ENGLISH rugby is ‘strong enough’ to overcome the ‘bump in the road’ of losing three top flight clubs – while the increased expenditure that comes with promotion needs to be considered before clubs like Jersey Reds can make the step up, Matt Banahan has said.
The former England international said the difference in financing between Premiership and Championship rugby is ‘worlds apart’ and second-tier clubs need to prove they are able to operate sustainably at the higher level before moving up.
Earlier this month, London Irish were suspended from English rugby – becoming the third top-flight team to collapse this season.
The RFU has confirmed that the club has been unable to provide proof of funds to compete in the Gallagher Premiership for the 2023-24 season and that a proposed takeover by an American consortium never materialised.
It means that the Exiles join Wasps and Worcester in being expelled from the top flight, leaving just ten teams in the Premiership.
But Banahan said while the ‘dream scenario’ would be for the Championship winners to be promoted, it is not as simple as that.
He said: ‘The dream would be to say that Championship clubs can move up the Premiership but there are a lot of factors.
‘The difference in financing between being a Premiership side and a Championship side is worlds apart. Players wages are much higher and there are the stadium requirements which mean it is not as easy as just saying “move up” – it’s a bit of a catch 22.
‘Jersey have had a fantastic season – and Ealing have been up there for a few years. Could Jersey or Ealing compete in the Premiership – it’s difficult to say because I don’t know the financial side of both teams.’
It is unclear what the demise of London Irish, Wasps and Worcester means for proposals for a new cup competition involving the Premiership and Championship sides.
Two of Jersey Reds’ most famous wins came in 2017 against the Exiles with a dramatic 15-11 victory in the league over Irish in St Peter in front of a crowd of more than 3,300 fans, followed a week later by a 25-17 win away in the semi-final of the now-defunct British and Irish Cup.
The two sides met as recently as the beginning of last season in a pre-season friendly at the Stade Santander International Stadium.
Banahan said: ‘Obviously, we have lost three team from the Premiership and that is disappointing.
‘We need to ask “is the current wage cap high enough with the pool of players and coaches now available and in need of clubs”.
‘The game is strong enough to keep going although obviously this is a bump in the road. When you look at the European game and the international game it is really strong and the women’s game is getting better and better so there are positives there.
‘The job is to make sure we are looking after the people and the clubs.’
Former Les Quennevais student Banahan was back in the Island recently to compete in the Wapp Celebrity Golf series at La Moye.
