Tier 2 Update - RFU

[Neils]

RFU
COUNCIL UPDATE - 19 APRIL 2024
icon-clock Posted 5 Hours Ago

RFU
An RFU Council meeting was held today (Friday 19 April) with votes held on the following topics: 



TIER 2 UPDATE
Since February 2023, the RFU, Championship Clubs Committee and Premiership Rugby Limited have been working to develop a reimagined Tier 2.  The objective is to create a second tier that supports the English system by developing young English talent, whilst supporting the clubs to become financially sustainable by growing local audiences and increasing the value in the league.   

RFU Council has approved the following:

The principles of a new governance structure and decision-making responsibilities for the new league ? the composition of a Tier 2 Management Board will be three representatives from each of the RFU and Championship Clubs Committee with an independent Chair. The objective for the board is to create a body with independent, club and RFU representation responsible for decision-making for certain decisions relating to the league, giving it the ability to respond to the new Tier 2 specific context, while also streamlining the interactions with the delivery functions and club representations to ensure the optimal running and commercialisation of the league.  The Tier 2 Management Board will be put in place at the earliest opportunity.   

Revised and enhanced Minimum Operating Standards (MOS) driving player development, fan experience, and growth ambitions ? the RFU Council today approved the ?essential? MOS that must be in place by the start of the 2025-26 season (see detail below).   

Aligned to the growth ambitions for the league, the standards have been divided into three categories.

Essential ? standards that must be in place by the start of the 2025-26 season in order to participate in the league.

Phased essential - standards will be introduced to the league as determined by the Tier 2 Management Board.

Aspirational ? standards linking to those for the Premiership, providing clubs seeking promotion with a benchmark to work towards.   

League size and competition structure options ? the RFU Council approved the principle that Tier 2 will comprise 14 clubs for season 2025-26. 

Between the April and June Council meetings further modelling around 12, 14 and 16 club league structures, balancing commercial and performance with player welfare will take place.  The precise mechanism for the selection of additional clubs will be worked on and presented at the June Council meeting.

Whilst a 14-team structure is preferable at this stage, a 16-team option is considered to be an aspirational goal for the league?s growth and development, and additional work is required to assess the future optimum number.  Further recommendations will be brought to the June Council meeting.   

Season 2024-25 will be a Championship of 12 clubs, comprising the 11 existing Championship clubs and the winner of National One (Chinnor RFC). 

Council approved a process for existing Championship clubs to validate and evidence their ability to meet the ?essential? minimum operating standards, and other matters, in order to participate in the new Tier 2 league, which will ultimately be decided by the Tier 2 Management Board.

Championship clubs, and Chinnor RFC, winner of National One, will be communicated with around the process for self-validation and provision of additional evidence.   

Discussions around promotion and relegation to/from the Premiership are ongoing as part of the Professional Game Partnership, which would require Council approval and will be brought to the June meeting.