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MAJOR changes to the shape of English
club rugby will take place next season following the approval of proposals to
create a 12-team Championship division and to restructure competitions for teams
in Levels Three to Six of the league system. The
RFU Council backed recommendations from the RFU Management Board for the Championship
to form a new professional tier below the Guinness Premiership, with Council voting
against an amendment deferring its formation until 2010/11. It
also approved recommendations from the Rugby Landscape Task Group that include
discontinuing the National Trophy and Intermediate Cup competitions; expanding
the leagues at levels three and four to 16 clubs per division and at levels five
and six to 14 clubs per division; the introduction of National Championship Finals;
and the introduction of reserve leagues at levels three, four and five. "Council
spent three and a half hours debating these important issues and I thank them
for giving them such careful consideration," said Martyn Thomas, the
Chairman of the RFU Management Board. "Negotiations
over the reduction of the size of First Division Rugby have been taking place
since November last year and there was universal agreement that moving to a 12-club
league was the way forward. "It is the best way to
ensure a high level of competition that will accelerate the development of young
English players, coaches and referees, and Council decided that the journey should
start as soon as possible. "Clearly the league will
not become fully professional overnight and there is much detail to be put in
place but we look forward to doing so with stakeholders from First Division Rugby,
the National Clubs Association [who represent levels three and four] and the Professional
Rugby Players Association." Further discussions will
take place about a meaningful fixture list that will guarantee a minimum of 32
games for Championship clubs each season consisting of league games and other
competitive matches, including a proposed two-tier Anglo-Welsh competition. Live
television coverage has been secured with the agreement of Sky and Championship
clubs will receive projected central funding of £3.5million in 2009/10 that
will rise to £4.8m by season 2015/16. At the end of
this season one club will be promoted from the existing National League One into
the Guinness Premiership, five clubs will be moved to Level 3 and one promoted
from Level 3 to form the Championship. Council also approved
recommendations from the Rugby Landscape Task Group that will make other significant
changes to the structure of the game in England. In the
new structure, the Championship will sit above a new National League One, National
Two North and National Two South, and four divisions in the National Three tier. From
2009/10 the new National One, National Two North and National Two South division
will increase in size from 14 to 16 clubs. The four National Three divisions (London,
Midlands, North and South West) will increase in size from 12 to 14 clubs. Other
changes include the introduction of National Finals at levels four, five and six;
discontinuing The National Trophy and Intermediate Cup competitions; the creation
of a reserve team competition for the 104 second teams from clubs in National
1, 2 and 3 - and suitable teams from levels two and six - followed by national
finals; and a review of the existing county championship competition. "The
competitive structure is critical to the sustainability of our member clubs,"
said Terry Burwell, the RFU Director of Tournaments and Competitions. "Providing
a dynamic league programme for all levels of the game will ensure increased competitiveness
and commercial attractiveness. "The Rugby Landscape
consultation process has been robust and well-received and has succeeded in providing
an agreed solution in a very short timescale. We can now move forward to implementing
the new structure for 2009/10." The Task Group was
chaired by RFU Senior Vice President John Owen, who thanked the thousands of participants
who took part in the consultation process. "We were
delighted to be able to engage 7,500 people from all parts of our game who responded
to our online survey and made their views known," said Owen. "We
also staged 11 roadshows around the country and a two-day summit in Woking to
make sure we delivered changes that would be of lasting benefit to our clubs." BACKGROUND
NOTES 1 What happens at the end of season 2008/09: Level 1:
Guinness Premiership - 12 clubs.
One team relegated to new Championship Level
2: National One (currently 16 clubs)
One team promoted to Guinness Premiership,
one team relegated from Guinness Premiership, five relegated to level three Level
3: National Two (currently 14 clubs)
One team promoted to new Championship,
four relegated to level 4, five teams down from level 2, two teams up from National
Three North and South Level 4: National Three North & South - (currently
14 clubs)
Two champions promoted to new National One, bottom two in each division
relegated, four teams down from level 3, six come up from level five Level
5: Divisional One (currently four divisions of 12 clubs)
Four champions and
two play-off winners promoted, two teams relegated to level 6, four teams down
from level 4, 12 come up from level 6 Level 6: Divisional Two (currently
eight divisions of 12 clubs)
Eight champions and four play-off winners promoted,
no teams relegated, two teams down from level 5, 26 teams up from level 7 depending
on 14 or 12 team leagues in new structure 2 The new league structure
for season 2009/10: Level 1: Guinness Premiership - 12 clubs.
???One
team relegated to the Championship Level 2: The Championship - 12 clubs
(currently 16), replacing National One
???22 regular season games
???Play-offs
to decide one promotion and one relegation place
???Teams to participate in
proposed two-tier Anglo-Welsh competition
???Minimum of 32 games each season
per team Level 3: National One - 16 clubs (14), replacing National Two
???30
regular season games
???Champions promoted and bottom three relegated at end
of season 2009/10 Level 4: National Two North & South - 16 clubs (14),
replacing National Three North & South
???30 regular season games in each
league
???Two champions promoted and bottom three teams in each league relegated
at end of season 2009/10
???Promotion play-off for sides finishing second in
each league
???The two champions meet in National Final Level 5: National
Three (four divisions) - 14 clubs (currently 12), replacing divisional leagues
???26
regular season games
???Four champions promoted and bottom three in each league
relegated at end of season 2009/10
???Two more teams promoted after play-offs
between second-placed sides
???Four champions meet in National Semi-finals
and Finals Level 6: Divisional 1 (eight divisions) - 14 clubs (or less if
agreed, currently 12)
???26 (or less if agreed) regular season games
???Eight
champions and four play-off winners promoted, bottom three in each league relegated
at end of season 2009/10
???Eight champions participate in National Quarter-finals,
Semi-finals and Finals | 
