Gallagher Premiership To Expand To 14 Teams
The Gallagher Premiership will increase its number of clubs to 14 from the 2022/23 season, after the RFU Council voted in favour of the expansion.
A new package of measures was voted through and involves a ‘temporary pause’ on relegation in a bid to ‘improve the financial stability and sustainability’ of the sport after the coronavirus pandemic.
Premiership Rugby says the plan follows ‘detailed consultation’ with stakeholders across the game, including Premiership and Championship clubs, as well as the Rugby Players’ Association, RFU Board, and RFU Council.
Next season, the league will grow to 13 teams with the promotion of Saracens, while the winners of next season’s Championship will also go up.
However no Premiership club will be relegated until the 2023/24 season, when a play-off will take place. After that, a normal system will return ahead of the 2024/25 season.
“Premiership Rugby has worked in collaboration with the RFU and stakeholders across the game to develop the proposals approved today,” said Nigel Melville, Chairman of the Premiership Rugby Investor Board.
“We thank Council members for their support.
“As well as giving support to a world-leading England team, the plan will create a stable platform for the professional game so that clubs can reset and rebuild after the unprecedented financial pressures of Covid. With an agreed structure and expansion plan in place for the next three seasons, we can now focus on creating a more sustainable future, developing our talented home-grown players and bringing an attractive, competitive league to fans.”
RFU President Jeff Blackett added: “This is not ringfencing the Premiership as some have suggested.
“In three of the four seasons covered by this, and our previous decision, a Championship club will have the opportunity to be promoted. Council has control of what happens thereafter and is committed to maintaining the integrity of the league structure by ensuring that access to the Premiership will be retained in the future.
“We are all looking forward to the start of next season and the welcome return of volunteers, players and fans.”
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