RFU to reintroduce promotion and relegation between Premiership and Championship

English rugby will reintroduce promotion and relegation between the Premiership and the second-tier Championship through a two-legged playoff, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced on Friday.

Saracens were relegated in the 2019-20 season after finishing last due to a points deduction, but no teams were relegated in the subsequent two seasons because of COVID-19 recovery measures implemented by the RFU.

Last season, Worcester Warriors and Wasps were automatically relegated after entering administration, and no teams were demoted in the 2023-24 season.

According to the proposals, the Premiership's bottom team would compete against the Championship's winners in a two-legged match, provided the second-tier team meets the Premiership's minimum standards criteria.

"Council approved the mechanism for promotion and relegation which will be a two-match home and away playoff between the bottom placed Premiership club and the winner of the Championship/Tier 2," the RFU said in a statement.

"This continues to allow for promotion and relegation, better provides a mechanism to determine on-field competitiveness and takes into consideration the financial challenges of clubs in both leagues".

The Championship winners, however, will need to meet the minimum standards criteria.