The death of promotion and the rise of the franchise model

Sport & Games · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2025–26 Premiership Rugby season marked a seismic shift in English domestic rugby. For the first time, the traditional ladder of promotion and relegation was scrapped in favor of a franchise model, fundamentally altering how the league's competitive structure and future stability are governed.

The 2025–26 season was the 39th edition of the top-flight English competition. While the league initially planned for a promotion play-off between the 10th-placed Premiership team and the 2025–26 Championship winners, this was scrapped mid-season. The league instead moved to a franchise model for the upcoming season, signaling a move away from the traditional open-league structure toward a more protected, commercially-driven format. The league's transition to this new model was announced during the regular season. This change follows a period where the top Championship team was repeatedly denied entry. The move aims to redefine the competition's long-term governance.

The season also saw a notable lack of movement in the league's membership. Despite Ealing Trailfinders winning the 2024–25 RFU Championship, they were ineligible for promotion for the fourth consecutive season due to failing to meet minimum standards. This left the Premiership with the same 10 teams from the previous year, including the Newcastle Red Bulls, who competed under their new branding following a takeover by Red Bull. The Newcastle Red Bulls debuted their new identity this year. This rebranding occurred specifically after the club was acquired by Red Bull. The league maintained a consistent 10-team roster throughout the entire campaign.

The competitive landscape was shaped by unique branding and scheduling. The league introduced 'Derby Weekends' for Round 3, featuring four specific local rivalries across the North, West Country, East Midlands, and London. Additionally, the season featured high-profile events like 'The Showdown' at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the 'Slater Cup' contested by Leicester Tigers and Gloucester. The season concluded with Northampton Saints winning their third English championship title, securing their second Premiership title in three seasons. The season opener between Gloucester and Sale Sharks was a first for the league, occurring on a Thursday night. This scheduling shift avoided a conflict with the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. The final match took place at Allianz Stadium in London on June 20, 2026.

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