RFU & Prem Franchise Plan

What is the plan and is it still on the table

From Relegation Angst to Franchise Ambition: The Future of Premiership Rugby

The traditional heart-stopping fear of relegation has driven decisions across English club rugby for decades. But now, amid financial fragility, collapsing clubs, and shifting governance, Premiership Rugby may be heading in a different direction—one that could reshape the game.

The Case for Change

A Shift Away from Risk

Bath owner Bruce Craig—drawing inspiration from cricket’s IPL and rugby’s Major League Rugby—advocates transforming the Premiership into a ring-fenced, franchise-style competition. His argument: relegation stifles investment and destabilises clubs, while a franchise model can foster long-term planning, infrastructure growth, and financial confidence.

Top-Tier Talks

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has publicly acknowledged the direction of travel: a model where clubs qualify based on finance, fanbase, and facilities—not just wins. Under this system, poorly performing clubs could lose their licence rather than be relegated. The earliest possible implementation? The 2026-27 season.

Why Now?

The collapse of Wasps, Worcester Warriors, and London Irish spotlighted the system’s fragility. Seven of ten Premiership teams were “balance-sheet insolvent” in 2022-23. Stability through investment is now a pressing necessity.

What's Being Proposed?

• Franchises, not relegation: Clubs would need to meet criteria (financial, facilities, fanbase) to maintain their place. Relegation would effectively be replaced by licence review.
  
  
• League expansion: From 10 teams to at least 12, possibly more, welcoming new applicants like Coventry or Doncaster if they pass the tests. 
  
  
• Centralised commercial structure: Unified broadcasting, kit deals, and branding—akin to NFL and IPL models. 
  
  
• Commissioner-style governance: Creating a powerful central authority to oversee league operations. 
  
  
  

Rising Support—and Key Reservations

• Backing from club and industry leaders: Northampton’s Phil Dowson and financial experts endorse the franchise idea, citing the need for security and international competitiveness. 
  
  
• Emerging investor interest: The Premiership’s stabilization, better broadcast deals, and strong viewership are attracting global capital, with advisory groups like Raine and Deloitte engaged.
   
• Championship clubs push back: The second tier resists non-meritocratic promotion routes, opposing franchise-style entry and seeking a whole-game solution instead. 

Timeline: Franchise Proposal—Milestones to Watch

Final Thoughts

The move toward a franchise model represents rugby's most radical transformation since league rugby’s arrival. It promises long-term investment and stability—but risks undermining competition and hierarchical integrity. Whether it becomes a triumph or a gamble depends on balancing tradition with survival.

Has this proposed suggestion been shelved?

The proposal for a franchise-style Premiership Rugby is very much still alive—it hasn't been shelved. In fact, momentum continues to build, drawing serious attention and debate across the rugby landscape.

Current Status: Ongoing, Not Shelved

1. RFU and Premiership Rugby Are Still Exploring the Franchise Model

• RFU CEO Bill Sweeney confirmed as recently as April 2025 that a franchise-style Premiership could be implemented as soon as the 2026–27 season, pending RFU Council approval.
  
  
• The model being considered would award licences based on financial sustainability, facilities, and fanbase—not exclusively on-field performance.
  
  

2. Support from Key Figures and Rising Investor Interest

• Bath owner Bruce Craig continues to champion the model, emphasizing that relegation deters investment.
  
  
• Financial experts like Alex Cadwallader and Prof. Rob Wilson support the shift, citing the financial instability in the league and the need for structural innovation.
  
  

3. Opposition & Debate Still Alive

• Championship clubs unanimously oppose a closed or partly ring-fenced system in the second tier, arguing it undermines “meritocratic entry.
• Simon Gillham, chair of the Tier 2 board, also voices concern, insisting that aspiration and jeopardy must remain central to the sport.
  
  

Summary: Where We Stand Now

Final Take

This isn't a shelved idea—it’s still very much in play, with both advocacy and resistance shaping its path. It’s a high-stakes transformation, one that could either future-proof the Premiership or provoke division within the game, depending on how it unfolds.