Leicester and Ealing set to join women's Premier 15s as four clubs miss out

2 years ago 55

Leicester are acceptable to go the latest men's Premiership nine to tract a broadside successful the women's Premier 15s, with Ealing besides offered a spot successful the league.

Eight clubs person been offered a spot successful the adjacent rhythm of the competition, opening with the 2023-24 season.

Two much could inactive beryllium selected, with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) saying the league has capableness for 10 sides.

Loughborough is the astir bluish squad presently included, with DMP Sharks and Sale near retired astatine this stage.

Financially-stricken Worcester and Wasps are besides not included, though the clubs are capable to entreaty against the decision.

Leicester and men's Championship leaders Ealing volition beryllium joined successful the league by existing Premier 15s clubs Loughborough - who are supported by men's Premiership broadside Northampton Saints - Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester-Hartpury, Harlequins and Saracens.

The RFU said "there is imaginable for clubs to articulation the league astatine a aboriginal stage" and that the 8 clubs' inclusion is "subject to the signing of shareholder and different agreements".

It added that the enactment sheet "made a beardown proposal to research however greater geographical dispersed tin beryllium provided successful the league".

The RFU is "working to make a solution" for clubs that applied but person not been offered a spot successful the league.

What person the excluded teams said?

All 4 teams near retired of the league made statements pursuing the RFU's announcement.

Wasps said they hoped to rejoin the league "at the earliest imaginable moment", adding that they would marque the determination from London to Coventry to beryllium much intimately aligned with the men's side.

Worcester are "committed to moving with the RFU to unafraid 1 of the last league positions".

DMP Sharks, who had to crowdfund to enactment successful the league this season, did not use to beryllium included from the adjacent run due to the fact that of the accrued level of concern required.

A connection from Sharks players said: "Our extremity remains to combat for elite contention successful the northbound eastbound and contempt determination being nary practice for the country successful the Premier 15s adjacent season, we are hopeful that the aboriginal remains agleam for the nurturing of the immense endowment location to the region."

Sale Sharks main enforcement Sid Sutton said: "Everyone astatine Sale Sharks is perfectly devastated astatine today's determination to cull the club's exertion to stay portion of the Premier 15s league.

"We're each disappointed that contempt the stated tendency to guarantee a 'greater geographical spread' of teams, the Premier 15s won't person immoderate bluish practice from 2023-24."

Former England subordinate Giselle Mather, Ealing's manager of women's rugby, and said she was "delighted" astatine the club's inclusion, portion chap ex-Red Rose Vicky Macqueen, caput of women's rugby astatine Leicester, said it was a "big time for Leicester Tigers".