Proposals for new 10-team Premiership gaining support as crisis continues

Proposals for a 10-team Premiership are growing in support, with English rugby’s power brokers promising a review into the league’s structure amid the financial crisis gripping the domestic game.

Premiership Rugby Limited and the Rugby Football Union also reiterated their calls for clubs to open their books after Rob Andrew, who spent almost 10 years in senior positions at the RFU, blamed the current mess on a failure of governance.

Wasps are expected to follow Worcester into administration – with relegation to follow – on Monday and their suspension will be extended to the remainder of the season if they are forced to cancel more than two fixtures, having already scrapped Saturday’s match against Exeter. That scenario would leave 11 teams completing the remainder of this season’s Premiership and, with fears that at least one other club may follow, plans for a 10-team league are thought to be gaining support.

It is believed that senior officials are warming to the idea of a top tier of 10 teams, most likely with a professional second division also of 10 teams below it, with PRL and the RFU exercising a greater degree of control than they do over the Premiership. Convincing the clubs, who in effect govern themselves, to yield power would be a challenge but there is a determination to bring about change, with the Premiership two clubs down barely a month into the season. The Exeter director of rugby, Rob Baxter, and his Bristol counterpart, Pat Lam, have publicly backed the idea.

“Premiership Rugby and the RFU are working together to examine a range of options to provide stronger foundations for the game,” read a joint statement. “This process, involving close consultation with clubs and other stakeholders, includes