'We're not American fans... that's what I fear will happen'

Chinnor director of rugby Nick Easter has said that the Gallagher PREM needs to attract the overseas talent that it once did, while questioning whether promotion and relegation will improve the quality of the league.

The RFU announced in February that relegation will be scrapped from next season, with Champ Rugby clubs required to apply for a place in England’s top tier and meet certain criteria.

There is still a lack of clarity on how the PREM will look in the coming years, and the Champ, for that matter, but Easter believes the gap between the two divisions has widened since the traditional system of promotion and relegation was abandoned.

Joining The Rugby Pod this week, the former England No.8, who has led Chinnor to fifth this season, said only unbeaten runaway Champ leaders Ealing Trailfinders would challenge in the PREM, and therefore is uncertain that promotion and relegation would improve the quality of the top flight.

With that said, he asserted that European fans relish the jeopardy that relegation provides, which will obviously be lost in the new model.

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“I can’t speak for other boards or other Champ clubs, but there hasn’t been much of a s**t storm since the announcement,” he said.

“If we’re going to get promotion and relegation, would a Champ club be able to survive? I’d say arguably Ealing. They’re moving on, they’ve got these investors in, which is great for the PREM. But history tells you that European fans like the jeopardy. They enjoy jeopardy. We’re not American fans that have been used to a franchise system from the 50s or 60s. That’s what I fear will happen in terms of the game.

“If there was promotion and relegation, are you gaining quality as it stands? Probably not. But should there be, for the meritocracy of sport? Of course there should be. For the PREM to grow, though, it’s below where it’s been five-plus years ago. You just have to look at overseas signings and the quality PREM rugby could bring in. They need to get back to that, because it is still the elite competition as far as the English game is concerned.

“The Champ is brilliant at bringing through players. It’s a strong development ground, and those players have to earn it because they’ve got a target on their back sometimes.

“The PREM is a different beast. The athleticism, the physicality, the time invested in all these teams over the last five years since the last time there was promotion and relegation has just soared in comparison with the Champ.

“The Champ is brilliant — you’ve still got some really good players and quality rugby to come and watch. It’s been much more enthralling this year with the jeopardy of going down and the top six to win it. Obviously there’s no promotion, but to win it.

“That’s the way they’ve gone down and it’s probably right for those PREM clubs to want to invest. They probably need to do a little bit in terms of getting these blowouts every single week. But as far as the Champ is concerned, it’s about being as good as you can in that competition. It is growing — it’s certainly grown.”