The Scottish club rugby season has been declared null and void as a result of the coronavirus shutdown, meaning that there will be no promotion to relegation between leagues ahead of the 2020-21 season, whenever that is able to get under way.
This news will come as a major blow to Biggar, the runaway leaders of National League One, who had already secured enough league points for promotion into the top flight Premiership, and as a huge relief to Dundee High at the other end of the same table given that they had already been condemned to relegation.
Edinburgh Accies, who were hanging on precariously at the bottom of the Premiership, and who almost certainly needed two wins from their last two games in hand against the top sides in the league (Marr and Currie Chieftains), will also feel they have dodged a bullet.
The decision to declare the season null and void was reached following a consultation process involving the participating clubs, the Championship and Competition Committee members and Scottish Rugby’s own Rugby Development Department.
Five possible scenarios were presented, with around half of clubs favouring the null and void option. The remaining clubs were split between the other four options. The second most favoured option – finishing the season based on the league positions at the time of shutdown – received the support of around a quarter of clubs.
“It was clear from the outset that, in terms of the consequential impact on the various leagues in terms of promotion/relegation there would be no 'right' solution, particularly once it was clear that our preferred option of completing the season would no longer be possible,” said Scottish Rugby President Dee Bradbury.
“Every solution we looked at was likely to be problematic in some way – none was likely to be supported by everyone. It was therefore considered essential that the full range of options were explored, each potential option was sense checked and that, as far as possible, a broad consensus was reached across the game as to the most appropriate outcome.
“We fully accept some clubs will be disappointed with this decision and share their frustration that, for wider societal reasons beyond our control, their hard work to push for success this season hasn’t yielded the rewards they deserve.”
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