Bristol's Jordan Crane argues PREM Rugby Cup beats loan spells for young player development

Bristol Bears defence coach Jordan Crane has called for a cup competition to remain a permanent fixture in the Gallagher Premiership calendar, insisting it gives young players a better route to senior rugby than loan spells away from their contracted clubs.

Crane, 40, made his case after Bristol won one of their three PREM Rugby Cup matches this season. Despite that modest return, the former England international believes the competition serves a purpose that loan arrangements simply cannot replicate.

“I definitely think we have to create a pathway for our younger players to come through and to be able to create that pressure for them,” Crane said. “I don’t feel like going out on loan all the time is the answer because you want them to play for the club that you sign for, don’t you? You want to play for the Bears or whoever you’re playing for.”

Crane drew on his own playing career to illustrate the point. He was part of the Leeds Tykes squad that won the Powergen Cup in 2005, when Leeds beat Bath 20-12 in the final, and later gained significant game time in the Anglo-Welsh Cup during his decade at Leicester Tigers, who lost the 2008 final 23-6.

“The memories of Leicester were that I got great opportunities and played a lot in that competition, especially in my first year, and then just seeing a lot of players develop coming through there, performing well,” he said. “But the thing for me was the finals were always at Twickenham, and they were always big, big occasions.”

Crane, who joined Bristol’s coaching staff when he retired from playing six years ago, acknowledged the competition could take different forms — whether a shortened cup format or a dedicated under-23 league — but stressed that some structured competition at club level is essential.

“When I came through, there was obviously A-League. You’d play 12 fixtures, and there was opportunity in the Prem Cup or Anglo-Welsh when it was then. So there were lots of these opportunities to be able to play for the club that you have signed for, and that creates a smoother transition to the first team.”

His comments come at a time when the long-term future of secondary cup competitions in English rugby continues to be debated, with player development pathways increasingly scrutinised across the professional game.