RFU reduce minimum stadium capacity criteria to 5,000 for 2023
As a big relief to the clubs seeking promotion for the 2023/24 season of the Gallagher Premiership, the Rugby Football Union has relaxed minimum stadium capacity requirement to 5,000.
The news follows after Doncaster and Ealing Trailfinders could not play in the Premiership for the 2022/23 season after their grounds failed to meet minimum standards which is 10,001 spectators.
However, now the Championship clubs will have an opportunity to feature in next season's Premiership provided they could increase the capacity to 10,001 by the 2024/25 season failing which they will be relegated back to the second tier.
“It has been agreed that there will be additional time for a club to build up to a capacity of 10,001," read a statement from Professional Game Board.
“At the time of the audit in January 2023 a club must have a capacity of at least 5,000 plus planning permission to develop the ground up to a capacity of 10,001, with funding in place to achieve this. It would have to demonstrate an agreement with a contractor to carry out the work in due course;
“At the start of the season, 2023-24, the club must have a capacity of at least 5,000, if the ground is not a Designated Ground under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, it must have in place a non-statutory safety certificate from its local authority, and confirmation from its local authority as to its assurance and enforcement process;
“For the start of the 2024-25 season, the club must have a capacity of 10,001 and a full statutory general certificate. If these are not in place it will result in relegation.”
