Premiership clubs reportedly exploring merger with URC
Premiership Rugby clubs are considering the possibility of a merger with the United Rugby Championship (URC) to form a British and Irish league, according The Telegraph.
The report says that the Premiership’s eight clubs met in London on Thursday 12th September, during which teams listened to proposals for a joint league.
While clubs are believed to have been in favour of an Anglo-Welsh league, the most popular proposal was reportedly the suggestion of a joint British and Irish league that would comprise English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish clubs, omitting the South African and Italian teams that currently play in the URC.
A prospective merger would could also the Premiership expand to 12, 14, or 16 teams, although the prospect of reducing the league to eight teams was also reportedly discussed.
The English men’s elite rugby union division has seen its number of teams reduced to 10 clubs, after Worcester, Wasps, and most recently London Irish all entered administration and were subsequently dropped form the league.
The Telegraph previously reported that the respective home nations rugby unions – England’s RFU, Wales’ WRU, Scotland’s SRU, and Ireland’s IRFU – discussed the formation of a joint league during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Proposals for an Anglo-Welsh league were previously put forward in 1999, however the WRU rejected the RFU’s offer of five slots for teams across the top two tiers of English rugby.
Meanwhile, US private equity firm CVC, which holds stakes in both the Premiership and URC, is believed to be open to a merger between the leagues.
The Premiership’s board is reportedly undergoing a strategic review, as it aims to drive the value for its next broadcast rights cycle from 2026.
In March, the league extended its longstanding TNT Sports partnership for a further two years.
This week, the Premiership has also renewed its title sponsorship agreement with UK insurance firm Gallagher, which will now run until the end of 2028.
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