British & Irish League ‘coming in 2022’ says club owner

A British and Irish League could be launched in two seasons’ time.

Ospreys owner Rob Davies has confirmed that revolutionary proposals to convert the Gallagher Premiership and the PRO14 into an elite cross-border competition are scheduled to be completed by 2022.

The concept of a two-tiered tournament featuring 14 English clubs and ten from Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be driven by the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. They have bought stakes in the English Premiership and PRO14 worth around £350m.

Davies, who rescued the Swansea-based region from disappearing into a merger with the Scarlets, said negotiations for the revolutionary new structure were on schedule to be completed before the end of next year’s autumn internationals.

“All the (current) television deals are due to expire in two years’ time,” Davies said.

“That’s the opportunity,” he said. “We all believe that will be in 2022.”

PETER JACKSON