The Relegation Debate - Whispers in the Wind

By BrianC
January 13 2005

In this final part of The Relegation Debate we attempt to look at what has, and perhaps more significantly what has not, been said by the relevant bodies about automatic promotion and relegation.

The rugby world is currently awash with speculation on the status of promotion and relegation. Given the record of the powers that be in recent seasons this is not really a surprise. It could well be argued that this uncertainty is damaging to the game and that the best thing the powers that be could do at present would be to clarify the situation.

Instead of clarification we are getting silence. This is what leads me to believe that something is in the air. If it was a straightforward case of one up one down then surely it would be a reasonably simple thing for the RFU and PRL to issue a statement saying so. For good measure they could also confirm what we all already know, that Bristol's ground is suitable for ZP rugby. That if they win ND1 they will be promoted and the team that comes bottom of the ZP will be relegated. We haven't seen such a statement nor, particularly given the shenanigans in the 01/02 and 02/03 seasons, are we likely to. The speculation looks set to continue.

In the absence of any word from on high what can we guess is likely to happen? In one sense things seem to be clear. Should, as seems likely, Bristol win ND1 I cannot foresee anything other than them being promoted. Emotion and questions of fairness aside, the litigation that would follow any refusal to promote them would be telling. Should it come to this it is very likely that Bristol would win.

If we work on the assumption that Bristol are promoted the list of alternatives narrows somewhat.

A    - 12 Team League: Bottom team relegated
In many ways this is the simplest and most obvious choice yet why is it that year after year it is called into question? The bottom line here is money. It should not be forgotten that it is the PRL clubs themselves who own the ZP. They are the ones who call the shots. If they decide to protect one of their own number there is little others, even the RFU, can do about it. Some would argue that relegation depends on which club comes bottom. This argument is weakened somewhat by the fact that it was newly promoted Leeds who were saved from the drop in 01/02. That said it is inconceivable that the powers that be would allow one of the establishment clubs, such as Harlequins, to drop.  

B    - 12 Team League: Demise of one existing club
By demise here I do not necessarily mean extinction. What springs to mind more is the fate that befell Bristol two seasons ago when their hitherto backer, Malcolm Pierce, decided to pull the plug. It is arguable that, had he not done so when he did, Bristol may have been saved from the drop even if they had finished last. The two ZP clubs that appear most vulnerable in this regard at the moment are Leeds and Saracens. In the world of professional club rugby history counts for very little. Just ask any supporter of Richmond or London Scottish.

C    - 13 Team League: No relegation, one team promoted
The greatest thing that can be said against this is that leagues with odd numbers of clubs tend to become disjointed. It would mean one club sitting out of the ZP every weekend. The fixture list, already something of a nightmare, would become even more complex to organise.  Leagues in general, whatever the sport, tend to be based on an even number of clubs. 

D    - 14 Team League: No relegation, two teams promoted
To my mind there are two major stumbling blocks here. Bristol aside there does not appear to be a natural fourteenth team. One that could compete effectively at ZP level. A fourteen team league was attempted in 98/99. Whilst it cannot be said that a league that size led directly to the demise of London Scottish and Richmond, it may well have been a contributory factor. Having had their fingers burnt once our games administrators may be loath to attempt this again. It should also be noted that this option, and probably C, would lead to the abandonment of either the Zurich Championship or the Powergen Cup. 

In the long term the ideal would be to have a fully professional ND1. To lessen the gap between the clubs playing in that division and the ZP teams. A lot of water will flow under the bridge before, if ever, we reach that stage.

It remains to be seen how this season will pan out and how the great and the good of our sport will jump. As supporters all we can hope for is that they consider the good of the sport in general rather than their own vested interests. Only time will tell.