Sad report on their website and on Rolling Maul of passing of benefactor. Input on Rolling Maul (unconfirmed by Club) also tells us that a number of players have departed as the Club adjusts.
There are plenty of announcements of ex-OEs players signing up for other clubs right now, but little news from OEs themselves. Will they be able to start the season?
Post by kingsheathlad on Sept 19, 2020 12:00:19 GMT
An OE supporter on Rolling Maul has said the club will be playing at Old University Ground in Chislehurst coming season. About 5 miles from the old ground.
Last Edit: Sept 19, 2020 12:05:27 GMT by kingsheathlad
It is with great regret that Old Elthamians 1st XV has had to withdraw from National 1 rugby for the forthcoming 2021/22 campaign.
Having worked closely with the RFU Financial Viability Group during the last month, the decision was reached on Wednesday, 4th August to pull out of the 21/22 campaign.
The club has worked tirelessly during the last 18 months to overcome the financial fallout resulting from the pandemic and the non-payment of sponsorship monies owed to the club.
Although this is a very sad day for OERFC, the decision will not affect any sides below the 1st XV and the junior section, which will continue to grow and flourish.
However, it was deemed necessary by both parties to take this decision now before the season was underway.
Further announcements will be made in due course as the club continues to work with the RFU and Kent RFU.
So all fixtures against OE's will become byes for that week, and we continue with 15 clubs. OE's should be automatically relegated, or possibly sent down to the bottom of the league pyramid. Either will, of course have repercussions for promotion and relegation, but it should mean one fewer team going down. But then again, we still don't know what the shape of the Championship will be after this season. They have 11 teams at the moment, but may be considering going up to 14 like the Premiership.
So all fixtures against OE's will become byes for that week, and we continue with 15 clubs. OE's should be automatically relegated, or possibly sent down to the bottom of the league pyramid. Either will, of course have repercussions for promotion and relegation, but it should mean one fewer team going down. But then again, we still don't know what the shape of the Championship will be after this season. They have 11 teams at the moment, but may be considering going up to 14 like the Premiership.
Sadly I fear they're going to be the first of a few (not pointing any fingers, and not just in National 1) so I hope all the clubs have budgeted on an 'expect the unexpected' basis because like a bad transatlantic flight I think there's going to be buffeting from turbulence ahead.
After having been resistant to the changes to league structure for various reasons, I actually think it's coming at quite a good time - this season should shake things out such that clubs making it through to the start of 22-23 in one piece, particularly if there's fewer of them, might at least have a bit more certainty. But the next few weeks, and certainly into this season coming, might not be normal...
I think for some clubs it's going to get worse though, and for some of those it might not be getting better afterwards. Best just to do everything we can for ourselves, then help any round us we can when we're happy we're ok. To keep the flight analogy 'put your own mask on first'
London Scottish did not play in Championship last season and do not appear to have been given sanction/penalty
wasn't that slightly different though in that Championship teams were (at least tacitly) given that option?
The objective was to get Saracens back up by playing a closed shop league - one up, none down at top or bottom - against anyone who wanted to compete. FWIW I'd have voted for Mose to join LS had we been there last season.
Not sure that those conditions apply this year, or to the wider league, otherwise there'll be teams sitting it out all over the place. AIUI there's full promotion and relegation this season (aside from down from level 1) so not having to take part for a year and coming back in to the level that you were at before seems a bit of a joke.
I think they're done - or at least for the integrity of the league and the sanity of Rotherham fans* - would hope they are now that they've put out that statement.
*being relegated on hypothecated scores last season when OE can't start the next one - it was bad enough when LW went pop the season after we went down, but this is actually worse.
All Championship clubs were given the option to decide to participate or not in the condensed 202/21 season. LS decided to opt out.
All Championship clubs were offered loans, which will have to be repaid, to help them compete last season and keep players on. Scottish, who had just reverted to semi-pro, weren't prepared to take the financial risk.
There are some games at the common during this time:
4/12/21 Oak v Walsall 5/12/21 Women's 2nd XV v Wolverhampton Ladies 11/12/21 Oak v Newcastle-under-Lyme (which may get promoted to the main pitch now) 19/12/21 Women's 1st XV v Sutton Coldfield Ladies 8/1/22 Oak v Stafford 9/1/22 Women's 1st XV v Lichfield Ladies
There are also probably Vikings and IWS (Women's 3rds?) fixtures I can't currently find.
Since there's now no fixture clash I would expect a decent crowd for the Oak - Newcastle game. It's not just about the 1st XV!
For the second Saturday in a row Leeds have scratched their friendly because they can’t get a team out.
Hopefully not another sign that next season is going to be a challenge for everyone.
I did wonder whether Leeds would be able to put a side out at this time given that the last season they played they were heavily reliant on Leeds Beckett students, none of whom will be back yet.
Even if they can get a side out in the early weeks I would expect them to get spanked since they'll have to use the first few weeks as their pre-season.
