As part of our transformation of the men’s professional game through the PGP we have an opportunity to create a second-tier competition that works by design as part of the ‘whole game solution’. The aspiration is to introduce a new league that delivers the key objectives below for the start of the 2025/26 season.
The objectives are:
- Build a winning England team: create a structure where players are exposed to world-class coaching and competition that drives the standards of the international team;
- Grow and diversify audiences: create opportunities for the next generation of rugby fans to be developed early; and
- Create sustainable clubs: create a structure where clubs are consistently sustainable with spending / revenue balance.
Draft 2025/26 Minimum Operating Standards (MOS)
The focus is to ensure clubs meet Year 1 (2025/26) Essential MOS. The standards will apply from Season 2025/26 in addition to the Championship Spot Check Medical Criteria, which currently applies to all Championship clubs and is audited annually by independent auditors. These standards are reviewed and updated annually in consultation with the Medical Advisory Group.
All clubs will be required to deliver against the MOS, which are designed to ensure the objectives of the league are met, which were developed in collaboration, and to create the infrastructure within clubs to support the move towards professionalisation.
Aligned to the growth ambitions for the league, the MOS have been divided into three categories:
- ‘Essential’ – standards that must be in place by the start of the 25/26 season in order to participate in the league.
- ‘Phased essential’ – standards that will be introduced to the league subject to review of the ability of clubs to meet the standard as determined by the Tier 2 Board.
- ‘Aspirational’ – standards linking to those for the Premiership, providing clubs seeking promotion with a benchmark to work towards.
Below are the draft Tier 2 Minimum Operating Standards that all current Championship Clubs and aspirational Tier 2 Clubs are working to meet ahead of Season 2025/26.
