Championship clubs hail ‘new era’ after approval of promotion to Premiership

Two-leg playoff approved between bottom and top clubs.

NEW ERA: Northampton Saints players celebrate victory after the latest Premiership final this month.

Championship clubs have welcomed the approval of promotion to the Premiership as a “new era” for the professional game in England.

The Rugby Football Union’s council has ratified a home-and-away playoff between the bottom-placed Premiership club and the winner of the Championship, starting from the 2025-26 season. It means there could be movement between the top two divisions for the first time since Saracens returned to the top flight in 2021 after receiving a 105-point deduction for salary cap breaches, resulting in their relegation 12 months earlier.