‘Big Match Bonanza’ provides glimpse of Prem Rugby’s future – but three key challenges remain

They are calling it the “Big Match Bonanza” – or, if one since-deleted graphic publicised across the Gallagher Prem’s social media channels is to be believed, a “bonanaza”. The big selling or poor spelling might be enough to turn away a few but one should not underestimate the significance of this weekend for the top-flight of English rugby as the Prem takes over three large stadia in the name of growing its footprint at a time of radical change. Fixtures at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Birmingham’s Villa Park and London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have long been in the diary but the timing is made all the more apposite given recent developments.

This week, Prem Rugby executives delivered the detail to sit underneath the headline news of the removal of promotion and relegation and adoption of an expansion, franchise-style model – effectively separating the top flight from the rest of the English rugby pyramid. Bristol's Big Day Out will again be held at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (Getty Images) Simon Massie-Taylor , the Prem’s chief executive, described this weekend as a “statement of intent for the league” as it moves towards what it hopes is a brighter future. Much of the early part of the CEO’s tenure was a sort of gloom-ridden firefighting as he dealt with the loss of three clubs; now, with two sides set to be added by 2030 to follow fresh investment in Newcastle and Bath, he was speaking in declarative, decorative tones.

“Big games are really important, as they make games bigger, and appeal to a wider fanbase,” Massie-Taylor explained with hopes that they can push past 100,000 attendees across the three fixtures. “Our ambition is to have 10 big games by 2030, and that includes the final and the potential for neutral playoffs. Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor is hopeful for the future of the league (Getty Images) “We see that adding to the narrative, and the general scale of the league.

Big games are hard to do, so we as a league need to provide more support on that and to help market it to a wider audience. ” The Prem’s growth plans are built around four key pillars: full stadia; star players; premium assets; strategic expansion. Average television audiences are already up 21 per cent year on year, while the introduction of a “salary floor” – in effect a minimum spend – reflects greater confidence in club finances, blown on by James Dyson’s arrival at Bath and the energy at the Newcastle Red Bulls.