Can they wriggle their way out of this?

By BrianC
May 1 2005

The ZP season has ended. For the first time in the professional era one of the ‘Establishment’ clubs, Harlequins no less, has come bottom of the pile. The question now is, Will they actually be relegated?

If look at the history of promotion and relegation in the professional era there are one of two conclusions that can be drawn. Either that “Relegation is alive and well.” or that “Meaningful relegation and promotion is dead.” After all the debate this time we will, once and for all, know the answer.

As things stand at present there are three possible outcomes...

- Harlequins are relegated, Bristol promoted.

- Harlequins spared relegation as Bristol denied on a technicality.

- League is expanded, Harlequins saved, Bristol (and perhaps one other club) promoted.

It seems hard to see how Bristol could be denied promotion, them having been relegated only two seasons ago. If they are it will be arguably the biggest scandal to hit this sport in decades. Indeed if anything other than the first of these happens there will no doubt be howls of protest from the supporter community and the media. Should the powers that be conjure up a way to keep Harlequins in the top flight there will no doubt be accusations of bringing the game into disrepute, of jobs for the boys.

The next few days should be interesting. Watch this space!