Chiefs to make play-off plea

EXETER Chiefs are campaigning to stop the new Championship final being played at Twickenham — by turning it into a two-legged affair instead.

Sandy Park chief executive Tony Rowe feels that would generate some much-needed cash for the clubs who get to the first staging of the final next May.

With no prize money at stake in the first year of the Championship, a one-off game could leave the losing finalist out of pocket.

But Rowe believes that if the two clubs who reach the final play each other home and away, it will earn them both more money than a trip to Twickenham would.

As it stands, the inaugural title will be decided by the top eight sides playing off in two pools of four. That will lead to semi-finals, with the team that tops each pool playing at home, before a final at Twickenham on May 8.

However, Exeter are trying to drum up support for their idea of changing the format.

"At the moment the rules state the final will be on a date and at a venue to be decided," Rowe said.

"The RFU have put forward May 8 as the date and the conversation going around is that it will be at Twickenham.

"Even the best two supported clubs in the Championship wouldn't take more than 15 to 20,000 people to Twickenham and the only chance to earn money is through a percentage of the tickets you sell to your own fans.

"The one problem with the Championship, whether you are Exeter or Birmingham & Solihull, is a lack of funding.

"The idea is for the Championship to be as big as it is in football and one day you might be able to get 40,000 people supporting the Championship final at Twickenham.

"At the moment the league is in its infancy. What better way to finish the season than by playing at home in the final?

"The smallest ground in the league (Moseley's Billesley Common) has a capacity of 3,000 and if they got to the final could charge a decent amount.

"If we got to the final we'd charge our normal prices and a sell-out would generate about £200,000 in ticket revenue.

"Some people have said 'why not move it to another prestigious stadium?'. But why would another club give away their takings to two other clubs?"

As it stands, only two clubs in the Championship — Exeter and Bristol — meet Premiership entry criteria.

While several other teams would hope to be able to put things in place over the summer if they won the section, Rowe feels a two-legged final would ensure the team that wins it would cash in, even if they can't go up.

"The likelihood is that the final will be between two of Doncaster, Exeter, Bristol, Bedford and London Welsh," said Rowe.

"Only two teams qualify for promotion to the Premiership, so there could be some disappointed clubs.

"If you lose the final all you would have to show for it is a hotel bill and if you can't be promoted you're in the same situation.

"We've floated this idea and are looking forward to having a debate about it."