Premiership Rugby appears to have quashed proposals for an English, Irish or Anglo-Welsh league to retain a 10-team domestic competition.
Chief executive Simon Massey-Taylor insisted the Gallagher Premiership side were in a “very strong position” after a possible merger with Irish, Scottish and Welsh sides was discussed at the English club’s board last month.
In preparation for these competitions to increase revenue through broadcasting and commercial deals, the United Rugby Championship was disbanded, leaving South African and Italian teams isolated without a league.
The long-term hot topic of the Anglo-Welsh structure has also been looked at as a way to boost value, in the process helping the ailing region become a more attractive cross-border fixture.
However, Massie-Taylor said the “benchmark is incredibly high” when considering the changes and indicated the Premiership would remain in its current format.
think ahead
“You have to think 10 years ahead, not just four years ahead,” he said.
“We need to ask all the questions about the European competition and keep an open mind in the long term about how things will play out.
“We are really proud of the Premier League. We think it’s on a really good track and the numbers prove it with the interest surrounding it.
“If you want to change something, the benchmarks have to be incredibly high.
“We are looking at all kinds of options, but the one thing we can say clearly about the British and Irish League is what happens to the rest of the URC. Because there are shareholders and they all have to agree to do something different.
“When you look at the relative economics of things, it’s very difficult to make it work for all stakeholders.
“I think we are in a very strong position. “It’s hard to see how you take a broad approach without compromising other parts of the system.”
high bar set
Premiership Rugby’s director of rugby Phil Winstanley has ruled out the possibility of a Welsh team competing in the second-tier championship with the aim of securing promotion, while also stressing that adding a region would lead to fixtures clashing with the Six Nations.
“We are in such a strong position in the Premier League that the bar has to be so high to have that conversation,” Winstanley said.
Private equity giant CVC acquired a 27% stake in Premiership Rugby in 2018 and a 28% stake in PRO14 Rugby in 2020.
It was hoped their involvement and cash injection could take the club’s game to new levels, but instead it helped them overcome the financial turmoil caused by the pandemic.
“CVC holds stakes in both companies. When it comes to decisions like this, it’s not a vote for one or the other,” Massie-Taylor said.
“Consistent with their style, they were very collaborative and encouraged long-term thinking. This is not an obligation to provide solutions.
“They understand the complexities. “They will be interested in the Anglo-Welsh people because they have invested in URC.”
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