1. Structure of League Competitions - Season 24-25:

Subject to the provisions of this Appendix 1, in the 2024-2025 Season there shall be:

• • at Level 1 a league named Premiership Women’s Rugby comprising nine Clubs;
• • at Level 2 two leagues named Championship 1 each comprising ten Clubs;
• • at Level 3 four leagues named Championship 2 each comprising between eight and ten Clubs;
• • at Level 4 eight leagues named National Challenge 1 each comprising between six and ten Clubs;
• • at Level 5 sixteen leagues named National Challenge 2 each comprising between six and ten Clubs;
• • at Level 6 named National Challenge 3, such number of leagues as determined by the Organising Committee, each comprising no more than ten teams.

2. The following principles shall apply: 

• a. teams from the same Club shall not be permitted to play together in the same leagues;
• b. the Structure of League Competitions for Season 25-26 and the principles of promotion and relegation set out below may be varied by the Committee at any time and any variations will be notified to Clubs as soon as reasonably practicable.

3. Principles of Promotion

• a. All league winners (with the exception of Championship 1) will be automatically promoted unless they inform the Organising Committee that they wish to decline promotion before the deadline set out above.

4. Principles of Relegation

• a. At Levels 2 and 3 (Championship 1 & 2), the bottom two teams will be relegated at the end of the season, subject to whether or not teams have already withdrawn/been removed during the season;
• b. At Level 4 (National Challenge 1), there will be a minimum of 1 side and a maximum of 2 sides relegated at the end of the season, subject to whether or not teams have already withdrawn/been removed during the season. Please note that the lowest (as per Best Playing Record) 2nd bottom placed team may also be relegated.
• c. At Level 5 (National Challenge 2), there may be a minimum of 1 side and a maximum of 2 sides relegated at the end of the season, subject to whether or not teams have already withdrawn/been removed during the season. Please note that the lowest (as per Best Playing Record) 2nd bottom placed team may also be relegated. This will be determined by RFU Governance Standing Committee upon entries for the following season.