The long and winding road
By ww
July 10 2015
The close season has been a busy one for many clubs in the Championship. Recruitment has been heavy across the division and not just amongst the potential contenders for the play-offs. Much depends on how quickly the newbies settle in and gel with their new team mates. Teams will also have different goals for the coming season and the expectations of their fans will, to some extent, be shaped by these.
I think that, with one notable exception, the race for the play-offs will be wide open this coming season. At the other end of the division I can see the tussle to avoid the drop to be equally unpredictable.
The contenders:
Bristol - will win the league. They have a quality squad, built over the last few seasons. The club has extensive knowledge of the play-offs system. oh and Tom Varndell will be turning out for them this season.
London Welsh - Despite not winning a game last season they have retained a large part of their squad and have been busy recruiting. Also experienced in the play-off system.
London Scottish - Steady growth over the last few years has seen the Exiles become one of the strongest teams in the division.
Rotherham - Lost their talismanic coach but Mark Jones has something to prove. The Titans will be in the mix at the end of the regular season.
Nottingham - Have the best coach in the division imho. Finished just outside the top four. Will be there or thereabouts.
Yorkshire - A big question mark hangs over Carnegie. Last season was poor bordering on crap but the team finished strongly. Much depends on the newbies bringing some experience to a young squad. If they do then the play-offs beckon.
The drop:
Traditionally the newly promoted side are labelled favourites for the drop. This year's newcomer, Ealing, has done it before and will have learned from that experience. They have also recruited heavily. Moseley, favourite to descend for many fans, has made some interesting acquisitions who might just keep them up. Doncaster will do well to stay up and is my tip for the drop which, if my past record is anything to go by, secures the Knights future in the Championship.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:08:15:08:13:55 by Wildwillie .
Well done for keeping the website ticking over
Hopefully ST will also be proved right.
Quote:silenttyke
I will nail my colours to the mast now. We will play Bristol in the playoff final
Scottish, Welsh, Notts and Roth will all be out to prove you wrong. If our new players fit in quickly and we get off to a good start then I will start to believe that you might be right. However last season has left me a bit twitchy!
Quote:oopnorth
Anyone know when either playoffs will be as usual including promotion and relegation, or promotion and ring fencing will be announced. Clubs need to know what they are playing for.
No - nobody does.
I expect it will carry on as before with the playoff system to find the "champion" of the championship. If the Prem is indeed expanded then they will pick who they want to join the club.
By finishing in the top 2, and preferably making the playoff final, YC will be setting themselves up for an easy decision in their favour.
Waiting for the good times ...
..and waiting ....
... and waiting ...
Imagine the legal implications (particularly given London Welsh's history of litigation) if expectations aren't made clear before the season starts.
I would much rather we did it by merit- and we have the squad quality to be up there and to do that
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:07:12:22:57:17 by Carnegiette1.
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Much rather we won the thing- the rest can then argue about who goes up with us........
"Promotion / Relegation
Automatic promotion and relegation between the Premiership and the RFU Championship is enshrined in the eight year agreement signed between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL) in 2007.
Promotion and relegation is however subject to the Minimum Standards Criteria being fulfilled by the club finishing top of the RFU Championship as outlined above."
The Agreement to which they refer expires this year. What happens after that is anyone's guess....