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'Vibrant promotion/relegation system' on new Tier 2 Chair's agenda

A fan of Coventry waves a flagduring the Premiership Rugby Cup game between Gloucester Rugby and Coventry at Kingsholm Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Hugely experienced administrator Simon Gillham OBE has been appointed as Chair of the newly established Tier 2 Board, taking up his role with immediate effect.

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Gillham has spent over 20 years in French professional rugby, while involved with CA Brive, becoming the first non-French President in the Top 14 and Pro D2, and has seen at first hand the success of second-tier rugby in France, which has a regular TV slot and crowd figures that dwarf those of its equivalent in England, the Championship, which is undergoing a facelift for the 2025/26 season.

During his time at Brive, he has been a shareholder, administrator and President and he has sat on various committees and working groups for professional European rugby. In June 2024, Gillham stepped down from his role as President of Brive and is currently Vice President.

Gillham, who works for communications giant Vivendi, is joined on the Board by RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby, Conor O’Shea, RFU Commercial Director, Stuart Ramsey, RFU Council Member, Terry Burwell, Coventry Rugby CEO, Nick Johnston, former Nottingham CEO, Simon Beatham, and Simon Cohen, former Leicester Tigers CEO and current Championship representative on RFU Council.

Simon Gilham
Former Brive President, Simon Gillham

Commenting on his appointment, Gillham stated: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the Tier 2 Board. During discussions and observations of recent weeks I have been very impressed by the standards of Championship Rugby both on and off the rugby field. We must now build on the existing positives and work with the RFU, Premiership Rugby, the RPA and all the English rugby clubs to raise the standards further. This will involve talent and infrastructure development, strict financial discipline, a vibrant promotion/relegation system and raised visibility through media and sponsorship agreements. I can’t wait to get going.”

Having been a board member of the company who owns sports TV powerhouse Canal Plus, Gillham’s appointment will likely increase the chances of the Championship securing a broadcast partner.

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Conor O’Shea is delighted that someone of his calibre will now be a figurehead for a league that has lost its place in the English rugby structure.

O’Shea said: “We’re really pleased that Simon will be Chairing the Tier 2 Board and helping to drive our plans for developing English rugby’s second tier. His commercial experience as well as that from his involvement in French rugby, particularly in Pro D2, widely considered one of the most successful second tier leagues globally, will be invaluable.”

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J
JW 2 hours 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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