Prem Rugby needs a draft, but not one for the very best players

Prem Rugby, the top-flight domestic league, is set to resume this weekend with the Prem Rugby Cup, a competition that has lost its luster in recent years. However, the return of rugby in England feels underappreciated, especially when compared to the ongoing international matches in the southern hemisphere. To generate excitement and anticipation, the Prem Rugby towers should consider introducing a draft system, especially during the summer lull.

But the draft should not be limited to the very best players, as seen in The Hundred, nor should it follow the American model of signing young talent at a youth level. Instead, a draft for university graduates could be a viable solution. This would provide an opportunity for students to continue their education, contribute to existing university rugby programs, and have a chance at a full career in rugby union.

The current pathway rules create a catchment area for talent within clubs, but this ends if players go to university and are not signed up with a club linked to the Prem. A draft for graduates would allow clubs to invest in their education and give players a shot at a career in top-flight rugby. The club at the bottom of the table would have the first pick, with subsequent picks moving up the table.

This draft system would tap into a part of the rugby landscape that is often overlooked and ensure that talented university students do not lose out due to ignorance or a lack of effort. Former England Sevens captain Ollie Phillips, the founder of Optimist Performance, supports this idea.