Clubs keen on Premiership expansion (England)

[beige]

English rugby's elite division, the Guinness Premiership, could be poised to expand from 12 to 14 teams - and do away with relegation.

According to Mark McCafferty, the chief executive of Premier Rugby, the 12 current top-tier sides expressed a desire make the move at a recent series of meetings between club owners and chief executives in order to help grow the game.

"There was a general consensus that we should look properly at expanding to 14 teams," McCafferty, whose body represents the 12 clubs, was quoted as saying in The Sunday Telegraph.

"In 2012 we hope to secure a big increase in TV revenue, which will remove some of the obstacles to expansion where people are worried they will get less money because there would be 14 mouths to feed rather than 12.

"My view is that we can solve the financial issues and get the jam, if you like, spread thickly enough for everyone to be happy."

Other proposals reportedly include scrapping the Anglo-Welsh Cup and, controversially, halting promotion and relegation for a period.

Read more: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...114853,00.html

[Burgs]

In another alternative, they could kick out all the Internationals and have ten Clubs...literally ten, there is the equivelent of two Clubs playing in the Guinness Premiership.

[beige]

RFU have put the kibosh on the idea: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...120503,00.html