England’s Rugby Football Union Council backed a new governance model that replaces automatic promotion and relegation with criteria-led expansion and demotion, aiming to improve sustainability, attract investment and deliver wider benefits for the men’s and women’s games.
A major reform is set to take place at the top of English club rugby after a landmark agreement was approved “overwhelmingly” during a vote by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Council on Feb. 27, 2026. From the 2026/27 season, automatic promotion and relegation between the Gallagher PREM and Champ Rugby, the second level of men’s English rugby, will be replaced by a criteria-based expansion and demotion model.
The proposal will turn the Gallagher PREM into a franchise model. The vote followed months of work involving key stakeholders like the RFU, PREM Rugby, Champ Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) and the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA), alongside consultation with clubs, investors, players and supporters.
The new model addresses the previous system’s lack of financial sustainability, insufficient long-term investment, and limited benefits for rugby overall, explained the RFU in a statement. It is also expected to create globally competitive leagues, expand rugby’s fanbase, extend its geographic reach and provide tangible benefits to the women’s game and community rugby across England.
A newly established Expansion Review Group (ERG) will have oversight and input into the demotion and replacement process. This body will also assess league readiness, investor appetite and club preparedness for expansion.
Clubs seeking to join the PREM will go through a formal Expression of Interest and tender process and will be assessed against mandatory criteria including rugby excellence, operating standards, financial sustainability and investment capacity, as well as strategic criteria such as geography, community impact and women’s game. The first planned expansion (up to 12 teams) is targeted for the 2029/30 season, subject to readiness assessments.
About RFU
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby union in England, dedicated to promoting and developing the sport from grassroots to the elite level. Founded in 1871 and headquartered at the iconic Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), it is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, overseeing more than 2,000 member clubs and millions of players.
The RFU is responsible for the management of the England national teams—including the Men’s squad and the world-leading Red Roses—as well as the training of coaches, referees, and players. Driven by its core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, and Sportsmanship, the union reinvests its profits back into the game to ensure rugby remains a safe, inclusive, and thriving sport for future generations.
Go deeper: Governance reforms at RFU
