Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

RFU statement: Doncaster eligible for Gallagher Premiership promotion

(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Doncaster have been cleared for Gallagher Premiership promotion provided they finish the current season as Championship champions and then win a two-legged play-off against the top-flight’s bottom club, most likely versus Newcastle.

ADVERTISEMENT

The winless Falcons are adrift in 10th place with just four points, leaving them 18 points behind Gloucester with six rounds of matches remaining.

However, there is still a long way to go before any play-off versus Doncaster is set in stone as the Knights have much work to do on the field to become second-tier champions.

Video Spacer

Refereeing legend Nigel Owens explains why the 20-minute red card needs a rethink

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Refereeing legend Nigel Owens explains why the 20-minute red card needs a rethink

      Refereeing legend Nigel Owens explains to Jan de Koning why the 20-minute red card needs a rethink

      They are currently fourth in their 11-team division, trailing the leaders Ealing by 14 points. The Knights have six games remaining compared to the seven that Trailfinders have.

      No other Championship club applied to be assessed under the minimum standards criteria, so only Doncaster are eligible to go up.

      Related

      An RFU statement read: “Doncaster Knights has met the minimum standards criteria (MSC) and is therefore eligible for promotion to the Gallagher Premiership.

      “Promotion is subject to coming top of the Championship league at the end of the season and then winning a two-legged home and away play-off against the club finishing bottom of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby table.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “Doncaster Knights was the only Championship club to apply to for a MSC audit and is therefore the only club eligible for promotion.”

      Doncaster issued a response to the news with a statement on their website from Emma White, their managing director.

      “Of course we are delighted to pass the RFU audit for the second year running, we are very proud of our facilities and the staff here constantly strive towards the best performance, no matter their role.”

      Related

      ADVERTISEMENT
      LIVE

      Whanganui vs The Classics

      Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

      Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

      The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

      KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

      New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

      USA vs England | Men's International | Full Match Replay

      France v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

      Lions Share | Episode 4

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      J
      JW 26 minutes ago
      Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

      Well there’s a couple of distinctions here that are important aren’t there?


      First though like I replied to Tk where does it say theres need to test vets, or proven reliable players? It is simply ‘test quality’.


      Now, I have created a list that I think is test quality, so all weve got to do is upskill the missing pieces right? No. Razor might not mean to have given every player half a dozen matchs but he will want to have identified and assured himself that each individual is indeed test quality. So yes, plays like Darry and Lord may still be included in a few squads and used so he’s happy to include them as say 5th and 6th ranked locks, but that doesn’t mean he needs to go to the same level to ensure for himself the 7th and 8th ranked locks.


      He might be happy basing performances off SR Finals, or organizing an AB XV match against a team like France or SA with similar locking depth (even organizing say Warner Dearns to be part of the Japan XV etc), and I’m sure they’re going to have a very large squad over in South Africa for two months.


      I don’t think he is quite in the same predicament as SA to have to rest top stars. And this is obviously just goal setting, they’re supposed to be hard. As you can see by the context around this series, arbitrary targets like everyone getting some minutes are made. That could also simply be how he ensures he has met the 4. So hookers would be ticked, as he’s already used 5 at test level. If you looked at the Baabaas SA game you’d see Beehre performing like an accomplished test player, that already makes 7 locks with more than 2 full seasons to go. You take the point BA was making about Marshalls previous remarks about Razor want players to be able to play 3/4/5 different positions, that would mean if Razor was really happy with Finau at lock last week he already has 8 test quality locks as well, etc, etc.


      TLDR sorry for the big reply, it’s just a goal, the teams not going to suddenly fail if he doesn’t reach it, I think theres many means and many players for him to be comfortable in getting 4 in each position. He’s obviously not going to be able to get 4 proven, hardened test players in each by then, no.

      135 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan