Dancin Bear
Active Member
No, the first time we won div 1 (and we were technically VUFC and not Westside that year) the team didn't feel it was ready to make the jump. We won it again the next year and kind of had to go, although we lost several of the original core in the move which is too bad.
As for should prem go back to 10 teams...I'd have to say no at this point. The top 6's quality is a gap better than VUFC and Romania. They are all established clubs which actually have the ability to improve their squads as the season goes on, especially closer to BC's (look at Westside every year). Romania and VUFC do not have this ability...nor would the clubs that come up from div 1. Even though we've gotten some good wins this year vs Westside, West Van, PCOV and Croatia the quality in those teams (and territorial play/possession) is deep. Going to 10 teams would mean you have 4 teams like us and Romania and 6 of the big clubs.
I'm not sure this is completely accurate, at least from Westside's Masters' perspective. We haven't added to our squad at all....in fact, we have been pretty much the same 12 or so lads since the beginning of the season. It's a long season.....I would say that it is more our mentality than anything else.