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European club soccer has lower divisions with 'B' and 'C' teams of the large clubs. However, rules are set up such that Barcelona 'B' cannot play in the same division as Barcelona 'A'. If the 'B' team wins promotion, they are held down, while if the 'A' team gets demoted and the 'B' team is in the next division below then they are forced to drop down as well.
Can club rugby be set up along similar lines? Say 8 teams per division, starting with the top division having the best premier grade sides. The second division then has some premier grade sides and some reserve sides. The third division has reserves and 3rds, etc. I recall (possibly a couple of years ago) Joondalup I think not being able to play premier grade because they could not guarantee grade sides all the way down to 4ths. This would prevent that happening again, as the top grade would just find it's level.
I can see some issues, such that if a premier grade side gets demoted the reserves might have to move down a division, too, but that would also count for if the 3rds get demotion, which might mean for the final couple of weeks of a season the 3rds get the 2nds playing for them! And it might not stop poaching of players, but if your premier grade side got demoted would you be able to buy a side of good players to play in the 2nd division?
Just a thought.