Every rugby fan knows that the English Premiership – where the Saracens Rugby and the Leicester Tigers compete, is Europe’s top Rugby Union championship. In what is considered the home of rugby, the level of competition is always very high, and in fact it is no coincidence that the English Premiership is considered one of the most interesting leagues in the world.
This year, after the first 13 games, Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club, the Devon County team whose triumphant march was momentarily interrupted by the Coronavirus emergency, was at the top of the championship.
But despite this sudden stoppage of the 2019-2020 season, a first verdict has already been written: in January the defending champions Saracens Rugby were penalised 105 points in the standings for failing to meet the cap on the player`s salaries, and they are in fact demoted.
But let’s find out more about this season, even going to delve into the talk about this spectacular rugby tournament.
A bit of English rugby history
After football, rugby is the most popular sport in England. The oval ball always generates a large crowd and is the second English sport behind football by number of fans.
English Premiership Rugby was established in 1987 as the top league of the Rugby Union, the official league of English rugby, which through a pyramid system of leagues (with promotions and relegations) involves over a thousand rugby clubs, inkling defending champions Saracens Rugby and this year favourites Exeter Chiefs.
The big leap in English rugby did in the 1996/97 season, the first in which rugby XV was considered a professional sport. The new dimension increased the appeal of the English league to players all over the world.
From a sporting point of view, another turning point came in the 2000/2001 season, in which the playoffs were introduced for the title. From the time of the play-offs to the present day, the title final has always been played at the fantastic Twickenham Stadium in London.
The first part of the and the Saracens Rugby penalty
The top flight
of English rugby provides a regular season structured over 22 days and
subsequent playoffs for the award of the title. The start of the season was
very exciting and it was the championship that turned out to be very
interesting.
Initially it was a head-to-head between defending champions Saracens Rugby and Exeter Chiefs. But the exceeding of the salary cap imposed by the federations has led to a 105-point penalty in the standings for Saracens, who are effectively relegated.
Covid 19 brings a stop to the season
Due to problems with Covid 19, the English Premiership was discontinued after the 13th day which took place between 6 and 8 March. The federation’s first measure was to suspend all Activities of English Rugby for five weeks. The cancelled matches, which will be rescheduled to the dates to be allocated, are those between the 14th and 17th days.
At the time of the league’s suspension Exeter Chiefs were at the top of the table, thanks to the 45 points won in the first 13 games. In second place are the Sale Sharks, stuck at 40 points, with an extra loss but also with a bonus less than the leader. The third-placed Bristol Bears, who finished third with 38 points, and the Northampton Saints, with 35 points, are in third place.
Saracens would be have been second on 40 points if it weren’t for the 105 points penalty.
At this difficult time, when there is a real health emergency in England too, the Foundation that is based at Exeter Chiefs has been very attentive to the problem of coronavirus, and has made a donation of £100,000 for support your city’s health activities. At the same time, many other clubs in the top flight of English rugby have also taken action to support the NHS and people in need.
When will they start playing again?
The Premiership final is set for 20 June 2020 at Twickenham Stadium in London, but that has been postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing global health crisis.
The League best players
The best players in the league wear the Saracens Rugby shirt, the team already officially relegated after the heavy penalty imposed by PRL.
England’s Owen Farrell, and other international players such as Elliott Daly, the Vunipola brothers and Maro Itoje all ply their trade with Saracens.
Exeter Chiefs have formed a squad composed, for the vast majority, of English players, such as the Simmonds brothers.
There are also players of other nationalities in the squad, who make Exeter a regular challengers for the title: Welshmen like Phil Dollman and winger Tomas Francis, Australian rugby players like scrum-half Nic White, others New Zealanders like utility back Hendrickson, the South Africans Kirsten and Vermeulen.
