LOSSES of £21.1m, dependency on benefactors, excessively high wages for players in the Premiership and a Championship unloved – these are some of the problems facing professional rugby. The solution is for the Premiership and RFU to take joint responsibility for creating a fully supported 24-club professional league with relegation and promotion, a reduced salary cap, a limit on non EQ players and a meaningful cup competition. The second tier would then provide a pathway to excellence for both players and management with promotion encouraging investors to fund clubs.
The ab...