Reducing the English Premiership to 10 teams is one of a host of ideas being floated as a potential solution to the continuing dispute over the length of the domestic season, which has led to the threat of a player strike. Cutting two teams from the Premiership is just one of a number of suggestions for restructuring the domestic game – the main focus at Wednesday’s Professional Game Board meeting. A number of high-profile Premiership players, including Billy Vunipola, have expressed concerns there are currently too many matches in the calendar, with strike action raised as a possibility. A 10-team Premiership would, however, reduce the number of matches played and likely reduce the number of weekends where Premiership matches clash with internationals, which is the clubs’ major concern. Proposals for a 13- or 14-team Premiership have also been raised but that would only increase fears over player welfare.

Source: The Irish Times November 29, 2017 08:48 UTC