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'Sin-bin power play' part of off-the-wall RFU reforms for new hybrid cup
The Rugby Football Union is considering a raft of off-the-wall reforms to its revamped Premiership and Championship hybrid cup competition, which include a sin-bin ‘power play’.
The new hybrid cup is set to take place on Six Nations and autumn internationals weekends from the 2023/24 season onwards. It is understood the competition could begin during next year's World Cup.
Telegraph Sport understands that the group’s reforms, presented by RFU director of performance rugby Conor O'Shea, include:
A sin-bin ‘Power Play’, where each captain can nominate an opposition player to spend 10 minutes in the bin once a game
Incentivising tries scored from outside the opposition’s 22
Reducing the amount of kick-tennis
Reducing the time wasted by reset scrums
The RFU has assembled a working party to discuss giving the competition greater appeal. Jamie George, the Saracens and England hooker, Mark McCall, George’s director of rugby, Sir Ian McGeechan, the Scotland and Lions legend, and Lee Blackett, the former Wasps coach, are all among those included in the group assembled to embellish any future cup competition, which will incorporate both Premiership and Championship clubs.
The proposals will be presented to the RFU board on January 25 before a council meeting on February 14. From there, any successful motions passed will still require World Rugby approval.
Discussions have come about as part of the RFU’s Championship Strategic Review, set up to explore how to help the clubs in English rugby's second tier become more self-sustaining.
After the administration of Worcester and Wasps, both clubs are currently awaiting the outcome of their appeals against relegation to the Championship, citing a "no-fault insolvency". Depending on the outcome of those appeals, the Championship could comprise between 12 and 15 teams depending on fit-for-purpose owners' tests and the team that wins the second tier this season meeting the Premiership's minimum operating standards.
Telegraph Sport understands that if the Championship winners meet those standards, that club will be promoted and the team finishing bottom will also remain in the second tier. If the minimum operating standards are not met, however, the Championship's winner will remain, but the bottom-placed club will be relegated. One club will be promoted from National One in any event.
Regarding the Premiership-Championship hybrid cup from 2023-24 onwards, second-tier clubs had previously voted unanimously that all teams would be involved, but the RFU has decided to move forward with a competition comprising 20 teams; 11 from the Premiership – assuming Worcester and Wasps are relegated – and nine Championship clubs. It is understood that this format has received broad support from the Premiership Rugby board.
With only nine of the Championship's potential 14 clubs set to participate in the hybrid cup, plans are being explored for the remaining five to either play in a cup with the Scottish Super Six or a series of 'Challenger' exhibition games against Premiership clubs. The Championship's executives are expected to formally write to the RFU stating that all Championship clubs must be included in any cup competition, however.
The RFU did not wish to comment when approached by Telegraph Sport.
