Why? The reasons given are that of player burnout, it is a few games too many for some players at the end of a long season. Cynics, myself included, feel that it is because the concept has not caught the public imagination as evidenced by Tigers only taking 4,000 to last years inaugural final despite free buses to Twickenham. If it can't be a financial success then it can't continue.

Other fans feel it is a good concept because it prolongs the season and they like watching games of rugby. Fans from clubs who have spent most of the season knowing they won't win the league, European Cup , Domestic Cup nor get relegated are feared to be liable to lose interest in the season.

How this sits with the huge rise in season ticket sales across the premiership this close season is hard to determine. These fans and the wider public will have their interest sustained magically by inventing a competition which undermines the league it is claimed.

Whatever the feelings of individuals it is clear that the paying public will make fantastic efforts to get to Leicester v Llanelli in the Heineken cup, 29,000 and thousands denied tickets, but they won't pay to Watch Leicester v Bath in the also rans final at Twickenham ( 24,000 with free transport on offer and 50,000 unsold seats.) To be fair most of this 24,000 were from Bath for whom interest had been prolonged.

So what of the new proposal that 2nd plays third for the right to meet first in the final. The winner to be declared the Champion Club of England. This does away with the problem of extra games for most clubs but how does it sustain interest for the majority of clubs?

The league involves 12 clubs playing 132 games against each other home and away in all weathers over a long period of time. If the league is won by 15 points what right does anyone else have to claim to be the champion club on the basis of one extra result on a neutral ground? Are we saying the league is a waste of time? If so give me my season ticket money back now please.

Some would say that I am stuck in my ways. The league, they say, has always been evolving. First just a few games , not home and away, then home and away for 10 clubs, then 14 then 12. This is just another attempt to spice it up and end with a climax. There you go cry others. The RFU are just pimps trying to screw money out of the ordinary rugby fan.

The real climax to the season has to be the Heineken cup. The final should be the last domestic game of the season. When I came out of Cardiff I thought to myself how trivial the playofffs seemed in comparison.

If the RFU want to make money and attract people to watch rugby who might not otherwise do so then lets have an end of season sevens series. Just as cricket has the 4 day championship and one day cricket so rugby could have a month of sevens. Each Friday night and Saturday afternoon the top clubs with some invitational teams could play in the North, in the Midlands, in London and in the Southwest.

A different club from each area hosting their event in different years. Players going on tour would be exempt and youngsters given experience. You would decide a winner over the 4 tournaments. It could be fast, furious and fun. A chance to see members of all the clubs development squads and a nice day out.

Television interest could be eked out with one half of each tournament on Friday evening and the exciting closing climax erupting on Saturday. People new to rugby would have an exciting fast simple spectacle to watch and may then move on to the real thing.

If you are interested voting on this site's poll on the issue is running heavily in favour of keeping the league winners as the champion club of England. That will, I suspect remain the sticking point for the majority of rugby fans. They will accept some Mickey Mouse competition after the league but not the devaluing of winning the league. If you haven't voted then do so.

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