大象传媒

大象传媒 Radio Berkshire's Tim Dellor is joined by 大象传媒 Rugby reporter Chris Jones to explain what the changes are.

"It will be first past the post. So London Irish, who have fifteen wins from fifteen, fifteen points clear, they can already start planning for life back in the Premiership... if this was this time next year!

Jones thinks that it will be a move welcomed by many, particularly as "you can romp easily to winning the Championship in terms of the regular season and then slip up in the play-offs."

For London Irish fans, it won't be any consolation as they will have to face the play-offs this season to win promotion.

"Once they [the RFU] have made this call they couldn't just, with all the planning that has already gone in place for the end of the season... click their fingers and say 'right, no more playoffs'."