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The Premiership Rugby vow after 'all over it' RFU security promise
By PA
Premiership Rugby have been assured that security at Twickenham is “all over” any potential repeat of last year’s protests when Northampton and Bath meet in this Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final.
Two Just Stop Oil activists caused a significant delay to the 2023 showpiece when they gained access to the pitch and threw orange powder paint before being intercepted by stewards and Sale flanker Tom Curry.
Undercover rapid response agents will be positioned in the stands as a preventative measure for Saturday’s showdown, which will be watched by an 82,000-full house.
Premiership Rugby’s chief growth officer Rob Calder has explained that the Rugby Football Union have made the security arrangements needed to prevent any disturbances.
“Last year was regrettable. We don’t want to encourage that and we were in close conversation with the RFU well in advance of this week,” Calder said.
“I just came off an operational call. The RFU are clearly responsible for anything that happens of that nature so they are all over it. Fingers crossed there won’t be anything like that again. RFU security are dealing with that. They are very aware of the threat of something like that.”
Twickenham will host the Premiership final for the next four years and there appears to be no appetite to change venue, which has hosted the fixture ever since its inception in 2003.
Calder had been open to staging the event at another ground but after a successful season that has seen an increase in ticketing, broadcast figures and match attendance by children the status quo seems preferable.
“I have been quite keen on moving it historically but as a Scot, this is probably easier for me to say,” he said. “Over the last six months the support and commitment we have seen from the RFU to help us build towards consistent sell-outs, and the plans we put in place, I am really encouraged by. The RFU want it at Twickenham and the game wants it at Twickenham.
“Sell-outs are contagious, we must not rest on our laurels this week and think that this is job done, we have got to think about next year, catching that interest and pushing it on to 2025.”
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Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
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