RFU Scraps Promotion and Relegation in Premiership Rugby

The Rugby Football Union council voted overwhelmingly on Friday to scrap promotion and relegation in English Premiership Rugby, marking a major overhaul of the professional game starting next season. The change, approved by stakeholders including Prem Rugby, the second-tier Championship, Premiership Women's Rugby and the Rugby Players' Association, replaces the traditional system with a criteria-based model for league expansion and potential demotion.

Under the new framework, the 10-team Premiership, known as the Prem, aims to grow to 12 teams by the start of the 2029-30 season, with further expansion possible for clubs that meet standards in areas such as playing strength, financial viability, infrastructure, investment potential and geographic reach. An Expansion Review Group will evaluate bids from aspiring teams, which must first compete for at least one season in the Championship. This approach could allow former top-flight clubs like Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish, which folded during the 2022-23 season amid financial collapse, to reapply for inclusion if they satisfy the requirements.

The decision addresses long-standing challenges in English rugby's...