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URC statement: British and Irish league speculation
By Liam Heagney
United Rugby Championship officials have issued a blunt statement flatly denying they are engaged in discussions regarding a British and Irish league. A media report emerged on Thursday claiming that the Premiership in England was in negotiations with the URC with a view to merging the two competitions in the future.
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That claim ignited a pile of speculation about the merits of the 10-team English league joining up with the 10 Irish, Scottish and Welsh sides who are part of the 16-team URC, which also has four teams from South Africa and two from Italy.
However, reports that the URC are actively involved in merger discussions with the Premiership have now been rejected.
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A statement read: “Contrary to media reports, the BKT United Rugby Championship is not engaged in discussions regarding a British and Irish league.
“Since the introduction of the four South African teams in 2021, the league has enjoyed a sustained period of outstanding success achieving record audiences, attendances, social media growth and new levels of competitiveness.
Further to our earlier exclusive…
Premiership considering merger with URC to form British and Irish league
?? @GavinMairs and @CRichardsonTel#TelegraphRugby
— Telegraph Rugby (@TelegraphRugby) September 12, 2024
“This is due in great part to the efforts of all 16 teams across Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales which has elevated the league to new heights. The BKT URC is committed to continuing this pace of growth ahead of the new season and far into the future.”
"URC is the only proper competition where we can be involved…"
– INTERVIEW: Levan Maisashvili explains why Georgia franchise Black Lion want URC invitation, from Liam Heagney ??? in Cape Town. #URC #AUSvGEO #WorldRugbyU20s #rugby
Tap below for more ??https://t.co/Z8c8wNE7o9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 19, 2024
Would be a brilliant change for the game. Always thought they snobs in football should have done the same thing.
Warning to URC/6Ns right there, don't let the clubs get too big for themselves. Money will end up rulling them and turn it into a farce.
I would be happy for the Anglo-Welsh league to become reality. The Welsh and English clubs deserve each other.
they should add an English conference of 4 teams, but have promotion and relegation between the English conference and the premiership.
the premiership should be expanded to 12 teams, so that would be the bottom 6 teams currently, plus the top 6 championship sides.
The need for two divisions is the biggest driver. Didn't the Championship sides say they are hungry for competition, just that they didn't believe in the Premiership running model?
Perhaps the Championship sides would just end up surpassing the prem sides if they combined in a fully sanctioned (nationally backed) british league were sides that are performing poorly at the moment, like the Welsh, just simply go down a division and don't have bit the bullet that they'll never play top level football again.
Premiership rugby can just do whatever it wants in its own (possibly declining) 8-10 team league.
take the Welsh teams into the Premiership and replace them with Cheetahs and 3 development teams (e.g. Georgia, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands?, ....)
Trust the useless Tory gutter press to try to stir things up. They are just another bunch of pommie liars.
Yep, URC are an independant board right. Nothing to do with what each nation actually wants?