Premiership Rugby Statement

By Paul Morgan
12/2/21

• Gallagher Premiership Rugby is expanded to 13 teams for the 2021-22 season

• No relegation from the Premiership into the Championship, and no relegation from the Championship into National One

• Promotion into the Gallagher Premiership remains for the winner of the Championship, provided the winner of the 2020-21 Greene King IPA Championship is eligible for promotion under the current Minimum Standards Criteria

• The new structure has unanimous support of the Premiership Rugby clubs

A moratorium on relegation for the 2020-21 campaign has been approved by the RFU Council today.

The collaborative agreement across the RFU, Championship and Premiership Rugby sees the top-flight competition expanded to 13 teams from next season.

There will be no relegation from the top-flight into the Championship at the end of the 2020-21 season and no relegation from the Championship into National One. Promotion into the Gallagher Premiership remains for the winner of the Championship.

Darren Childs, Chief-Executive of Premiership Rugby said: “We welcome today’s decision and thank the RFU Council members for their support. The priority for everyone involved has been to protect the long-term sustainability and success of English professional rugby for the fans and clubs who have endured huge financial and sporting challenges throughout the last two seasons.

"The progress being made collaboratively with all our key stakeholders across the sport has been fantastic. Our focus remains on continuing to strengthen that alignment through transparency and dialogue around the long-term success of the game at a domestic and national level in England."