Premier Rugby: No to NH v SH game!

By Jason Harris
September 18 2002

Premier Rugby have issued a statement to say that they will not be supporting the proposed Northern v Southern hemisphere match due to be played at Twickenham at the end of November.

Premier Rugby (PR) claim that they have not been formally approached by the International Board about the fixture and say that the Zurich Premiership clubs the organisation represents will not release players for any match that will take place.

"Our position remains that we do not see the merit in such a game being played on a fourth successive weekend of International rugby at such a crucial stage in the Zurich Premiership campaign." it said in the statement and it continued

"We are also extremely disappointed that the fixture is being staged at Twickenham on the same day as several Zurich Premiership matches and believe it is not in the best interest of English rugby to have an unscheduled International fixture competing with the Zurich Premiership"

Finally, PR said that the date, 30 November, is outside the agreed international release window and that their policy will be not to release any Zurich Premiership players for the game.

As it happens, Sarries are due to be in Twickenham to take on NEC Harlequins that very day. If the game at HQ does go ahead there will be a logistical nightmare for the transport services, on the roads and for the police. Therefore it will be highly likely, there will be a change of day and time for that particular game.