News that PWR Ltd is looking with a kindly eye at a bid by Bath Rugby to join the throng is just what we needed.
The league has been reduced to nine clubs ever since the demise of Worcester Warriors. It has led to an unbalancing of schedules that is hard to defend. Every week one club has to sit put and look on.
The addition of Bath would mean the addition of another club already firmly established in the men’s Gallagher League, leaving only Northampton Saints and Newcastle out in the cold. At least Saints took the easy option by linking with Loughborough Lightning, a mere 50 miles up the road.
Now we come to the tricky bits.
Bath applied to join the PWR when it launched in its new guise. Its bid was rejected.
Bath Ladies had linked with the men’s sector back in 2021, so the public was left wondering where they fell short.
They now play in the Championship One (South), the second tier. As the PWR steers ever closer towards full professional status, the gap between each tier grows wider, as good as unbridgeable.
The CE, Tristan McDonald, is full of hope, claiming the club’s strength is ever increasing. But a statement that new pathways will be put in place is hardly encouraging.
That brings us to geography. Bath lies a mere twelve miles from Bristol, where the Bears may react to this news with mixed emotions.
It’s to Bath’s huge advantage that the city may justly claim to be the fairest in the land, and the club’s hopes of extending the Rec to the size and scope it wishes may yet prevail, despite strong local protests.
They have the use of facilities provided by Bath University, one of the most proactive in the country, but it’s a long walk up that hill from the Rec!
The problems mount up.
They speak of “spreading the sport across the region”, but it is other regions that need urgent support, the west midlands, the north-east, to name but two.
However local catchment areas (counties) may be realigned, the addition of Bath would mean four PWR clubs operating in the west country. Though the game is undeniably strong in the region, it will need a mighty campaign by Bath to attract new players of the quality required. Will the remaining Black Ferns all be attracted there? I must keep an even keel. Sorry.
We need look no further than to Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers to see the difficulties Bath face. Until this season’s recruitment drive, Sharks were in a desperate position; Tigers still are.
Bath are careful to use phrases like “one day” and “in the future”. We can’t expect to see them added to the top tier until two seasons from now at the earliest.
PWR’s readiness to discuss matters with Bath indicates how anxious they are to find a tenth club willing and able to make the big jump. But with every passing season that leap becomes lengthier and less certain.
We can only wish both parties a positive outcome to their negotiations.
Is there a Salary Cap in place for each club in the PWR?
If not, could it be introduced as a means to try and level the playing field for all clubs?
Good question I’ll try and find out.
I found this on the England Rugby website whether it is effective or not is another matter:
The Remuneration Cap
6. The Remuneration Cap for the 2024-25 Season is £220,000 and means the maximum total Gross Payments, subject to any Excluded Remuneration, made directly or indirectly by or on behalf of the Club or a Connected Party to Players during or in respect of the Remuneration Cap Year (and the term “Remuneration Cap” shall be construed accordingly).
7. Clubs must not exceed the Remuneration Cap and these Regulations shall apply to any Club that exceeds the Remuneration Cap.
8. When calculating what is included within the Remuneration Cap, the Club must apply the definition of Remuneration (as set out in Appendix 2) save that Excluded Remuneration (as set out in Appendix 3) is not included within a Club’s Remuneration for the purposes of the Remuneration Cap.
9. In respect of Excluded Remuneration, the Club must adhere to the respective provisions of the Remuneration Cap Regulations (set out in Appendix 3) and Premier Women’s Rugby Limited may in its absolute discretion require the Club to supply all such information, documents and assurances to evidence and justify why such Remuneration falls within the definition of Excluded Remuneration. If a Club fails to satisfy Premier Women’s Rugby Limited that such Remuneration is Excluded Remuneration, the value of the purported Excluded Remuneration (or a proportion thereof) as determined by Premier Women’s Rugby Limited will be included in the Remuneration Cap and any such decision will be final and binding upon the Club.
Thanks for the above Jennie…
Assuming
-squad sizes of 30???,
-Internationally capped players are remunerated by their respective unions, and
-no limits on how many Red Roses, for instance, can be signed by 1 club..
I think the Cap will only have a very limited affect [and is so far below £ wise what the men get per head as to be embarrassing]
Agreed