English rugby chiefs are considering a radical contingency plan to form four regional teams that would potentially join the Guinness PRO14.
It’s understood the Rugby Football Union has been contemplating the extreme measures in the event of it failing to reach a deal with the country’s Gallagher Premiership clubs over a number of issues, including the future of the Test calendar.
England and France’s biggest clubs have threatened to derail World Rugby’s plans for a new global Nations League.
They claim it is in breach of a deal brokered two years ago about a new global season and have reserved the right to take legal action.
The Premiership clubs have also threatened to potentially break away from the RFU and form their own independent league if the RFU refuse to scrap promotion and relegation.
Bosses at the RFU have responded by hatching plans to bring back a form of the old regional structure, which saw the stars of yesteryear appear for the South-West, Midlands, North, London and the South-East in a Divisional Championship.
The new sides would most likely be South, Midlands, North and West, with the RFU having to try and centrally contract players in competition with the clubs. English rugby bosses privately say they could be formed if talks with Premiership Rugby Limited, the umbrella organisation of England’s leading clubs, irretrievably break down.
Such a radical turn of events remains highly unlikely but the fact it has been mentioned shows how high the stakes are.
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WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips, speaking broadly about the future of rugby, believes a British and Irish league “would be very valuable”.
“There are so many gates to go through to get there but if rugby is serious about driving value and interest, it’s a format that has legs,” he said.
England’s second tier clubs have also been exploring the possibility of joining the Guinness PRO14.
They are considering their options following those reports the Gallagher Premiership could become ring-fenced and a closed shop, with relegation and promotion scrapped.
That has prompted the likes of mega-rich Ealing Trailfinders, who are second in the table behind London Irish and hope to go up, examining the possibility of joining Welsh, Irish, Italian, Scottish and South African sides in the PRO14.
Guinness PRO14 chiefs have outlined proposals to expand their competition further, having already brought South African franchises Cheetahs and Southern Kings on board.
And Super Rugby big-hitters Bulls, who are three-time winners of the crack tournament, Sharks and Stormers have previously all emerged as potential additions to the PRO14 .
Two of those high-profile sides could join it for the 2020-21 season as part of an expanded competition.
But their introduction wouldn’t have the same spectator appeal as the RFU entering sides.
