A serious overhaul of English rugby’s high tier is about to be accepted by the RFU on Friday, Sky Sports activities Information understands.
The governing physique’s council will convene to rubber-stamp a proposal to show the Prem right into a franchise league that might increase to twenty groups by 2040.
The novel plans will cut up the Gallagher Prem from the remainder of the English leagues and produce an finish to high flight promotion and relegation.
The elite league would initially increase from 10 to 12 groups by 2030, with additional growth attainable if formidable golf equipment can meet sure standards.
So as an alternative of promotion, golf equipment may enter the league by proving they meet monetary, business and on-field necessities.
This revamp may doubtlessly open the door to Wasps, Worcester and London Irish, all of whom went bust within the 2022/23 season.
The RFU and Prem Rugby hope the brand new construction will make the sport extra enticing to new buyers.
Ealing Trailfinders, the highest workforce within the second division, failed to fulfill the Prem’s present requirements, notably when it got here to floor capability.
A workforce has not been relegated from the Prem since Saracens in 2020 within the wake of a factors deduction for breaching salary-cap rules. Saracens would later grow to be the latest workforce to earn promotion to the highest tier after returning in 2021.
