The 12 clubs in England’s Guinness Premiership rugby union league have agreed in principle to expand the domestic season as part of a plan to lessen the impact of the economic downturn.
The Times newspaper reports that the proposals include adding five lucrative league fixtures, and having more matches scheduled at Christmas, the New Year, and during other holiday periods. The extra fixtures would be based on final league positions in the previous season, with clubs finishing in odd positions playing against each other, and those finishing in even positions doing likewise. The Times says it is unclear if the matches would take place in a conference-type system after the regular season.
The agreement was made at a meeting in London yesterday, at which club owners also turned down proposals to cut the league’s salary cap and agreed to keep the current 12-team structure.
The clubs will negotiate the details of the plan for extra matches next month with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), which must authorize any changes, and with the players’ union, the Professional Rugby Players Association.
