RFU Council meeting update
An RFU Council meeting was held today (Friday 27 September) with decisions held on the following topics.
- Men's Tier 2 tender process
- County Championship regulations
Council also discussed and debated the Community Game Future.
Further information is detailed below:
1. Men’s Tier 2 tender process
Over the past 18 months the RFU, Championship Club Committee and Premiership Rugby have been working to develop a reimagined Tier 2. The aim is to create a second tier that supports the English system by developing young English talent, whilst supporting the clubs to become financially sustainable, by growing local audiences and increasing the value in the league.
In April 2024, Council approved the principles of a new governance structure, the Minimum Operating Standards and the principle of Tier 2 comprising 14 clubs from 2025-26.
The new Tier 2 Board has been operational since 1 July with representatives from the Championship and RFU and is driving plans for the revamped league in the 2025-26 season. The process to recruit an independent chair is underway.
The Tier 2 Board is continuing to develop both the commercial growth strategy, competition structure and player development strategy for the new league, as well as overseeing the self-assessment process for current Championship clubs against the minimum operating standards for the new league. It has also been considering how additional teams might enter the league following Council’s approval in principle of a 14-team league structure for season 25-26.
Council today approved a tender process for additional places in the league, starting with an expression of interest, that will be issued to the whole game on Monday 30 September.
Once expressions of interest are received, interested parties will receive a formal submission request and responses will be assessed against the criteria which are:
- Ability to meet the minimum operating standards.
- Ability to demonstrate financial viability – this includes, where applicable, repayment of rugby creditors (as per RFU Regulation 5).
- Ability to align with the league’s central objectives which will be assessed against three areas: player base and competitiveness; commercial and geography. This will enable the Tier 2 Board to review in detail the clubs' strategies to ensure that clubs’ ambitions are backed by careful and realistic planning and that they can demonstrate an alignment with the league’s central growth strategy.
Expressions of interest must be received no later than 5:00pm Sunday 13 October 2024.
2. County Championship Regulations
Following the conclusion of last season’s County Championships, the County Championship Management Group has proposed and overseen some minor changes to the regulations in response to feedback from the game.
Council approved the updates to the County Championship regulations. These will be available online in due course.
3. Community Game Future Delivery System
The Community Game Future sets out the direction and focus for our work in the community game for at least the next four years. This four-year investment and prioritisation plan shows clear intent to take a longer-term approach to support the community game. It sets out a clear framework of priorities whilst also giving enough flex to accommodate what continues to be changing landscape both inside and outside of our sport. It creates an exciting blueprint on which to sustain and grow participation and to sustain and develop our club infrastructure.
Council has previously endorsed the establishment of Regional Bodies to drive the promotion and growth of the game. Today Council endorsed the number of regions and geography as well as regional structure and management.
Further information about these plans will be presented at the November Council meeting.
