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       #Post#: 58326--------------------------------------------------
       Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league for
       2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: SwindonQuin
       Date: February 5, 2021, 4:59 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55949041
       A crucial decision on whether to scrap relegation from the
       Premiership this season has been delayed.
       The RFU council was due to decide on Friday whether to
       ring-fence the league for the 2020-21 campaign.
       However the Premiership clubs have requested more time "to
       conclude consultation with stakeholders".
       Top-flight English clubs hope to scrap relegation for the season
       in light of the Covid crisis but an RFU spokesperson said the
       vote was delayed.
       With five matches this season already cancelled following
       coronavirus outbreaks, and points allocated to the teams
       involved, the clubs have argued that relegating a side in these
       circumstances would be unfair.
       If ring-fencing is approved by the RFU council, it would mean
       expanding the league next season to 13 or 14 teams, with 2019
       Premiership champions Saracens currently among the clubs waiting
       for the second-tier Championship to restart.
       However it is thought leading partners - such as broadcaster BT
       Sport - would prefer to retain the jeopardy of relegation.
       Meanwhile sources insist a vote on ring-fencing would only apply
       for the current season, and would not mean the Premiership
       becomes a permanently closed league.
       "The RFU council were due to table a vote today on proposals
       from the RFU around no relegation for the 2020-21 season from
       the Gallagher Premiership," added an RFU spokesperson.
       "The vote would also pave the way for a wider review of future
       seasons' structures, including increased preparation time for
       the England senior men's team ahead of Rugby World Cup 2023.
       "Late last night Premiership Rugby requested more time to
       conclude its consultation with stakeholders therefore the vote
       will now be delayed."
       #Post#: 58327--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: MadMax
       Date: February 5, 2021, 5:05 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Just goes to prove PRL couldn't arrange a drink in a brewery.
       #Post#: 58328--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: SwindonQuin
       Date: February 5, 2021, 5:13 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       What I don't get is that if there is no relegation then there
       should be no promotion from the Championship.
       Surely they cant let Sarries off the hook, it would be sticking
       two fingers up at the clubs who are honest.
       #Post#: 58330--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: Brown Bottle
       Date: February 5, 2021, 5:19 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: SwindonQuin link ---
       >
       > What I don't get is that if there is no relegation then there
       should be no promotion from the Championship.
       >
       > Surely they cant let Sarries off the hook, it would be
       sticking two fingers up at the clubs who are honest.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Well, it depends what happens with the Championship. You can
       just as easily argue that if the Championship is played then
       denying the winners promotion would not be fair, regardless of
       whether there is relegation from the Premiership or not.
       Seems unlikely the Championship will be completed in any normal
       fashion, though.
       As always, BT will decide.
       #Post#: 58331--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: Banstead Quin
       Date: February 5, 2021, 5:32 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Be interesting to see how people's decisions would be different
       this season as opposed to a normal season. I personally say that
       we need relegation.
       #Post#: 58339--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: TeddingtonQuin
       Date: February 5, 2021, 6:08 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I've never been a fan of ringfencing the premiership as the
       threat of relegation and the drama surrounding it is all part of
       the competition. In fact it was more thrilling than the title
       race in recent seasons with the cheating that went on!
       #Post#: 58343--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: M3quin
       Date: February 5, 2021, 6:18 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Perhaps it should be that relegation remains, but a team can
       only be considered for promotion if a full and proper
       championship season has been completed and the team coming top
       would then be considered for promotion if they met the criteria
       already in place.  If a full and proper season ( all teams had a
       fair chance of coming top etc), or they do not meet the
       criteria, then the team coming bottom of the premiership retains
       their place.
       #Post#: 58345--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: February 5, 2021, 6:18 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: TeddingtonQuin link ---
       >
       > I've never been a fan of ringfencing the premiership as the
       threat of relegation and the drama surrounding it is all part of
       the competition. In fact it was more thrilling than the title
       race in recent seasons with the cheating that went on!
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       I have to be honest, I've never found the relegation battle to
       be exciting.
       Last season - might have been exciting were it not for COVID and
       Sarries being deducted points.
       2018/19 - Newcastle were miles off the pace and nailed on for
       the drop, though Tigers added some interest
       2017/18 - Irish were properly dreadful and nailed on for the
       drop
       2016/17 - Bristol were properly dreadful and nailed on for the
       drop
       2015/16 - Irish and Newcaslte were properly dreadful, but Irish
       were the worst.
       It just seems that in most seasons you have one or maybe two
       clubs in danger, playing godawful rugby, and they're destined
       for the drop. There's no enjoyment in watching them play -
       they're at the bottom for a reason - and it's usually obvious
       quite some time before the end of the season that they're gonna
       go down.
       This season it's hard to say what would happen, again partly
       thanks to COVID (and we may not get relegation at all,
       obviously) but I'd be surprised if after, say, 14 matches it
       wasn't just down to 2 or maybe even just 1 side in the running
       for last place.
       At least with the title challenge you have: the battle for top
       4, the playoffs, and then the final itself - lots of drama for
       the "main" season, then 3 one-offs where upsets can happen. And
       they're usually playing much better rugby...!
       #Post#: 58347--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: raedarius
       Date: February 5, 2021, 6:35 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       If Leicester had played as badly as they did without the
       guarantee of Saracens relegation, last season's relegation
       battle would have been quite interesting.
       #Post#: 58355--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Premiership relegation: Vote on whether to ring-fence league
       for 2020-21 campaign delayed
   DIR By: Surbiton Quin
       Date: February 5, 2021, 7:21 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       It's reported in the DT that the hold up is due to BT sport. I
       my view this is understandable as just as fan attendance tails
       off when meaningless mid table games are played at the end of
       the season the same will apply to viewing figures and thus
       advertising revenue.
       Why should BT pay the same for less return?
       I think the relegation battle can have a lot more tension than
       the play offs (I have very little interest unless Quins are in
       them) and final - mainly because something more meaningful is at
       stake - the whole next season rather then "winning the
       premiership via a one off game" e.g. Wasps.
       If there is to be no relegation due to covid, there also should
       be no promotion due to covid, with the pressure on player
       welfare and smaller squads (partially due to salary cap changes)
       there seems to be no reason to add to that workload and
       pressure. Ealing will be fine for another season, if it messes
       up another clubs arrangements - maybe they shouldn't have been
       so arrogant to assume that they must come straight back up.
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