I am travelling to Newbury this weekend to cover Newbury Blues against Esher at the bottom end of the National One table and it strikes me that these are two of the clubs in the ridiculous situation of not knowing, officially, how many relegation spots they will be playing for come the end of the season.
If we go by the published rules of First Division Rugby for the 2008/9 season then it appears to be simple:
“the winner of National League One will qualify for promotion to the Guinness Premiership subject to meeting the necessary entry criteria and the bottom two clubs at the end of the season will be relegated and be replaced by the top two clubs from National League Two”
Well actually it’s not quite that simple; as the RFU have been pushing for a while now to reduce the size of National One to twelve teams instead of sixteen and are believed to favour enacting that reduction at the end of this current season. The rumours are so strong that it just can’t be ignored but as it stands no official agreement has been reached on the issue between the RFU and FDR.
The FDR, who have a representative from each of the 16 member clubs, disagree with the RFU over the proposals for the future of National One and it is thought that the RFU are ready to force their hand by withdrawing funding from those clubs who do not fall into line with their radical new proposals.
Even given the seeming certainty of the reduction of numbers it is not clear how the current 16 teams will be reduced to the required 12. One option would be to relegate the bottom six clubs in National One and still promoting two clubs from National Two. Maybe Four teams will be relegated from National One with no teams promoted or maybe it will be a solution in between these points.
FDR chairman Geoff Irvine attempted to clarify the situation before the start of the season; in an official statement which read:
“I am aware of the many rumours circulating about RFU proposals to change the structure of National League One and the impact this might have for clubs during the 2008-09 season that starts on 30th August. In the absence of any statement from the RFU on this matter I wish to make it clear on behalf of FDR that no agreement has been reached with the RFU on any such proposals and for the 2008-09 season National League One will be a 16 club league with a full programme of league matches plus participation in the EDF Energy National Trophy. Unless the RFU decides otherwise, arrangements for promotion and relegation will be as for season 2007-08 i.e. the winner of National League One will qualify for promotion to the Guinness Premiership subject to meeting the necessary entry criteria and the bottom two clubs at the end of the season will be relegated and be replaced by the top two clubs from National League Two.”
The key phrase in that statement is “Unless the RFU decides otherwise” which of course is what they would dearly like to do in the imminent future.
I have taken great lengths to scour the stories, interviews and information in the public domain and can officially reveal this statement which hopefully answers all queries about the future of National One:
National One in the 2009/10 season may be called National One or it may also be called Guinness Premiership 2 or possibly something different but similar. It will consist of maybe 16 teams but most likely 12 teams.
In the 2008/9 National One competition includes 16 competing clubs therefore if the following season is to be played with only 12 teams then it will be necessary to cut four teams from the league at the end of the 2008/9 season. This may happen as a result of the bottom four teams being relegated or it may be the bottom six relegated with two teams being promoted from National Two or maybe Five teams relegated from National One with one team promoted from National Two or possible Four teams relegated with 12th place in National One playing off against 2nd place in National Two for the last spot in National One or conceivably three teams will be relegated to National Two with 13th place in National One playing off against 1st in National Two and 12th place in National One playing off against 2nd in National Two.
So to conclude next season competition will consist of either 16 teams or 12 teams.
In the 2008/9 season there will be either 2,3,4 or 5 automatic relegation slots with one or two or possibly no teams facing a relegation playoff whilst from National Two there will possibly be no available promotion spots or there could be two or probably just one with maybe one or two but probably no teams involved in a promotion playoff.
I hope that clears things up a bit!
There is a certain irony in the fact that the RFU want National One to become a fully professional league of only twelve teams and yet are going about the transformation in the most unprofessional manner.
