Bristol Bears owner Steve Lansdown has urged English rugby to reject any thoughts of making partnerships with the Welsh regions and the rest of the Guinness Pro14 – and concentrate instead on markets such as China and the USA.
Lansdown – the man behind Bristol’s re-branding as the Bears – also wants the English Gallagher Premiership ring-fenced for three years.
The expansion ambitions will come as a blow to those seeking a way back for the Welsh teams to revive old rivalries with those across the border in some kind of structural realignment.
With the Anglo-Welsh tournament having disappeared, European competition – which comes to an end for the Welsh regions with the final pool matches this weekend – is the only opportunity for cross-border fixtures.
Lansdown, one of those who pushed for the £200m investment from private equity company CVC, sees no point in pushing into “smaller countries” and instead wants to think big.
“The United States is a mass consumer market. That’s where we’ve got to go to, not the small countries,” said Lansdown.
“That’s where you get your marketing and economic benefit. There are a lot of people in China, a lot of people who are mad-keen on sport and want to be involved. It’s a mass consumer market.
Asked if there could be Premiership matches played in China in the future, he responded: “I’m sure you might.
“Those are the two main areas, east and west, China and the US. If we can develop those markets the game will be well on its way.
“Look what the NFL are doing, and the NBA are now here [in London]. With America bringing their sport to Europe, we’ve got to take our sport to the US, China and the rest of the world.
“We can’t just sit back thinking our traditions are great and everything else. We’ll get swamped.”
Bristol Bears were promoted from the Championship last summer and are 10th – seven points above bottom side Newcastle Falcons – after 12 matches so far this season.
At present, one side is relegated from the 12-team top flight each season and replaced by the Championship winners.
Lansdown, 66, wants the existing 12 teams and London Irish – who were relegated last term – protected.
“After that three-year window, a club that wins the Championship and has good infrastructure should play-off with the bottom team,” he added.
“I’d never say take away the opportunity [for promotion forever] but it’s got to be controlled a bit more.
“If you look at a number of clubs who could come up from the Championship – I don’t want to be disrespectful to any of them but – they don’t have the wherewithal to add value to the Premiership.
“So you have got to give them the opportunity to build that infrastructure. Then you’re not having a club coming up that plays on a park, adding no value to the Premiership.”
