Firstly my apologies for not being more pro-active in providing updated comment on the RFU's plans for a new Tier 2 competition in 2025/26. The August 1st deadline, which has been widely discussed on supporter forums and social media over the last few days, was not one that this correspondent thought to be of huge significance. In retrospect, I can fully understand why others had hung their hopes on Friday-last bringing a final judgement on the fate Worcester Warriors RFC.
The last time the RFU released any information about their planned Tier 2 league for 2025/26 was on Friday 14th June, as reported in a previous blog-post. In their statement at the time we were advised that the new Tier 2 Board would decide on "the exact format of the 14-team league .... no later than August 1st."
Many people have interpreted this to mean that the decision on the make-up of the 2024/25 Tier 2 league would be made public by August 1st. This would not be an unreasonable supposition but the more cautious among us were more than doubtful, especially considering the RFU & Championship Clubs Committee's (CCC) record on deadlines and the opacity of the language used.
The predominant reason for my caution was the word "format." What exactly does constitute the format of a league?
A league format is the description of how the competition will function eg how many teams will be involved, how many times they will play each other, how the league winners are decided, how the bottom club is decided. Descriptions of league formats do not necessarily include the entry criteria or agreed participants.
To me, the next sentence of the RFU Statement is much more revealing: "the mechanism for any new teams in the league to be decided by Council and announced ahead of the new season. This timeline preserves the commitment that we have made to ensure that all clubs have at least 12 months’ notice of any major changes to the RFU leagues."
This is the section of the statement that is most relevant to the fate of a phoenix Worcester Warriors. Importantly there is potential jeopardy in the RFU missing this particular deadline given their commitment to ensure adequate notice to clubs in the whole RFU league system. The new season starts on 7th September.
So, although a case could certainly be argued for the relevance of the August 1st date, perhaps the more important deadline is Friday 6th September 2024.
For those who remain unsure as to what information we are awaiting regarding the prospects for Worcester Warriors men's team returning to professional rugby at Sixways in 2025, I hope you will find the following bullet-points useful.
The Knowns:
Worcester Warriors
The ownership at Sixways has put in an application for Worcester Warriors to join the RFU Tier 2 league in 2025/26.
There continues to be regular communication between Sixways and all relevant bodies including the RFU, the CCC and the PRL.
WWST is an independent organisation but continues to work closely with the club for our mutual benefit. We resolutely share the owners' aspiration to return elite rugby to Sixways under the Worcester Warriors name.
2. Tier 2 League
There are defined essential Minimum Operating Standards (MOS) for entry into Tier 2, 2025/26. These have already been approved by the RFU Council.
Additional essential MOS, determined by the Tier 2 Board, will be applied in a phased manner once the league commences.
Existing Championship Clubs will be able to participate in the new Tier 2 league provided they evidence their ability to meet the essential MOS. The process for doing this has been approved by the RFU Council and will be adjudicated on by the Tier 2 Board.
The Tier 2 league 2025/26 will, optimally, be composed of 14 teams.
The Governance of the new league will be overseen by a Tier 2 Board made up of three representatives from each of the CCC & RFU with an independent chair.
3. Premiership aspiration
The mechanism for promotion and relegation will be a two-match home and away play-off between the bottom placed Premiership club and the winner of the Championship/Tier 2.
To gain promotion the latter club must also meet the MOS criteria in place at the relevant time.
The Unknowns
The members of the Tier 2 Board have not been made public.
The essential MOS criteria for entry into Tier 2 have not been made public.
The "Other Matters." The RFU stated in April 2024 : "Championship clubs must validate and evidence their ability to meet the “essential” minimum operating standards, and other matters, in order to participate in the new Tier 2 league." It is unclear what these "other matters" are but we can speculate that they may relate to such things as
proof of financial viability
"fit and proper" ownership
The mechanism by which new entrants gain entry to Tier 2 has not been released. It may not even have been established.
The number of current Championship clubs that meet the MOS and other criteria is not known.
What next?
I fear that the answer to this question is "more waiting." As set out above, the true deadline as far as Warriors are concerned, is 6th September. However, we have become very used to the flexibility of deadlines, having witnessed at first hand the indecision of owners, administrators and governing bodies over the last two years. We sincerely hope that the RFU do not break their commitment to this date but, given the resounding silence from Twickenham we may have to be prepared for a longer wait. Realistically the ultimate deadline from a rugby perspective is November/December 2024; beyond that it would become near impossible to assemble a coaching and playing team fit to start the 2025/26 Tier 2 season.
Parting messages
Just a reminder that the Worcester Show is taking place on Sunday 11th August between 10am and 5pm at Pitchcroft. The Supporters Trust will have a team there in the Sports Zone and look forward to engaging with Warriors fans both young and old. We will be running some rugby related activities in the Village Games arena at 12 midday and 1.50pm. Adult tickets for the show are only £2 and children go free.
The Supporters Trust will be holding our first AGM relatively soon. Although planning is still in progress it is very likely to take place during the second week of October - ie between 7th & 11th. Hopefully we will also have some clarity on the rugby side of things by then. It will be an opportunity for subscribed members to stand for positions on the board and to vote for applicants; Further information will be following in good time but we would love to see as many members there as possible so please pencil in those dates for now. We expect the AGM to take place at Sixways Stadium.
Comentarios