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#Post#: 22508--------------------------------------------------
OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make Championship
stronger
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 24, 2019, 7:15 am
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HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48037112
--- Quote ---
> Topsy Ojo: London Irish legend wants investment in stronger
Championship
>
> By Chris Jones
> BBC rugby union correspondent
>
> London Irish were promoted back to the Premiership with a win
at Richmond
> English rugby needs structural change to make promotion and
relegation work, says London Irish great Topsy Ojo.
>
> Irish sealed a return to the Premiership at the weekend,
meaning for the third season in a row the relegated side has
instantly bounced back.
>
> "There is not enough investment in the Championship to make
promotion viable," Ojo said.
>
> "It is 13 teams really [who can play in the Premiership], so
how do we bridge that gap?"
>
> The former England winger added on the Rugby Union Weekly
podcast: "I would love to see a better standard of Championship,
that actually makes the flow of promotion and relegation a bit
more open."
>
> While supporting the idea of promotion and relegation, Ojo has
called for a short period of ring-fencing in order to give
ambitious teams time to prepare for a Premiership push.
>
> Insight and chat - subscribe to the Rugby Union Weekly podcast
> "Cornish Pirates have this stadium coming which is going to be
brilliant for rugby in their region. Nottingham have huge plans,
Ealing the same. But they are not ready right now," Ojo
explained.
>
> "So if there was a way that you could potentially ring-fence
for two to three years with guaranteed investment, that would
appeal to these clubs to say 'right, if you are serious about
being a Premiership team, here are some extra finances'.
>
> "Build your infrastructure, build your playing squad, and then
we open the gates and get a real viable flow, with five or six
teams fighting for promotion and relegation year in and year
out.
>
> "It would make for a brilliant competition all round."
>
> 'Irish can't be a yo-yo club'
>
> Ojo, who has played a record 300 times for his boyhood club,
says next season is crucial for the Exiles as they try to
re-establish themselves as one of the top teams in English
rugby.
>
> Irish have already confirmed the signings of internationals
such as Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien and Australia scrum-half
Nick Phipps, and are also believed to be close to announcing
deals for All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo and Wallaby lock Adam
Coleman.
>
> The club, which currently plays at the Madejski Stadium, home
of Reading FC, will also move to a new ground in west London -
Brentford Football Club's new stadium which is under
construction - in time for the 2020/21 season.
>
> "Next year is so big for this club," Ojo added.
>
> "If we can move to Brentford as a Premiership team, with the
stars we have signed and with a growing academy, you've got the
makings of something really fruitful for the future.
>
> "We don't want to be a yo-yo team. You get caught in that and
can't get out. We have bounced up once or twice now, and we
can't do it again.
>
> "It is going to be so competitive next season with everyone
scrapping, and we have to be the same."
--- End Quote ---
What he said.
#Post#: 22511--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: Fursty
Date: April 24, 2019, 8:19 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I think Irish will seriously struggle next year, can't see them
putting together a squad that will compete consistently with the
rest of the league.
#Post#: 22512--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 24, 2019, 8:30 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Fursty link ---
>
> I think Irish will seriously struggle next year, can't see
them putting together a squad that will compete consistently
with the rest of the league.
>
--- End Quote ---
Funny, I predict the opposite. The signings named in that
article really bolster their squad and add a proper dash of
class (Naholo!) I fully expect them to "do a Bristol",
re-establishing and consolidating their place in the Prem with
some serious style along the way.
The Prem has been more competitive than ever this season - but I
think that's the way it's going to be now. While there are still
a couple of teams I would expect to struggle more than others, I
can no longer say with any genuine confidence who I think is
going to be embroiled at the bottom come end of next season.
Worcester I think will struggle after losing Heem and Adams and
a few others, but I'm sure they'll be replaced and I just don't
think any team can afford to rest on their laurels any more -
whichever team does so puts themselves at risk of relegation.
#Post#: 22542--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: April 24, 2019, 11:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I’d introduce a two down two up scheme. Top of championship
automatic and then playoffs for 2-5. At least would mix things
up a bit. Sadly with the ground requirements most would struggle
anyway.
#Post#: 22565--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 25, 2019, 3:11 am
---------------------------------------------------------
And that's precisely why I think the whole thing needs
ringfencing temporarily - let 5/6 Championship clubs focus on
making viable strides towards a Prem-level stadium and squad
base rather than just treading water. While ringfencing
promotion/relegation, also ringfence some funds for those Champ
clubs that show real intent on pushing for promotion. I don't
quite know what to do about those clubs who have publicly said
they don't want promotion and would rather stay at Champ level -
although I'm sure that's all down to money so if the RFU wants
serious competitive professional rugby in this country then the
funding needs to be made available to the Championship clubs.
#Post#: 22572--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: marlowish
Date: April 25, 2019, 3:45 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Surprising that a guy whose team has been relegated on their
last 2 visits to the Prem wants no relegation.
Personally if there is no promotion or relegation I will not
renew my ST and will just go to the odd game I fancy. I have no
interest in watching a game where at least 21 team has nothing
to play for. I know the argument will be that the chase will be
for top 6 but realistically any team that comes 6th is just
making up the numbers in the European Cup.
To me the most interesting part of any league is the relegation
battle and I think that stress and pressure should be part of
any sport.
I am sure this will come in and I will then get a ST at Spurs
and visit Quins occasionally. From talking other peopkle I know
I think I will nit be alone in not bothering.
Horses for courses, we all like different things it is just not
for me.
Agree totally with Tom that there needs to be more funding for
championship clubs. Personally I have no interest at all in
women's rugby, I am all for anyone who plays sport but it is not
of any interest to me and would like to see that money diverted.
I am sure some will be offended by that but hey ho.
#Post#: 22577--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: A222Quin
Date: April 25, 2019, 4:22 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I get what you're saying Marlowish but this season is the first
in a fair old while that relegation hasn't been effectively
decided by about February at the latest. There just hasn't been
much of a battle for a long time.
I say this as someone who is in favour of relegation generally.
#Post#: 22579--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 25, 2019, 4:51 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Want to make clear that I also want promotion/relegation. Would
be nice to get to a 2 up, 2 down system as MaidstoneQuin
suggests above - but I do think ringfencing temporarily is going
to be the only way to get to a place where it's no longer a
given that the team that goes down comes straight back up. I'd
just like us to have two competitive leagues at the top of the
English game in which getting relegated doesn't feel like you've
been sent to play with your younger sibling's friends and also
doesn't feel like you're in the amateur wilderness.
Currently, Championship clubs just want to make it through
season-to-season and can't make any real push towards meaningful
improvement. Give them a few years (maybe a WC cycle) of
security and investment to sort themselves out and then open the
turnstiles again.
#Post#: 22581--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: April 25, 2019, 4:55 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I fear that years of ringfencing will not encourage investment
in The Championship in any way. I certainly wouldn't bet one of
my Mortgages on it.
#Post#: 22583--------------------------------------------------
Re: OT: Topsy calls for temporary ringfencing to make
Championship stronger
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: April 25, 2019, 4:59 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> I fear that years of ringfencing will not encourage investment
in The Championship in any way. I certainly wouldn't bet one of
my Mortgages on it.
>
--- End Quote ---
The way I'm envisaging it would be that the promise of
investment is all part of the same agreement that brings about
temporary ringfencing. Without that investment then, of course,
the status quo remains until such time as the RFU is prepared to
bring the Championship into the 21st century. I would just like
it to happen asap so the game can really push on.
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