The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has formally expressed an interest in two Welsh clubs joining the English Gallagher Premiership, according to WalesOnline. The governing body is in serious negotiations with Premiership Rugby Limited (PRL) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) over the move.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney is expected to inform representatives of all four professional Welsh clubs at a special meeting on Wednesday afternoon that the WRU has submitted a formal expression of interest. This development follows a year-long dispute over a proposed reduction from four professional teams to three.
Potential pathways and expansion plans
The WRU has been exploring various options, including keeping two clubs in the United Rugby Championship (URC) or moving two sides into the English Championship. The move could happen as early as next season, though the following campaign is considered more realistic.
PRL, which operates the English top flight, is looking to expand the competition from 10 to 12 teams, with the addition of two Welsh sides among the options being explored. A high-ranking source in the English game indicated that PRL will launch a tender process for the two additional places next month, with Welsh clubs set to submit applications.
This possibility could allow the WRU to retain four professional clubs, as opposed to the previously proposed reduction to three. WalesOnline has seen a legal letter from the WRU to Swansea Council indicating "material developments" that could see four teams remaining on the agenda at December's planned summit on the future of Welsh rugby.
Obstacles and requirements
Several significant obstacles remain before Welsh clubs can join the English Premiership. The most significant is securing an exit from the URC, which may require compensation and could lead to legal action from the league. The agreement of the RFU would also be necessary given the cross-border nature of the competition.
Any move would require approval from both the WRU and the RFU, while Welsh clubs competing in the Gallagher Premiership would still require financial support from the Welsh governing body. WalesOnline understands the cost of acquiring a Premiership share would not be an obstacle for Welsh sides.
Resistance from clubs in the English Championship could be an issue, but there are set to be more opportunities to expand the Premiership to over 12 clubs in coming years, with the likes of Worcester Warriors likely to join in the future.
Interest and criteria
Adding two Welsh clubs would offer Premiership Rugby the opportunity for non-dilutive growth, increasing the competition's size without introducing another team into an existing English market. Welsh clubs would not receive central funding from the RFU, unlike other English clubs, and are keen on the Welsh TV contract.
For the Premiership to expand, every PRL club must vote in favour, but only a majority is needed to decide which clubs are added. Bath co-owner Bruce Craig told The Guardian: "I think we absolutely need 12 teams. And there are certainly advantages to the Welsh if they can sort their situations out. They would have to be private clubs, so for example Cardiff would have to be spun off [from Welsh Rugby Union ownership]. But the advantages are huge for Welsh rugby and I think it would be good for the Prem. You've got the rivalry, the tribalism, the proximity, the travel. Tick, tick, tick, tick."
At present, the Scarlets are the only Welsh club understood to meet PRL's minimum entry criteria. Cardiff could also satisfy the requirements if the WRU succeeds in returning the club to private ownership. Regular fixtures against established English clubs such as Bristol Bears, Bath, Leicester Tigers, Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs would offer a new dimension to the domestic game.
For the WRU, placing two clubs in the Gallagher Premiership could address financial and structural challenges without reducing from four teams to three. Much will depend on further negotiations with PRL and the RFU, as well as the terms under which Welsh sides could leave the URC.
Swansea Council legal challenge
Swansea Council declined to comment on the content of any legal letter it may have received from the WRU but confirmed it had agreed to a one-month extension for the WRU to lodge its legal defence. The council said it hopes to create space for meaningful dialogue and allow the WRU's new leadership under incoming chair Lynson Faulkner to assess all available options.
A Swansea Council spokesperson said: "We have agreed to the WRU's request for additional time because we recognise the significance of the recent changes within the organisation and the opportunity they present. The appointment of a new WRU chair and the planned summit meetings with clubs provide an opportunity for fresh discussions about the future of professional rugby in Wales. We believe it is right to allow time for the WRU's new leadership to consider all options, including the future shape of the regional game, and to fully understand the concerns that led to our claim. Our objective remains to secure a sustainable and successful future for Welsh rugby through a process that is transparent, fair and in the best interests of the game, its supporters and the communities it serves."
Last week, the WRU reiterated that funding four regions beyond 2028 under the improved PRA 25 agreement would be financially unsustainable. The union reported pre-tax losses of £18m in the 2025-26 financial year, with a similar loss expected in the current financial year.
