Relegation scrapped as Premiership to expand

THE side finishing bottom of this season’s Gallagher Premiership will not drop into the Championship after it was confirmed that the RFU council has scrapped relegation.

Following a vote passed with a “strong majority” on Friday, the English top-flight will expand to 13 teams next term, with one side promoted from the second tier.

Although the measure is only for this campaign, there will be further engagement with league broadcaster BT Sport, along with clubs, sponsors, players and fans on what happens for future seasons.

Before the global pandemic forced the hand of the RFU, it had been mooted in previous seasons that the Premiership be increased to 13 teams (at this point the 13 stakeholders are the 12 top-flight members and Saracens) and then ring-fenced so the threat of relegation was removed.

Concerns were raised by broadcasters that relegation added to the excitement of the season, but those are understood to have been allayed by the assurance that putting a hold on relegation would apply to this season only.

The decision to scrap the drop will come as a relief to Gloucester, who are currently at the foot of the table with just one win and nine points from eight games.

England’s Red Roses have been drawn in Pool C of the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup alongside France, South Africa and Fiji.

The tournament in New Zealand will be the first Women’s Rugby World Cup to be staged in the southern hemisphere, with England competing at their ninth World Cup having reached the final in all but one and winning twice.

The 2021 World Cup will see the Red Roses begin their campaign against newcomers Fiji on Saturday, September 18 before facing South Africa five days later. Their final Pool match will be against France on September 28.