The RFU have issued a reply, to the latest statement from the Championship Rugby clubs. The 11 Championships clubs banded together to express their concerns in a statement on Wednesday, regarding the propositions of a selection-based second division underneath the Gallagher Premiership.
The Championship clubs state that they feel threatened with “effective relegation to the National Leagues for non compliance”, should they not agree to the RFU’s proposed alterations to the English second tier. The 11 clubs also re-affirmed their call for an “urgent date to hear in full our amended proposals”.
The calls for action come following a turbulent time for the Championship, when the reigning league champions Jersey Reds announced their financial administration back in late September 2023. Then in December, RFU CEO Bill Sweeney proposed an ultimatum for a ‘Premiership 2’ division. However, the Championship deemed the idea as “unacceptable”, in their initial statement to the RFU.
Championship Rugby Clubs Statement (10/01/24)
“We emphasised in our last statement our principled objections to a franchise or selection-based Tier 2. Rather than seek to discuss these objections and others, the RFU has chosen to threaten us with effective relegation to the National Leagues for non-compliance, while ignoring the unresolved questions on governance, commercial strategy, promotion/relegation, player welfare and the player development pathway. We have offered alternative proposals on the way forward to the Board without response.
“The current RFU plan to present any recommendation to Council is extremely premature, until such fundamental issues are addressed and consensus reached so that the game can move forward via agreement rather than ultimatum. We would appeal to Council not to approve any plans for Tier 2 until our proposals are discussed in detail and there is full clarity on these fundamental issues.
“We have discussed this matter with Sport England because without further clarity on funding and governance, it will be impossible to ensure that Championship clubs are able to repay their Covid loans. We believe they share our concerns.
“We believe that no club can place value on a process involving expressions of interest when there is so little necessary detail.
“However, we can only act for ourselves: consequently the 11 current Championship clubs request that the Board sets an urgent date to hear in full our amended proposals – proposals which share all of the RFU’s objectives, albeit reached via different routes which we consider achievable, pragmatic and full of vision for the future growth of the game.”
The reply from the RFU was a concise message, stating how they have provided the Championship clubs with “confirmed funding” for the 2024/25 season, with the hope of increasing this funding for the 2025/26 campaign.
The RFU Statement to the Championship clubs read:
“The RFU has been consulting with Championship clubs for over a year. We have researched and produced a commercial strategy and provided the clubs with confirmed funding at at least existing levels for 24/25 season and proposals for increased funding from 25/26 season.
“We will continue to consult with Championship clubs and very much hope that they choose to be part of what could become a more thriving and sustainable second professional tier.”