PREM Rugby – All Change, Or Much The Same?

Last Friday the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Gallagher PREM Rugby confirmed the rumours that have been swirling round the top end of the sport in England for some time, with the announcement that the PREM would move to a franchise model and end promotion and relegation.

Instead, interested parties would need to satisfy a number of criteria, including stadium capacity, a women’s team, and a season in CHAMP Rugby.

The overall aim is better finances for everyone, with the PREM keen to build on increased television income, and fans watching in the stadium. TNT Sports recently increased its annual payment from £33million for PREM Rugby rights to £40million for the next five years and reported a 35 percent growth in audiences.

Currently there are 10 teams in the PREM, with 12 teams the aim for 2029-30, and potentially 14 beyond that.

Both parties were gushing in their praise, with PREM Rugby CEO Simon Massie-Taylor exclaiming, “We are now firmly on the path to a more prosperous and brighter future for Prem Rugby. Our vision is to become the best league in the world - for fans, players and investors in current and future Gallagher Prem clubs - and these important changes throughout the game will help us achieve this.”

Bill Sweeney, the RFU’s CEO, added: “The previous structure was not delivering the financial stability, investment confidence or wider system benefits the game now requires. This reform is about safeguarding the future – creating a model that is ambitious, sustainable and capable of supporting the whole rugby community, from the grassroots to the international stage.”

Here’s ATR’s take…

Giving Them Wings

When Red Bull bought Newcastle Falcons just before the start of the current season, the initial reaction was ‘phew’ and probably followed soon after by a growing sense of curiosity of where their investment might lead.

On the field it has been slow, after all they are still bottom of the table, but performances have improved and with more time to secure leading players as well as a full pre-season with them, they are confident that the first tangible on-field benefits will come.

The last thing the PREM needed was for a company of Red Bull’s size to lose interest early on. They haven’t and the hope is that other internationally-renowned groups are working out how they can join in.

Likely Lads

Season 2022-23 was not one PREM Rugby will look back on fondly. In September 2022 Worcester Warriors were wound up after failure to pay taxes and bills brought about by a labyrinth ownership system.

Wasps followed soon after, and at the end of the season London Irish hit the wall despite promises of US investment. Since then, the RFU and PREM have made it clear that the route back remains open, though only Worcester have returned to playing.

They currently sit third in CHAMP Rugby, 25 points behind Ealing Trailfinders in first place, but they have a PREM Rugby standard stadium, and training facilities. London Irish have a fine training centre, which their amateur club use, but no home base. They played at Brentford FC’s home, but that agreement was due to end in 2024, and interest had died down after their return to London after two decades playing in Reading, 45 minutes outside London.

As for Wasps, well they have talked a good game about their return with former stalwarts throwing their weight and finances behind their plans to set up in Sevenoaks, a commuter town south of London. The RFU considers the area ripe for growth, but so far little has been done. No players, no staff, no training ground, no stadium, and a town with its own club that doesn’t appreciate the attention.

So, Worcester look likely to fill one of those spots, and bring top-flight rugby back to England’s west midlands, but where does the other club or clubs come from?

Birmingham Boost

A day or so after the PREM Rugby/RFU announcement, an article appeared in one of England’s dailies suggesting that the US-led investors – one of whom is NFL great Tom Brady - who bought football club Birmingham City, are interested in bringing top-flight rugby to England’s second city.

Part of the consortium’s plans is to build a 10,000-capacity second stadium for Birmingham FC Women that would also be used by the PREM rugby club (and any subsequent women’s team).

Birmingham Moseley are the highest ranked Birmingham club, but are currently in the third tier, with very basic facilities. They previously played in the topflight and CHAMP as Moseley but appear content where they are.

Still, who could say no to Tom Brady and the promise of a glorious future? It may happen, but such is the timescale that it is likely to be in the second wave of PREM Rugby intake.

Wales Watch

Of course, for many the siren calls across the Severn Estuary might be the answer. It is well publicised how much the Welsh public would like to link up with the PREM, though the English side has appeared far less enthusiastic about such involvement.

With the shake up and turmoil in the Welsh elite club end, there is a line of thought that now might be the chance to revisit the idea, especially as Swansea is expected to be without a topflight side in the near future.

Of course, any move would need agreement from the Wales Rugby Union (WRU) – possible - and the RFU - unlikely. Ultimately, it will down to money and who provides funding. All ATR can see is two sides telling the other that it is their responsibility to fund the team.

What’s Changed?

Fans of CHAMP Rugby clubs may well be asking themselves this very question, after all there hasn’t been promotion between England’s second tier and topflight since Saracens won the COVID-19 afflicted 2020-21 season after they were relegated as punishment for financial mismanagement.

Since then, Ealing Trailfinders have won the CHAMP three times, but failed to meet PREM Rugby’s criteria, though many fans would suggest it has more to do with where they are, rather than what they offer.

Jersey Reds CHAMP Rugby winners in 2023 went under not long after and they are having to play their way back through the league system (as Richmond, London Scottish and London Welsh have all done), which is another bone of contention for CHAMP fans.

The only team that has passed muster are Doncaster Knights, who handily would complete the geographical spread of clubs to fill the gap of a team in the north. However, their fortunes have slipped from challenging for the title to mid-table comfort the past couple of seasons, with a resulting drop off in enthusiasm to join the PREM.

Coventry have been linked especially since Wasps’ collapse, but they are not set up for the PREM, either in facilities or team.

CHAMP clubs could also feel as though they have been cut off at the knees. In 2021 their RFU funding was cut from £650,000 annually to £160,000. At a stroke clubs went part-time, cut staff, and reduced investment in their facilities. In short, they are less ready for the PREM than ever before.

Ever-changing entry criteria, a greatly inflated wage bill, a change to the club set-up, a likelihood of greater debt, and a club parked there on their way to the PREM, is it any wonder the CHAMP clubs are happy where they are.