English second tier gets Champ Rugby rebrand in new 14-club league
Simon Gillham, the Tier 2 chair, said that the new-look league of 14 clubs would bring a 'gripping conclusion to the season' – with the top six entering a playoff tournament for the right to face the bottom-placed Premiership club for a promotion place.
However, Gillham confirmed that discussions have not yet concluded on terms for promotion, with minimum operating standards still to be agreed.
Related: The Breakdown | Rugby union's bonus points barely change the Premiership table. Should we scrap them?
The thorny issue of whether a promoted club will have to purchase a P-share, allowing them to participate in the Premiership's financial benefits and governance, has also not been decided.
Ealing Trailfinders did not meet the minimum standards for promotion this season despite winning the Championship, and Gillham refused to speculate on the chances of a club from Champ Rugby going up next year.
However he insisted: 'We will do everything to be at the table and to make sure that there's proper aspiration and there's proper jeopardy. That is absolutely what we are determined to do.'
Another complicating factor is that Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, recently warned that promotion and relegation 'does not work', while Premiership clubs are angling for a ringfenced league based on franchises.
But Conor O'Shea, who sits on the Tier 2 board as well as being the RFU executive director of performance rugby, said that 'grown-up conversations' would take place to ensure the dream of promotion remained a possibility.
'As it stands, at the end of next season there will be a promotion/relegation playoff based on minimum standards,' said O'Shea. 'We know that only Doncaster met them this year. The discussions are, how do we improve that? How do you make it accessible without breaking clubs?'
'There is a heck of a lot of work to do,' he added. 'Our focus is the step change we want to make in the Champ. It's already a great competition, but we want all the standards across the board to grow.'
Organisers are yet to announce a title sponsor. However with the bottom club being relegated, and the 13th placed club facing a relegation playoff against the National League One runner-up, the hope is that more matches will matter, leading to greater interest and bigger crowds to raise revenue.
As part of England Rugby's strategy to attract new audiences, the launch video is voiced by the rugby influencer and YouTuber Max Brown.
'This is where we raise the bar,' Brown says as pounding music plays. 'Where standards are set. Where mettle is tested. Where stars rise. And where hype is realised. We build players who refuse to back down and clubs that demand respect. Communities fuelled by passion. Rivalries played out on a national stage.
'We live for the good of the game. Pushing it further. Driving English Rugby forwards. Match by match, moment by moment. This is the ultimate test. Welcome to the proving ground. This is Champ Rugby.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
25 minutes ago
- New York Post
Trans pool player loses court battle in first test case of UK's new legal definition of ‘woman'
A transgender pool champion has lost a legal battle to overturn a ban on players who were not born female from competing in women-only events. Harriet Haynes, 35, sued the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF) in April after it excluded transgender women such as herself from ladies' county tournaments. But today the EBPF announced it has won the case at Canterbury Court and Haynes has been ordered to pay their legal costs. Advertisement 3 Harriet Haynes lost a battle to compete in women-only pool tournaments. @HarrietHaynes90/Twitter The ruling is the first to apply the new legal definition of a woman as someone who is biologically female, which was brought in after a British Supreme Court decision in April. The professional pool player, from Faversham, Kent, first competed as a woman in 2015 – but since August 2023 has been unable to play for her county's ladies team due to the new rules. Advertisement Haynes began her claim stating that the change in criteria has caused her a 'loss of opportunity' and amounts to discrimination. She also argued that players assigned male at birth have no advantage over female-born players in a sport that relies mostly on accuracy and precision. However, the EBPF argued that transgender women have, on average, a higher break speed than players assigned female at birth. It also claimed that male-born players benefit from greater hand span, stronger fingers, and longer limbs, making it easier for them to play particular shots. Advertisement His Honor Judge Parker ruled in favor of the EBPF, agreeing that it is a 'gender-affected activity' and that excluding transgender women would 'secure fair competition'. 3 Haynes argued that male players have no advantage over biological females. @HarrietHaynes90/Twitter An EBPF spokesperson said of the win: 'We are delighted to announce that Harriet Haynes' discrimination claim against the EBPF has been dismissed and Harriet has been ordered to pay our costs. 'The court found that pool is a game in which men have an advantage over women and that allowing only those born as women to compete in our women's competitions is necessary to secure fair competition. Advertisement 'The EBPF was the only one of three pool organisations to stand our ground when threatened with Harriet's claim. The claim was brought against Paul and Anna personally and was a very stressful experience for them. At one point, Harriet's solicitor said that Paul's and Anna's 'houses and lives' were potentially on the line. 'We would like to thank everyone who has supported us. We would also like to reiterate that the EBPF welcomes transgender women in our Open category.' Haynes is an expert player of English eight-ball pool and a trans woman, with a gender recognition certificate issued under Britain's Gender Reassignment Act 2004. The EBPF, represented by lawyers from J.R. Levin, argued that Haynes was not discriminated against for being transgender, as if she was a trans-man he would have been able to compete. The defence also claimed that pool is a 'gender-affected activity' and so the revised rules were 'necessary to secure fair competition'. EBPF Chairman Paul Thomson added: 'I am very grateful to Anna Goodwin and Jim Goodwin for all the help in this case, without them I think the midnights talks and Jim calling me the second husband because ANNA would be calling me all hours, those countless conversations kept us on the path to do what was right for our organisation, and most importantly got us through the most difficult time in my role as chairman of this wonderful organisation. 3 The court ruled that excluding transgender women would secure fair competition. EPA / SWNS Advertisement 'Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would end up in court representing this organization as chairman, it's been a difficult few years but most who know me will tell you that I would do the right thing when representing this organization, and I am not easily intimidated. But most importantly we as an organization would conduct ourselves throughout the diversity with professionalism 'I can honestly say I am glad it's all over and we can get back to planning for this organization, I would also like thank all the Female section for supporting us and everyone who contributed to the go-fund to help with case it really means a lot, your support has carried so much weight for me and Anna, I speak for both of us when I say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.'
42 minutes ago
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from the field at Women's British Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales -- Miyu Yamashita started and finished with short birdie putts and was flawless in between as she posted a 7-under 65 on Friday to build a three-shot lead over Rio Takeda going into the weekend of the Women's British Open. The Japanese players, both among the top 15 in the women's world ranking, played in the same group at Royal Porthcawl and put on a show in the second round, matching great shots and big putts along the way that left the rest of the field far behind. Takeda was the only player within seven shots of Yamashita. Nelly Korda (72) and rising English star Lottie Woad (70) were among the top 10 on the leaderboard and still nine shots behind at the halfway point. Woad was on the cusp of contention until a triple bogey on the par-4 16th. 'There was a lot more good in it than bad,' Woad said. 'Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit.' Yamashita was bogey-free and did most of her damage with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn as she took advantage of an early start before stronger wind arrived. 'I didn't make any particular adjustments to my swing, but the wind was strong, so I think shots are important, as well as club selection and the direction I aim at the target,' Yamashita said. 'So things like that are important, so I played while keeping in mind the image I've been practicing so far.' Takeda, whose two LPGA titles include the Toto Japan Classic last year before she was a member, was slowed by a pair of bogeys. Takeda atoned for that with a superb approach into the par-5 ninth that settled within tap-in range for eagle. She shot 69. 'I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow,' Takeda said. Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133. Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand each shot 69 and were tied for third at 4-under 140, along with American Lindy Duncan (70). The cut was shaping up to be at 2-over 146. Brooke Henderson of Canada was right on the cut line until missing a 4-foot par putt on the windblown 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Also missing the cut were world No. 4 Ruoning Yin (77(, Rose Zhang (76) and U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark (78). Korda remains the No. 1 player in women's golf despite not winning this year, and she now faces a tall order with a nine-shot deficit for the last 36 holes. 'Honestly didn't really capitalize on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine, then kind of got really windy on the back,' Korda said. 'Made a few more mistakes but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even par.' Woad made the best run at the Japanese duo until one swing and one nasty lie cost her. She had a 3-wood for her second shot into a strong wind on the par-4 16th. It sailed to the right into thick grass. Her first hack moved the golf ball only a few inches. She had to take a penalty shot for an unplayable lie, got that one on the green and two-putted for a triple bogey. She closed with two pars for a 70, a score that otherwise would seem satisfactory. 'I'd certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee,' Woad said with a smile. 'Yeah, just got to try to play well over the weekend. It's pretty packed, so I can move up a bit.' Everyone is chasing Yamashita, who led the Japan LPGA money list in 2022 and 2023 while winning five times in each of those seasons. She also finished one shot out of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics last year. For now, she is thinking only about keeping her rhythm in the wind. 'I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now. I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind,' Yamashita said. 'So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out.'
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
Two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula upset by Sevastova in 3rd round in Montreal
MONTREAL — Two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula was eliminated in the third round of the National Bank Open after a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Anastasija Sevastova on Friday. Sevastova, a 35-year-old from Latvia who was ranked 11th in 2018 but has fallen to No. 386, broke the third-seeded Pegula six times on 10 chances.
