Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors have been offered a place in the Allianz Premier 15s for next years season, despite being left out in the December offers.
In December eight clubs were offered places for the 23/24 Premier 15s season but Sale and Worcester were both controversially left out despite being key additions to the competition this season. Both teams sit mid table with Worcester at 5th and Sale at 7th.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
— Allianz Premier 15s (@Premier15s) February 1, 2023
The RFU has confirmed that @SaleSharksWomen and @WorcsWarriorsW have been issued with a conditional offer to join the Allianz #Premier15s league for the 2023/24 season.
Sale have now been included because the RFU would like to maintain the presence of Women’s rugby in Northern England. They have also introduce a ‘strategy for further investment’ to aid the growth in that area.
Warriors place in the premiership was reconsidered after they formally split from the men’s team and received funding to grow the women’s team.
University of Gloucestershire Women’s Rugby Coach Gavin Deane discusses the importance of growing the women’s game:
“One thing that the female game struggles with is recruiting numbers, we as a team have been unable to perform at our true potential because of a lack of subs, the girls cant get fresh legs on the pitch and would often feel they had to play through injuries.”
“I think the RFU trying to grow in the north is great but there is still so much that needs to be done to promote the Women’s game.”
Embed from Getty ImagesLeicester and Ealing are two new teams joining the Premiership for the first time next season. They will play alongside the clubs that are remaining in the competition – Loughborough, Bristol, Exeter, Gloucester-Hartpury, Harlequins and Saracens.
DMP Sharks will not be involved in the campaign next year as they cannot keep up with the increased investment requirements.
