Premiership Rugby CEO Mark McCafferty warned clubs to not rush promotion. GETTY IMAGES
Premiership Rugby CEO Mark McCafferty has "warned ambitious Championship sides not to rush a promotion campaign," suggesting second-tier sides can harbor an "unrealistic" -- and "potentially self-destructive" -- outlook on "what is required in English rugby’s top flight," according to Charlie Morgan of the London TELEGRAPH. Championship side London Irish "will be confident of securing an immediate return to the Premiership, but Ealing Trailfinders finished second in the Championship last season behind Bristol and have revamped their playing staff with close to 30 recruits since then." Financially backed by Owner Mike Gooley, Ealing has been "unapologetic" about its eagerness to break into the Premiership. However, McCafferty "warned of Premiership’s stark on- and off-field demands." He said, “I couldn’t say I wasn’t concerned, if I use a double negative. It tends to get characterized in a certain way, but clubs have to -- on so many fronts -- be ready for life in the Premiership." McCafferty added, “For club rugby as a whole, that’s one of the downsides of having a regular, annual promotion and relegation system, that there is the potential to invest only in a squad ... only to get through the system and gain promotion. And you’re just not ready, either for the next step up of playing in the Premiership, or certainly commercially for life in the Premiership." Ealing returned an average attendance of around 800 from its home league matches in '17-18 -- the "lowest in the Championship" (London TELEGRAPH, 8/19).
