I’ve tried in the past to argue against the Allianz Premier 15s league following the example of its male equivalents, the Gallagher Premiership.
News that Worcester Warriors are close to bankruptcy lends more ammunition to my case. Wasps are in a similar pickle, also the object of HMRC’s probing interest. These are intensely worrying times for the professional tip of the rugby iceberg.
Contributing to the RFU’s 10-year plan for the AP 15s, Simon Massie-Taylor, since last October CEO of the Premiership, expressed the wish that more of his clubs would join the women’s league. The Prem’s statement as it welcomed him aboard was full of optimism: to accelerate development of clubs and players, larger crowds, more media coverage, ‘investment in quality and digital fan engagement’.
Well, let’s say these pious hopes have not been fully realised.
Instead, two of the twelve clubs face likely closure. It’s a sad tale.
The basis on which the two leagues exist is profoundly different. So far as I know, the Gallagher doesn’t boast NHS doctors, dentists, teachers, therapists or engineers among its number. The AP 15s does, by the dozen. In other words, it is essentially amateur.
There has been an immediate reaction to the Worcester news from rugby fans. Most are simply appalled. Some say ‘we saw it coming a long way off’. Some think the other clubs should help out. One comedian wondered if Saracens could do so by buying all the clubless players a house.
The fact is that ever since professional rugby came to England in 1995, it has failed to establish a watertight economic plan. You can hunt for a club that is making a profit.
The RFU’s 10-year-plan published at the end of June doesn’t seem to bring to an end the ridiculous disparities in financial well-being. At one extreme, DMPDS, now once again DMPS, are trying to crowdfund £100,000. They were delighted to be offered £26K.
The RFU accepted that as sufficient and allowed them back into the fold for the last of the second 3-year cycle. How that compares with the money flowing into Quins’, Sarries’ and Exeter’s coffers I don’t care to think. The funding goes on; they have reached £27,050.
We already know who will win next season’s championship. Must we expect that inevitability in the 2020’s version of sport? It does remove a heap of tension and drama.
Even after a new league takes shape in 2023-24 – one of Mr Massie-Taylor’s clubs replacing DMPS – will the outcome remain just as predictable?
There must be a lot of very serious thinking going on in Twickenham Towers.
