Relegation: Good or Bad?

[BZHopenside]

Now that London Welsh are finally sorted out and in the Premiership, what are people's thoughts on relegation and promotion? I've seen a lot of commentators in Britain who think it is pointless and brings the game down.
However, over here in the States, lots of people would like some sort of relegation and promotion system, at least within sports like soccer. The problem with a franchise system is that by the end of the year, half the games become meaningless as the teams have nothing to play for. Ultimately, I think you'd get more people at a poor game with something riding on it than a good but meanless game.
Look at the Top 14 last season. Going into the last two weeks, nearly every team had something to play for, and it was super exciting to follow.

 

[psychic duck]

Promotion and Relegation is a good thing.

I hate it that a Championship team could miss out on promotion despite earning it on the field by winning the ***le. Promotion keeps the Championship sides hungrier and improves them, whilst gives the relegated side often a season to reflect on what was wrong, and rebuild a better side.

Ringfencing would hold all the Championship clubs back.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good, definitely.

Means the league actually matters, and cuts down of the amount of nothing games that see in the Pro 12, where neither side really gives a crap as neither are going to make the play offs.

 

[Draggs]

Not saying it would be good/bad, but two up two down system would really get things moving, provided at least one promoted side stays up the following season (Exeter and Worcester managed).

 

[j_remos]

Its definately good. Last season the league was won by Quins who had built well after there stint in Division 1, similar with the turnaround we have seen at Saints. Without relegation both clubs could have spent the past few years sitting mid table. Also, without promotion we would not have seen Exeter managed a very respectable 5th position and get into the Heineken Cup.

If anything there needs to be more of it. 2 up 2 down or a playoff between 11th and 2nd. More intereaction between the 2 leagues is essential for growing the sport.

 

[Peat]

Don't really care. There's arguments for, there's arguments against, and a great deal of far more important things.

 

[TimQ]

Promotion and relegation is brilliant...but a play off system which allows the 4th place team to go up is a bit bonkers! (Bitter Bristol fan).

 

[racingmetrofan]

Its great - gives all the teams something to play for and ensures we have a genuine competitive second division. The more competition the better imo.

 

[powerfulduck]

Promotion and relegation is brilliant...but a play off system which allows the 4th place team to go up is a bit bonkers! (Bitter Bristol fan).

Agree, 2up/2down with championship league winner to get an auto slot in the prem then a playoff system.

 

[welshglory]

2up/2down in a 12 team league though? Seems a bit much

 

[psychic duck]

2up/2down in a 12 team league though? Seems a bit much

Not really.

 

[welshglory]

Compared to the rest of the professional sport leagues around the world, yes.

Whatever the case it's never going to happen unless they expand to 14. Premiership rugby wouldn't gain anything from 2up/2down in the current set up.

 

[psychic duck]

Compared to the rest of the professional sport leagues around the world, yes.

Whatever the case it's never going to happen unless they expand to 14. Premiership rugby wouldn't gain anything from 2up/2down in the current set up.

Nope, some other sports leagues have two down for leagues smaller than 12. Premiership rugby would gain from 2 up 2 down, a more exciting league and a stronger more exciting Championship division.

 

[welshglory]

I seriously doubt it would make that much of a difference.

The championship clubs need to get themselves in order first.

 

[j'nuh]

2 up, 2 down would be a bad idea. The teams which are least safe from the drop will overspend to stay in the league then fail financially.

Also, playoffs bring an element of luck into the game, which to a degree stops teams from overspending on a ***le challenge.

 

[Groundhog]

I think relegation is a good thing. Makes D2 teams ambitous, makes competitiveness in the regional league important, and makes for more entertaining viewing

 

[bushytop]

The way English club rugby is ordered atm, promotion/relegation is definitely a good thing... but if certain old (& youngish) darts got their way and formed a regional franchise system then obviously the top tier would have to be ring-fenced.

I think most celts are a bit envious of the leagues that England and particularly France have... and if we had enough cash, players and supporters, we would love to have our own national pro leagues set up in a similar way to the Aviva and top 14.

 

[Shovenose]

Good if your on the winning side of it bad if your going down. But hard work needs to be rewarded and even if your a urinal or two short that should not be a problem

 

[dudeabides]

I think relegation/promotion is an awesome thing. Wish they had it in my country, but the biggest club league here keeps the same underperformers year after year. If they had a D2 with smaller cities maybe even my local team could have a shot at making it every now and then.

 

[Rinzler]

With the examples said above (meaningless games in the Rabo12 etc) i think its a good thing, and with now with the Championship at least semi-pro, we should start to see more competition for promotion (as seen this year, but without the silly play-offs). I understand why some pundits out there seem to think its pulling English Rugby back, but I think their purely thinking in regards to the national team, and not the health of the domestic game. Personally, we should be seeing a strong domestic game create a strong national team.