RFU 'disqualify' two Championship clubs

NEWS: The Professional Rugby Board has reviewed the independent audit of all clubs in the Premiership as well as those Championship clubs who applied to be assessed for promotion against the league’s current minimum standards criteria.

The audit included three Championship clubs – Coventry, Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders.

All existing Premiership clubs met the league’s minimum standards criteria, as did Championship club Doncaster Knights, England’s Rugby Football Union said in a media release.

However, Coventry and Ealing Trailfinders did not meet the requirements.

“They were not able to evidence planning permission being in place,” the RFU statement read.

In the case of Ealing Trailfinders that appropriate assurances in respect of safety compliance were in place.

“It is clear that the minimum standard required for stadium capacity has proved to be a major hurdle for clubs with the ambition to join the Premiership.

“In June 2024, Premiership Rugby and the RFU consulted with Championship clubs and agreed a phased runway to reach the required capacity of 10,001 such that the ground is then governed by relevant safety legislation.

“It was agreed that a promoted club could phase the development of the 10,001 capacity requirement of its home ground over four seasons – year on, 5,000, years two and three, 7,500, and year four, 10,001 – subject to there being planning permission in place at the time of audit.

“It was hoped that this change in criteria would enable more clubs from the Championship to be able to meet the required stadium size and safety standards to be considered for promotion.”

The RFU said they are ‘disappointed’ that this did not have the effect all were expecting.

“The PRB is committed to supporting aspirational clubs and will work with the chair of the recently established Tier Two board, to support Championship clubs and develop a model where those aspiring clubs can have a clearer pathway to operating safely and sustainably within the Premiership.”

Mike McTighe, Professional Rugby Board Chairman, said: “We are in a new era for the men’s professional game and there are ongoing and very live conversations about how we can build an investable framework that ensures that it is sustainable.

“While right now only one Championship club is meeting the requirements that would enable them to come into the league, we are working hard to ensure that is not always the case and that we apply the right flexibility and support where it’s appropriate.

“We know how hard those clubs with aspirations to join the Premiership are working both to generate the required investment to be sustainable within that league and to ensure they have the required infrastructure to support themselves.

“This forms a vital part of the ongoing discussion and collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, from the clubs and organisations who run both leagues, to many others, because we recognise that in the future, new and innovative approaches are going to be required.”