Championship clubs are pressing the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for more discussions to resolve the ongoing deadlock concerning the future of professional rugby in England. They are particularly concerned about the new proposals set to take effect in 2025, which have yet to be finalized.
These clubs strongly oppose the idea of ringfencing the top tier and are advocating for increased funding to sustain a viable professional second tier. They have also rejected plans for a franchise-based system, emphasizing the need to preserve promotion and relegation.
In a joint statement, the clubs declared, “We continue to seek urgent meetings with the Board to discuss our solutions, which we believe are deliverable and realistic. The RFU Council, mandated to be guardians of the whole game and meeting later this month, should intervene, review our position, and help facilitate a comprehensive solution, especially regarding promotion and relegation.”
The recent liquidation of Championship winners Jersey Reds in September has left the league with just 11 teams, following the collapses of Premiership clubs Wasps, Worcester, and London Irish last season. Earlier this year, the Cornish Pirates revealed their inability to attract new investment due to the uncertainty surrounding the second tier’s future. All the club’s players have a break clause in their contracts for the end of 2024 if adequate funding is not secured for the latter part of next season.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Championship clubs have seen their central funding from the RFU slashed from £645,000 in 2019 to £150,000. The current proposals suggest a distribution of £4m among second-tier clubs, compared to £33m shared among the 10 Premiership clubs.
“We understand and support the need to stabilize the top tier of the game, but our clubs must properly be part of the structure,” the statement added. “We have provided a pathway for 200 players, many now household names, as well as numerous coaches, referees, and administrators, to reach the top of the game. That pathway must not be lost, as it underpins the game.”
The clubs stressed the necessity of a unified approach, stating, “The only route to stability and sustainability is for the whole game to move forward together. The Professional Game Partnership (PGP) is about the next eight years, at a time when the game is changing rapidly both globally and nationally. This is a pivotal moment. If changes are not made now, it will be too late.”
