RFU Council Approves Historic Shift to Franchise Model in English Rugby
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) council has overwhelmingly voted to approve a seismic change in the structure of English club rugby, scrapping the traditional system of automatic promotion and relegation between the Premiership and Championship. This landmark decision will see a move to a franchise model implemented from the 2026-27 season onwards, marking one of the most significant reforms in the sport's professional era.
Criteria-Based System to Replace Automatic Movement
From the 2026-27 campaign, the long-standing mechanism of automatic promotion and relegation will be abolished. In its place, a criteria-based expansion and demotion model will be introduced, designed to provide greater financial stability and investment confidence across the professional game. The RFU has outlined plans for the Premiership to consist of 12 teams by the 2029-30 season, with the new system carefully managing entry and exit from the top flight.
Leadership Emphasises Need for Evolution and Sustainability
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney welcomed the council's decision, 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."
Sweeney further emphasised that "This 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."
Collaborative Decision-Making Process
The vote followed months of intensive work involving key stakeholders across the rugby landscape. The RFU collaborated closely with Premiership Rugby, Championship Rugby, Premiership Women's Rugby, and the Rugby Players' Association (RPA) to develop the new framework. Mike McTighe, chair of the men's Professional Rugby Board, highlighted the collective effort behind the change.
"This is an important step forward for professional rugby in England," McTighe said. "It's long been clear that the previous system was not delivering the financial sustainability or long-term confidence the professional game needs. This agreement therefore represents a collective responsibility to change that, with all of the stakeholders involved coming together to design a model that provides greater certainty for investors, a clearer pathway for ambitious clubs and stronger foundations for the whole rugby ecosystem."
New Requirements and Governance Structures
Under the reformed system, Premiership clubs will face new obligations. They must either operate a team in Premiership Women's Rugby or fund a meaningful regional women's development plan. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in financial penalties, underscoring the commitment to growing the women's game alongside the men's professional structure.
An Expansion Review Group (ERG) will be established to assess several critical factors before any club can join the Premiership. The ERG will evaluate:
- The overall readiness of the league for expansion
- Investor appetite and financial backing
- The preparedness of individual clubs seeking entry
Clubs eager to join the top flight will then undergo a formal Expression of Interest and tender process, ensuring only those meeting strict criteria can enter the Premiership.
Unified Vision for Growth and Investment
Simon Massie-Taylor, Premiership chief executive, expressed confidence in the new direction. "The changes agreed today show unity across the game and will allow current and future club investors to confidently invest in our new growth plan and the wider English club rugby eco-system," he stated.
McTighe acknowledged that the reforms will face scrutiny, adding: "We know there will be scrutiny, and rightly so. The proof will be in delivery: in improved stability, in renewed investor confidence, in tangible benefits to the women's game and in sustained support for community rugby."
This historic shift represents a fundamental reimagining of English rugby's professional structure, moving away from a century-old tradition in pursuit of greater financial security and sustainable growth for all levels of the sport.
