Vickery backs Guinness Premiership revamp

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Phil Vickery has backed the idea of an expanded 14-team Guinness Premiership - but he does not want to see the end of promotion and relegation.

The Wasps and England veteran believes an extended league campaign would solve the problem of too many meaningless matches cluttering up the season.

Vickery's comments were an implied criticism of the LV= Cup, the Anglo-Welsh competition, which was controversially revamped this season.

Premier Rugby confirmed over the weekend that talks are under way about the possibility of expanding the Premiership from 12 to 14 teams.

Vickery hails from Cornwall and he would relish the chance for a team like Exeter to establish a Premiership presence in the south-west.

"I would like to see a few more teams come up. Growing up in the south-west, an hour away from Exeter, if Jonny Wilkinson or Danny Cipriani was coming to play at Exeter you would be there like a shot," said Vickery.

"It is crying out for that kind of thing. I think it would be great. There is always trade-off. Do you cap it? Do you stop the opportunity of a club living the dream and getting into the Premiership?

"I am in favour of getting Exeter up and Worcester back and getting more teams in the Premiership but I don't want to get rid of relegation."

The Rugby Football Union have stamped on rumours of an end to promotion and relegation, issuing a firm reminder that it remains part of their agreement with the Premiership until 2016.

Premier Rugby, encouraged by growing crowd figures, want to expand the number of teams in the top flight in the hope of agreeing an improved television deal when the contract is next up for negotiation in 2013.

One argument against expansion with the season in its current format is the additional burden on players and clubs' resources caused by extra matches in an already packed schedule.

Reports have stated that Premier Rugby would consider dropping the LV= Cup.

Vickery indicated he would prefer more league fixtures at the expense of the Anglo-Welsh competition, which this season went into a confusing conference format and can lead to dead matches.

"Without wanting to cause too much controversy, there are quite a lot of games throughout the season which don't actually mean anything," said Vickery.

"I am sure there is a way of incorporating some meaningful rugby into the season."

Vickery hopes to start his first game since recovering from a neck operation when Wasps tackle Cardiff Blues in Saturday's Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final at Adams Park.

There were times when Vickery was uncertain whether he would make it back after the fourth neck operation of his career.

But he appeared off the bench against Worcester and Bath in recent weeks and vowed his desire to play for England burns as brightly as ever.

The summer tour to Australia and New Zealand may come too soon. But that would allow Vickery to complete a full pre-season with a view to playing in a fourth World Cup.

"I am 70 minutes back from having pretty major surgery and ending the season on a high with Wasps is all I have thought about - but I am never not available for England," said Vickery.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the hunger to do that.

"If I get to go away with England then fantastic. If not then it isn't the end of the world. I am still enjoying it here and if someone wants to make use of me then great."

Asked about the World Cup, he said: "I have to get through the end of this season first and then another pre-season, which will be an achievement in itself!

"But where there is a will, there's a way and I don't think that ever changes."