Chinnor and Cambridge Slam "Unfair" Premiership Rugby Cup Exclusion
Chinnor and Cambridge have expressed their frustration after being excluded from this season's Premiership Rugby Cup, branding the decision as "appalling" and "unfair." The competition, which has been revamped for the 2024-25 season, features only 10 of the 12 Championship clubs, alongside all 10 Premiership sides. Both Chinnor, newly promoted to the Championship, and Cambridge have been left out of the tournament.
Last season saw all Championship clubs compete in the cup for the first time in 18 years, marking a significant moment as Premiership sides faced lower-tier teams in a knockout format. However, this year’s exclusion has come as a blow, particularly to Chinnor, who were eager to test themselves against top-flight opposition following their historic promotion from National One.
Chinnor’s director of rugby, Nick Easter, was particularly vocal about his disappointment. "It’s not great to have the rug pulled out from under you," the former England international told BBC Radio Oxford. "This was something we were really looking forward to last season, so it’s a pretty appalling decision."
The restructured tournament will see five regional pools of four teams competing home and away, with matches beginning in November during the Autumn internationals. However, the new format has left Easter worried about significant gaps in Chinnor’s fixture schedule, potentially leaving them without competitive games for up to seven weeks.
Easter added, "The big issue is trying to arrange games with the big gaps we now have. It’s not just a competitive disadvantage but also a major challenge in maintaining momentum and player fitness during those long breaks."
A spokesperson from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) defended the decision, explaining that the competition’s format was agreed upon by all involved parties, including Premiership Rugby and the Championship Executive. "The 20-team format was deemed optimal for the competition’s evolution," said the spokesperson, who noted that the 22-team format used last year was considered too lengthy and left some lower-tier clubs without opportunities to face Premiership opposition.
For Chinnor, who have been on a remarkable journey culminating in their first-ever promotion to the Championship, the snub is a bitter pill to swallow. “It’s a shame because playing in this cup was a huge motivator for us,” said Easter. “We’ve earned our place at this level, and it’s disappointing that we won’t get the chance to showcase what we can do against the best in the country.”
Cambridge, who also miss out, echoed similar sentiments. The exclusion of these clubs raises questions about the future structure of the competition and whether smaller clubs will continue to be marginalized in the evolving rugby landscape.
As the Premiership Rugby Cup kicks off with a revamped structure, the absence of Chinnor and Cambridge will be a stark reminder of the challenges facing clubs outside the traditional elite. Meanwhile, both clubs will now have to refocus on their Championship campaigns while managing the impact of a disjointed season on their development and aspirations.
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