Sol_ie wrote: I think the discussions were with London Welsh and London Scottish. More the merrier is what I say, London trips would be handy and might bring a bit of extra cash etc., but would have worries about extending out the season. People probably said the same thing about expanding the league to the Italian teams.

I think the RFU would have to sign off which might be unlikely. Interesting tho!

Interesting indeed. Certainly the league getting a foothold in the London market would have its benefits. Also gets me thinking of other reasons they might be looking to take on new clubs. Are the Italians looking to back out? Maybe Scotland is getting more serious about reforming a Borders team and would need another club to join to keep the numbers even?

salmson wrote: [Would also prepare the ground for an NFL-style conference based British & Irish league from 2018 if the Keystone Cops in the EPRC run the European competitions into the ground.

Shivers just reading that. Not the good kind.

Sol_ie wrote: I think the RFU would have to sign off which might be unlikely. Interesting tho!

You never know.

Scottish and Welsh are the two main opponents of a 14-team no-promotion/no-relegation Aviva Premiership. If they joined another league then the makeup of a 14 team premiership (the other 11 current premiership teams plus Bristol, Worcester, and a (combined?) Yorkshire side) is a done deal. Would also prepare the ground for an NFL-style conference based British & Irish league from 2018 if the Keystone Cops in the EPRC run the European competitions into the ground.

I think the discussions were with London Welsh and London Scottish. More the merrier is what I say, London trips would be handy and might bring a bit of extra cash etc., but would have worries about extending out the season. People probably said the same thing about expanding the league to the Italian teams.

I think the RFU would have to sign off which might be unlikely. Interesting tho!

Pro 12 have denied it but there have been reports of London Irish/Scottish being approached about joining the league.

www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/pro-12-deny-theyv...joining-league/23781

Any chance/merit in this happening?