Rare Parity: Now served at most good Premiership Grounds

Rugby in Britain has always been something of a closed shop. In the golden days of amateurism, one could be fairly certain that the players on your favourite team had been to one of a select group of rugby playing public schools, probably because you were there with them. Certainly, no poor person would be able to make it into the first XV due to the amateur status of the sport.

Professionalism generally eliminates discrimination, as one cannot be choosy when buying a team. The best players must be played, or someone else will play them against you.

From the 1996 watershed, though, the closed shop mentality has continued in another form. The grand old clubs of England, the Baths and Wasps and the Leicesters of the country, did not take too kindly to challenges to their dominance. Hence, the rather short list of Premiership winners.

Credit then, to Newcastle Falcons, the only truly ‘provincial’ club to have triumphed. And credit now to the new boys of the league, Exeter Chiefs.

I am not saying that Exeter, Leeds et al will challenge for the playoffs, but you have to admit that the league this year has a certain feel to it. It seems to be a more competitive proposition than in its previous guises.

Exeter have already claimed the scalps of Gloucester and Newcastle. They gave the champion Tigers a run for their money at Welford Road. Not many outside of the South West would have bet as much.

Leeds staying up last year was, in the greater scheme of things, an immense triumph. It was a tough slog, and in the end they didn't actually need to win that many games to do it. It of course helped that Worcester were losing (a lot). But it shows that a bad season for one of the established teams can now put them into a lot more trouble than they usually bargain for.

Bonus pun of the article: "White Sandys Ahead for Chiefs!". Does anyone know the editor of the Sun’s sport section? Because I really need a job.

GM