Premiership Rugby Scraps Automatic Promotion and Relegation System
Automatic promotion and relegation between Premiership Rugby and the Championship has been officially abolished following a decisive vote by the Rugby Football Union Council on Friday. This monumental change ends the traditional yo-yoing between English rugby's top two tiers, fundamentally altering the landscape of domestic professional rugby in England.
A New Era of Expansion and Stability
The new framework will see expansion teams admitted into Premiership Rugby on a case-by-case basis, rather than through sporting merit via promotion. This shift is widely viewed as a step toward a fully franchised model for Premiership clubs. According to a joint statement from the RFU, Premiership Rugby, the Premier Women's Rugby, the Championship, and the Rugby Players' Association, the move is designed to provide "greater certainty for clubs and investors, strengthens long-term planning, maintains competitive integrity and protects player welfare."
A newly established Expansion Review Group will be responsible for assessing potential new teams for entry into the Premiership. Reports indicate that Birmingham City's owners, Knighthead Capital, are among those interested in establishing a team. The league has set a target of expanding to 12 teams by the start of the 2029-30 season.
Financial Reforms and Leadership Perspectives
Integral to the new agreement is a "tapered funding mechanism" that will gradually reduce RFU payments to Premiership Rugby, linking this reduction to the league's commercial growth. This aims to foster greater financial independence for the top flight.
RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney acknowledged the significance of the change, stating, "We recognise that moving away from a traditional system of automatic promotion and relegation represents a significant change. However, it is equally clear that the professional game must evolve if it is to thrive. The previous structure was not delivering the financial stability, investment confidence or wider system benefits the game now requires."
He emphasized that the reform is "about safeguarding the future – creating a model that is ambitious, sustainable and capable of supporting the whole rugby community, from the grassroots to the international stage."
Championship Support and Future Collaboration
Simon Gillham of the Championship Board expressed support for the new direction, noting, "The Champ Board and clubs have welcomed the chance to contribute to the development of this proposal. We see great promise in the direction set out and are committed to helping make it a success."
He highlighted the collaborative nature of the process, describing it as "a new opportunity for all England rugby's leading stakeholders to work together collaboratively." Gillham added that the Championship looks forward to working with the RFU and Men's Professional Rugby Board to resolve outstanding critical issues affecting the second tier, including governance, funding, competitive jeopardy, and aspirational pathways.
This historic decision marks a pivotal moment for English rugby, shifting focus from annual relegation battles to strategic expansion and long-term financial sustainability for its elite clubs.
