PREMIERSHIP Rugby decrees that Ealing and Doncaster – or any other ambitious Championship club – must meet certain conditions before being allowed entry to their league. Minimum ground capacity is set at 10,001. Yet Premiership clubs appear happy to compete in European competitions along with modest Connacht, whose ground holds a maximum of around half that number.
Earlier this month Connacht by no means disgraced themselves in losing to all-conquering Leinster in a two-legged European Champions Cup tie by a total of 41 points to 82. Leinster contained half of the Ireland...