From the Rugby Club
Site development
Plans are well advanced and nearly all surveys completed to enable full planning application to be submitted. Hurdles remain, but intent is for a new stand and spectator facilities taking ground capacity to around 7,000. Current minimum requirement for entry into the Premiership is 10,000 (compared to the EFL's 5,000 for a much better supported sport, that is ridiculous and clearly ring fencing by another device). We expect the 10,000 to be reduced due to public pressure.
From the Rugby Club
RFU
The RFU and PRL (Premiership clubs) want to restructure the top two tiers of English rugby as 'Premiership 1 and Premiership 2' with the latter being a franchise model for which anyone can apply, without having to win their way there by promotion through the leagues below. Failed clubs such as Wasps could therefore re-enter directly without having to start at the bottom of the pyramid (current rules) and pay off their debts. Also clubs would have to apply to be part of Prem 2: why should we have to apply to enter a league we are already in? Suspicion is that this is really a way of the Championship clubs becoming simply hosts to the Premiership 'A' teams, meaning we would lose our identity. Hence the statement, which I had sent to you in full previously.