The decision, approved by a wide margin by the English federation (RFU), transforms the professional rugby landscape in England. From now on, access to the elite will no longer depend solely on results on the pitch, but on a set of criteria including financial strength, facilities, commercial strategy and the development of the game, notably the women’s game.

The change marks the abandonment of a founding principle of European sport in general. In its place comes a closed-league model, close to the North American franchise system, in which clubs are selected and secured over the long term in order to offer more stability to investors and partners.

From 10 to 12 clubs

The stated aim, then, is to save an English game weakened by high-profile collapses, such as those of Worcester, Wasps and London Irish in recent years. The new structure is meant to attract capital, reassure owners and build a more solid league over the long term.

Currently made up of ten clubs, the Premiership plans to expand gradually to twelve teams by 2029-2030, with the ambition of extending the model further in the future. For the game’s leaders, the reform is unavoidable. The previous system, based purely on sporting merit, guaranteed neither financial stability nor the growth of professional rugby, according to the federation.

But the strategic shift also raises questions. The disappearance of relegation removes part of the suspense and calls into question the ideal of equal opportunity, a historic pillar of rugby. Even if that way of working already suits the southern hemisphere just fine.

One thing is certain: by choosing security over risk, English rugby is changing its philosophy. And perhaps its destiny.