According to the Telegraph, there is a possibility that Wasps, Worcester, and London Irish could make a return to the second tier of English rugby as early as the start of the 2025-26 season.
The revival of these three Premiership clubs, which faced financial collapse this season, will be a significant topic of discussion at an upcoming Rugby Football Union conference.
The conference, set to span two days, will be attended by various individuals including Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, as well as representatives from Premiership Rugby, the Championship clubs, and Premier 15s.
Insiders reveal that both Premiership Rugby and the RFU are keen on finding a “creative solution” to save all three clubs from extinction.
This solution could potentially involve reintegrating them into a revamped second tier that is likely to be rebranded as ‘Prem 2’.
There is optimism that the introduction of the Premiership Rugby Cup in the upcoming season, featuring matches between Premiership and Championship teams, will foster a closer relationship between the two leagues.
This closer collaboration could serve as a stepping stone towards the establishment of a new structure combining Prem 1 and Prem 2.
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List of the Premiership’s five most at risk clubs makes worrying reading
All clubs in the Gallagher Premiership have been facing a concerning period, as highlighted by the Press Association News Agency‘s recent report.
An investigation conducted earlier this season revealed the dire financial crisis engulfing English rugby, with Premiership clubs accumulating debts exceeding £500 million.
Furthermore, a thorough analysis of the clubs’ latest financial accounts unveiled that Premiership clubs collectively owed more than £36 million in taxes, with only two out of the 13 clubs having a positive balance with the HMRC.
Outlined below is an examination of the current situation of five clubs, and the findings are deeply concerning.
#1. LONDON IRISH – NOW GONE
PA wrote: “Burdened by debts of around £30million and with an owner desperate to sell in Mick Crossan, London Irish are shaping up to become the next club to be removed from the Premiership.
All staff must be paid on Wednesday for the month of May for the Irish to be granted a deadline extension for their proposed takeover by an American consortium. “
