BBC Rugby Union: Landmark Promotion/Relegation Deal Agreed for English Rugby
Published on June 14, 2023 | Source: BBC Sport
In a significant development for English rugby, the RFU council has approved a groundbreaking promotion and relegation agreement between the Gallagher Premiership and the second-tier Championship. This decision, hailed by Championship chairman Simon Halliday, paves the way for a new era of connectivity and growth within the professional game.
The Championship clubs have long advocated for a fairer pathway to the top flight, and their efforts have now been rewarded. The revised terms make the minimum operating standards more achievable for potential promotion candidates, with a longer timeline of four seasons to meet these requirements.
Alongside the promotion/relegation deal, the RFU council has also approved the creation of a new Tier 2 governance board. This independent body, with equal representation from the Championship and the RFU, will oversee the commercial exploitation of the second-tier league, allowing clubs to maximize their marketing, media, and broadcasting rights.
“We have got what we came for. Now our clubs – and every club – can realistically dream of promotion to the Premiership.” – Simon Halliday, Championship chairman
Halliday emphasized that this result “brings common resolve to our sport, guaranteeing that English rugby remains open and fair from the lowest league to the highest.”
The clubs believe these changes herald a new era for the professional game in England, providing a genuine pathway for ambitious teams to reach the Premiership. With the commercial potential of the Championship now better harnessed, the prospects for growth and development at the second-tier level have never been brighter.
This landmark decision by the RFU council is set to have a profound impact on the landscape of bbc rugby union, rugby union gameplay, rugby union scores, and rugby union news in the years to come, as the sport strives for greater inclusivity and a stronger connection between its top and bottom tiers.
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