THE traditional system of promotion to the top-flight of English rugby will be scrapped from the start of the 2026/27 season.
The system of promotion and relegation between the Champ and the Prem will be replaced at the start of next season after the landmark change was voted through at a Rugby Football Union Council vote.
Instead of Champ clubs fighting it out for a chance to play the Prem’s bottom-placed side for a place in the following season’s competition, clubs vying for promotion will now apply to join the Prem and be judged on how they meet a variety of criteria.
Applications will be judged on finances, investment potential, infrastructure, standard of play and how their location could help spread the appeal of the Prem wider.
The league is aiming to grow to a 12-team division by welcoming two more sides for the start of the 2029/30 campaign.
Prem clubs will also be assessed on rugby performance, attendance and fan engagement. Top-level sides could be demoted if they consistently underperform and a stronger, more viable candidate exists.
Mike McTighe, chair of the Men’s Professional Rugby Board said: “This is an important step forward for professional rugby in England.
“It’s long been clear that the previous system was not delivering the financial sustainability or long-term confidence the professional game needs. This agreement therefore represents a collective responsibility to change that, with all of the stakeholders involved coming together to design a model that provides greater certainty for investors, a clearer pathway for ambitious clubs and stronger foundations for the whole rugby ecosystem.
“We know there will be scrutiny, and rightly so. The proof will be in delivery: in improved stability, in renewed investor confidence, in tangible benefits to the women’s game and in sustained support for community rugby.
“This is the beginning of a new approach with lots of hard work ahead.”
Simon Gillham OBE, Champ Board chair, added: “The Champ Board and clubs have welcomed the chance to contribute to the development of this proposal.
“We see great promise in the direction set out and are committed to helping make it a success. This process has been and is a new opportunity for all England rugby’s leading stakeholders to work together collaboratively.
“We look forward to working closely with the RFU and Men’s Professional Rugby Board in the weeks and months ahead to resolve outstanding critical issues impacting the Champ, including governance, funding, jeopardy and aspiration.”
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In December, Worcester Warriors CEO Stephen Vaughan told Worcester News that the side remained committed to their ambition of returning to the Prem.
“We are committed to our ambition of returning to the Prem and we have the facilities and fanbase to be a success at that level,” he said.
“Having recently re-established ourselves as a professional club, we have been clear that our intention is to use this season to stabilise and grow with the intention of seeking a return to the Prem in the near future.”
