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London Scottish bow out as fixtures for 2020/21 Championship season revealed

(Photo by Getty Images)

The fixture list for the 2020/21 Greene King IPA Championship has been confirmed, although one club has opted out of the new season. London Scottish will play no part in the new campaign, which kicks-off next month, but intend to return to the league next season.

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In a statement accompanying the fixture list, it was confirmed that London Scottish “felt unable to participate this season.” The league will instead comprise of 11 clubs, who will play 10 competitive matches over 11 league rounds, before a two-legged play-off final in June.

The details of the upcoming season were outlined in a league statement:

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“Following loan assurances from Government as part of the Winter Sports Survival Package, 11 Greene King IPA Championship Clubs have elected to invest in COVID testing under the elite sport guidance framework to allow a start to the season on the weekend of 6 March 2021.

“Operating under the elite sport framework, teams will play each other home or away producing 10 competitive matches over 11 league rounds.

“This will be followed by a two-leg play off final (home and away) between the top two placed teams in the league to determine which will earn promotion to Gallagher Premiership Rugby for the 2021/22 season provided it meets the current Minimum Standards Criteria.

“London Scottish felt unable to participate this season but will return in the 2021/22 season. As a result, there will be one bye week per team and three reserve weekends (3/4 April, 8/9 May and 5/6 June) during the season.”

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Saracens start their campaign away to Cornish Pirates on March 6 before welcoming Jersey Reds to the StoneX Stadium a week later.

The full fixture list for the 2020/21 season can be found here.

The league also confirmed that it is hoped to stream “as many of the matches as possible” given the ongoing absence of supporters at sporting events.

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J
JW 37 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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