
    • Sportswomen
    • Sports Scholarships
    • Clubs in Communities
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Living for Sport
    • Contact Us
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Sky.com
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
    • Team Sky
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Sky Sports Pub Finder
    • Living for Sport
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Corporate
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Now TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Sky Academy
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Work for Sky
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

©2019 Sky UK