While the Champions League and Premier League are having fun with thrilling crescendos, our relegation-free rugby season is dribbling to a uninteresting and dour finale. Here’s how the dearth of jeopardy hurts the game, writes ALEX BYWATER

There was an air of desperation to my wife’s voice as I once again turned on TNT Sports on Wednesday evening, ending her hopes of continuing with the Netflix drama we’re watching for another night. ‘There is a LOT of football on at the moment,’ she observed wryly, and entirely accurately. 

‘I know,’ I responded. ‘But there are SO many good matches. There’s SO much to play for in all competitions.’

I stopped myself as I said those words because they made me realise two things. First, for a change, I was correct. There really is a lot of good football on right now. And secondly, it made me recognise the contrast with the sport I report on professionally – rugby.

As a fan of all sports, who has always loved football and still plays five-a-side every week, it is not unusual for me to watch plenty of it. But in the past two weeks, I have been hooked, marvelling at the quality in the two Champions League semi-finals and relishing the jeopardy at both ends of the Premier League. From Saturday through to Wednesday, I watched a live game every day. 

Admittedly, comparing rugby and football is, in many ways, a case of apples and oranges. The differences in terms of finances and television audiences are vast. But it is reasonable to analyse both within a sporting context. And unfortunately, as the seasons reach their respective crescendos, rugby isn’t offering all that much to attract casual viewers.

Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League gave us two thrilling matches

And Arsenal’s win over Atletico Madrid in the other semi-final was also full of tension

Football has most fans hooked. The first leg of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory over Bayern Munich was enthralling. The return match was also a fine game. Arsenal’s bid for the Double and their title race with Manchester City is captivating. 

And perhaps most importantly, at the wrong end of things, there is Tottenham’s fight to avoid relegation. On Sunday, I tuned in to watch their match at Aston Villa. I have no connection to either team but Spurs’ fight for survival is intriguing. 

The contrast with English club rugby’s top competition couldn’t be starker. With no promotion or relegation and PREM Rugby soon to become a franchise league, there is nothing for teams at the bottom to play for.

On Sunday, bottom club Newcastle will host Harlequins, who are one place above them in ninth. If relegation existed, that game would be huge. Without it, it’s meaningless.

It’s probably one I won’t watch and as someone who works in the sport, that has to be a concern, even if I accept the argument that franchising has already led to fresh and much-needed financial investment in teams like Newcastle, Exeter and Cornish Pirates.

Rugby is far from dead and buried. The 2026 Six Nations was the best in its history and on the whole, the product at international level is of high quality.   

It’s the club game I worry about. Bath’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Bordeaux was an entertaining game, but rugby’s top European competition isn’t what it was and there will be no English team in either final this season. In the PREM, it has been a joy to watch the liquid rugby of Northampton.

Hayden Hyde scores for Harlequins, who will travel to Newcastle on Sunday with both teams at the bottom of the table. But, without relegation, the match will have no jeopardy

In a week of thrilling football, all rugby has had to offer is a row over TV replays, the RFU’s Six Nations review and a social media spat involving pundit Andy Goode

But as we near the end of the domestic campaign proper, Saints and Bath are already virtually assured of play-off spots. The only real interest is which two of Leicester, Exeter, Bristol and Saracens will join them in the top four.

Those teams do have something to play for and that battle will intrigue rugby fans. But it won’t attract the casual viewers the sport needs to grow its audience further. 

In a week when there has been so much fine football to watch, dissect and discuss, the reality is that all rugby has had to offer is a row over television replays, boardroom politics with the RFU’s review into England’s disappointing Six Nations and a rather pathetic social media spat involving former player turned pundit Andy Goode. That is a sad state of affairs.

The prospect of a PREM final between defending champions Bath and Northampton is tantalising given the quality of their games. And England’s summer campaign will also be intriguing given Steve Borthwick’s stay of execution. I love rugby, but it pains me to say that there isn’t much to get excited about right now.