RFU receives extended season proposal

The RFU have received the details of Premier Rugby's suggested extension to the Guinness Premiership season, a change that has been slated to begin next season.

Premier Rugby, the body responsible for representing the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs, want to extend the season by six rounds from its current 22. The extra games will be played on five weekends currently set aside for the Anglo-Welsh Cup competition, with the sixth played over the Christmas period.

Details of the proposal are to be announced by Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty at a media briefing next week, while RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew is currently studying the proposals with a view to reporting to an RFU meeting next Wednesday.

The two parties look set to have a great deal to debate, with the potential increase in overlaps between Premiership and international fixtures, any increase in foreign signings given the high number of players contributed by certain clubs to international duty and a possible cancellation of plans to formulate a successor to the current Anglo-Welsh Cup, sponsored by EDF Energy, all set to be on the agenda.

Such a cancellation could lead to strained relations between the RFU and the four Welsh regions, Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, who would stand to lose a substantial source of income.

In a statement the RFU pinpointed the following considerations:
+ The integrity of the Guinness Premiership;
+ The increase in the number of overlaps between Guinness Premiership matches and the international windows from 6/7 weekends in the new agreement to 11/12 weekends under the proposals;
+ The impact on the number of English Qualified Players and the potential increase in foreign players to cover England Elite Player Squad absences;
+ The effect on the agreed U20 programme, in particular the release of the 32-man U20 EPS for the U20 Six Nations tournament;
+ The effect on the agreed Saxons programme, in particular the release of the 32-man Saxons EPS players for the Saxons matches in the Six Nations window;
+ The effect of cancelling the proposed successor tournament to the EDF Energy Cup on the agreed Academy and player development programme;
+ The impact on the relationship with the Welsh Rugby Union and the loss of revenue to the four Welsh Regions from cancelling the proposed successor tournament to the EDF Energy Cup;
+ The ability to handle re-arranged Premiership fixtures with no slack in the proposed new programme and the effect on player welfare issues caused by the potential increase in midweek matches;
+ The likely increase in player injury levels, particularly in the second half of the season, and the impact on the agreed EPS programme and player welfare matters in the new agreement;
+ The increased pressure on elite officiating resources to cover additional matches.

The key financial and commercial considerations for the RFU will be the following:
+ Will any new TV or sponsorship revenues result from the proposals?
+ What will the net gate revenue increase for clubs be when comparing the proposed series of matches with the revenues that would be generated by the replacement Anglo-Welsh competition which they would replace?
+ What additional costs would be incurred by clubs, such as travel?
+ If injury rates increased, would there be a need to increase the playing squad?
+ The effect on club season ticket prices - there are 27.3% more Premiership matches under the proposals, will season ticket prices be able to be increased by 15% in the recession;
+ What level of revenue dilution would impact on existing revenues?
+ Will the proposals produce a material reduction in club costs?
+ What will be the effect on club costs generally of such an increase in the match programme?
+ How will the proposals affect RFU revenue levels for the Six Nations, the U20 Six Nations and the Saxons matches?
+ What will be the effect of the proposals on industry cash flow?
+ Are there alternative courses of action that would deliver improved financial returns?

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