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#Post#: 14275--------------------------------------------------
Newcastle and DMP
DIR By: The Lone Ranger
Date: August 17, 2026, 3:42 pm
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Just read Newcastle will be using DMP to give their academy
players game time. And want to get DMP from level 4 to 2. Champ
rugby looks to be hotting up quickly for places. Not sure i like
this feeder system though.
#Post#: 14276--------------------------------------------------
Re: Newcastle and DMP
DIR By: Rothman2
Date: August 17, 2026, 10:03 pm
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I’ll be honest — the feeder‑club model is something I
really struggle with.
In a normal relegation/promotion structure, Newcastle would now
be operating in Level 2 themselves, but because of the
Premiership ring‑fencing and the later Red Bull situation,
they’ve stayed in the top flight despite finishing bottom for
several seasons.
With the investment they’ve now received, they’re clearly going
to be much stronger this year, but it also means they’ll have a
large squad of players who need game time.
That’s where the issue begins. If those players as suggested,
are sent to Darlington Mowden Park a Level 4 club with a
25,000‑capacity stadium but typical Level 4 crowds, the
competitive balance of that league can be distorted very
quickly.
Some of the players coming down will be full‑time
professionals with conditioning and experience far beyond what
most Level 4 players have. That’s not DMP’s fault, and it’s not
Newcastle’s fault either; it’s simply a consequence of the
system.
We’ve seen this before with other dual‑registration
partnerships.
When the Premiership club has injuries, the flow of players
suddenly dries up. When they’re fully fit, the
lower‑league side can suddenly field a team containing
players who normally operate two or three levels higher.
Results then depend on who is released on a given weekend,
which makes the league unpredictable in a way that isn’t really
about rugby merit.
Clubs like London Scottish and Dings Crusaders have experienced
exactly this, strong one week, under strength the next, and
supporters have often said it affected both identity and
competitive fairness.
If the intention really is to move DMP from Level 4 to Level 2,
that raises even more questions.
A development partnership should be about giving fringe players
experience, not artificially accelerating a club up the pyramid
through access to players who wouldn’t normally be at that
level.
It’s all within the rules, but it does make you wonder about the
integrity of the competition when promotion or relegation can be
influenced by players who aren’t part of the squad
week‑to‑week.
None of this is aimed at Newcastle or DMP personally as they’re
operating exactly as the regulations allow.
The issue is the structure itself.
When the rules create situations where the strength of a team
can swing dramatically depending on Premiership availability,
it’s hard to argue that the league is being shaped purely by the
teams within it.
#Post#: 14277--------------------------------------------------
Re: Newcastle and DMP
DIR By: The Lone Ranger
Date: August 18, 2026, 9:18 am
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100% agree with what you said. It distorts the competition. When
roth entered the 2nd tier all those years ago it was well funded
from the rfu and owners into this new professional sport. There
were real stars there. Now the prem clubs suck most of the
talent up. But look at where roth are now on the up with harvey
at thr fore. He maybe the best coachbin the champ. If only we
didn't have so much sporting competition those 1500 would swell.
Worcester have been in a similar situation but had a ground and
no winter sporting competition within an hour. The result thry
are the big sporting attraction in the area and 2k fans became
7k. Aside from mis management they are a prem set up. Lawrence,
Ted Hill class players through their pathway all down to
location.
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