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After many months of difficult discussions between the RFU
and First Division Rugby, yesterday in London the RFU Council, by an overwhelming
majority, reached a decision on the future of league rugby in England and a 12
Club Championship will be introduced next season The
RFU intends to invite Clubs to join this Championship, which is a fledgling fully
professional league sitting between the Premier League and the new First Division.
Whilst
the details are not yet clear it is understood that the top 11 Clubs in FDR at
the end of this season will be invited to join the Championship together with
the winner of National 2 and at the same time five FDR Clubs will be relegated
to the new National 1. It is our firm intention
that the Cornish Pirates will be both invited and playing in the Championship
next season, but to do that two equally important elements must be achieved; firstly
we must finish this season in the top eleven and secondly we must have addressed
how we will bridge our projected budget shortfall. The
first priority of a top 11 finish is down to the Club and the second priority
will require the help of all our supporters, locally, nationally and internationally.
Let's start on Sunday with a large crowd at The
Rec for the clash against league leaders unbeaten Leeds Carnegie. Rod
Coward CEO RFU Press Release | 
