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Revamp of Premiership considered for 2025/26 season
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is considering the implementation of a franchise-style model for the Premiership as early as the 2025–26 season, according to chief executive Bill Sweeney. Under this proposal, clubs would be granted licences to participate based on a combination of financial stability, supporter base, infrastructure, and on-field performance.
At present, promotion to the Premiership is contingent upon the Championship winner satisfying minimum standards—such as stadium requirements and a sustainable financial model—and defeating the bottom-ranked Premiership club in a two-legged play-off.
Sweeney explained that the proposed restructuring aims to enhance the Premiership’s appeal to external investors. The league experienced significant instability during the 2022–23 season, when Wasps, London Irish, and Worcester Warriors all entered administration.
“We are looking at a range of different options to make the Premiership thriving, exciting and a really interesting place to invest in,” Sweeney told BBC Sport.
“Part of that will be a model whereby you qualify for an expansion league in the Premiership, but based on criteria around financial sustainability, fanbase and stadium, not just performance on the field of play.
It wouldn’t be your traditional one-up, one-down situation, but if you are not meeting certain standards on and off the field you would be eligible to be removed from the league.
It is possible for this coming season, or it could be the season after that, but we wouldn’t put any limitations on it.”
The proposed changes would require ratification by the RFU Council, which represents the broader rugby community and key stakeholders. As such, a launch in the 2026–27 season is considered more likely.
Support for the franchise concept has already emerged from within the Premiership, with Bath owner Bruce Craig expressing approval for a model in which club licences would be subject to periodic review.
This approach could potentially facilitate the return of a reformed Worcester Warriors to the top tier. Additionally, clubs such as Ealing Trailfinders, Coventry, and Doncaster Knights have submitted applications this season to be assessed under the Premiership’s current entry standards.
The Premiership currently comprises 10 clubs, a reduction from 13 at the outset of the 2022–23 campaign. League officials have expressed a clear ambition to expand.
The model echoes structures in other sports, such as cricket’s The Hundred, which has attracted substantial investment in franchise teams insulated from the threat of relegation.
Despite ongoing financial challenges and English clubs’ underperformance in European competitions, Sweeney remains optimistic about the Premiership’s prospects. Reports indicate that TNT Sports is close to finalising a five-year extension of its broadcasting agreement, with improved financial terms.
“We are seeing some great momentum in the Premiership at the moment,” Sweeney added.
“In terms of sponsorship, a potential broadcast deal about to be announced, growth in interest from 18–30s and the Premiership final is going to be sold out again with ticket sales ahead of where they were last year.
So there are a lot of good things happening.”