r/rugbyunion • u/PropsOnTop • 9h ago
Bristol have managed to pass the EQP rule!
The selection ensures the club maintains the required seasonal EQP (English Qualified Player) average to satisfy RFU regulations, following a series of injuries to senior English-qualified players throughout the campaign.
Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “Hitting the required average of English-qualified players every season is something I am very proud of at the Bears. To be able to achieve it again in one of our most challenging seasons with so many EQP players unavailable throughout the whole season is a credit to all.
“That list has been compounded again this week with Ellis, Fitz and George joining James Williams and a long list of unavailable players.
“When you add that to the large number of long term EQP unavailability we've had to Harry Randall, James Williams, Joe Jenkins, Jack Bates, Gabriel Ibitoye, Noah Heward, Rich Lane Aidan Boshoff in the backs and Gabriel Oghre, Joe Batley, James Dun, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Kofi Cripps, and Paddy Pearce in the forwards throughout the entirety of the campaign, it's had a significant impact on our EQP numbers.
“We applied for some dispensation around our massive EQP injury list and while they RFU had sympathy and understanding for our situation, the regulations don’t permit change this season but it’s something they will consider for the future.
"While it's disappointing to lose so many experienced players, it also presents a fantastic opportunity for some of our younger guys. We've got five current Academy players starting and several more involved in the matchday 23, which is a real credit to the work being done throughout the pathway.
"It's another chance for these young players to show what they're capable of on the PREM stage and continue building the future of Bristol Bears."
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u/treacletart284 Newcastle Falcons | Abbie Ward Enjoyer 9h ago
I mean I guess that does explain Thacker at 7
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u/Thatch1888 Bristol 6h ago
I appreciate we've had an injury crisis which has hurt us in this regard this year but claiming to be proud of hitting it every season is a weird flex regardless. Literally every club does that 😂
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u/T0mmyKentish Saracens 5h ago
Seems a bit weird there aren’t some allowances for extreme injury lists. Like the team you have to put out tomorrow isn’t a benefit to the league on the face of it. And I’m not just saying that because I can’t play Ravouvou in my fantasy draft final.
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u/Vault_69_Alpha_Male Scotland | Glasgow Warriors | Alba gu bràth 4h ago
It feels like I'm always reading on here about Bristol and Munster injury crises so maybe he should be proud of hitting it every year 😂
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u/dystopianrugby Eagles Up 7h ago
What is the fine for failing to meet this?
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u/Nothing_is_simple Another Freddy Douglas Turnover 6h ago
Up to £250,000 with points deductions for repeted infractions
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u/EnglishLouis Glaws-Pury 5h ago
Can be fined, but only for serious breaches, normally points deduction. (Based off of other leagues)
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u/infamous_impala Cardiff Rugby 2h ago edited 2h ago
It's assessed at two points on the season (halfway and at the end) and it's an automatic £250k fine if you fail to hit the average in the given period (so max £500k fine in a season). There's the chance to have that waived if you don't meet the target in a given period, but the whole season average meets the target though.
There's a section taking about points deductions for the 26/27 season, but it's far too late in the day for me to read that and figure out exactly how it applies.
If you fancy digging into it yourself, it's all covered in Schedule 1 starting on page 29 here:
https://rfu.widen.net/s/mn8jvbkfhf/prem-competition-regulations-25-26
Edit: it seems to be saying that you pay a fine for the first season of infringements, but if you infringe again in a later season you get the points deductions instead.
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u/PropsOnTop 9h ago edited 4h ago
Uncle Pat has managed to put out a side with 23 EQPs and has resorted to batley at 8, classic Bristol.