Bedford Blues have acknowledged the “game needs change” but “there are still important questions to be answered”, after the Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed a “landmark agreement” last week in an attempt to revamp professional rugby.
The headline proposals from the announcement see the scrapping of promotion and relegation in its entirety from the 2026/27 campaign and a potential expansion from 10 to 12 teams in time for the 2029/30 season.
Promotion to the top tier – rebranded as ‘The Prem’ – will be replaced by, “a criteria-based expansion and demotion model”, allegedly “providing greater certainty for clubs and investors, strengthening long-term planning, maintaining competitive integrity and protecting player welfare”.
A statement released by the RFU on Friday (27 February) stated, “this new expansion model will create investable, globally competitive leagues while expanding rugby’s fanbase, widening its geographic footprint and delivering tangible benefits to the women’s game and community rugby across England.
“It is being introduced in recognition that the previous system was not delivering financial sustainability, discouraging long-term investment and failing to generate meaningful benefits for the wider rugby ecosystem.”
Bedford Blues, who are maintaining their long-standing stance of not seeking promotion to the English game’s top tier, say they have recognised the need for the game to change, but state “there are still important questions to be answered”.
They have also stated the Champ Rugby clubs received the proposals just two weeks before the RFU Council vote.
“The Champ Rugby Board have been contributors to the new structure and plan, with the Champ clubs recently receiving the proposals two weeks before the Council vote”, said Bedford Blues Chief Executive Officer, Gareth Alred.
“Whilst there is support for the new proposals, acknowledging the game needs change, there are still important questions to be answered that are fundamental with regards to governance, funding, aspiration and jeopardy, which we have been given assurance will be worked on in the coming weeks”, he added.
“Months of detailed work”
Asked whether the announcement will affect the ongoing competition of Champ Rugby, which introduced a play-off system this season, the Blues stated, “[the new proposals] do not impact the play-offs, the need for them, or the wider rebrand and commercialisation of Champ Rugby”.
The Bedford Independent also asked if the new proposals mean Champ Rugby clubs maintain their current levels of funding or if the ringfencing of The Prem affects Bedford Blues’ funding in the future.
Central funding for Champ Rugby clubs has fallen from an approximate figure of £650,000 per annum in 2016 to £166,000 a year a decade later.
“This is part of the conditions we are now negotiating”, said Gareth.
Promotion to ‘The Prem’ has technically been possible in recent years, but Champ Rugby has been dominated by Ealing Trailfinders, who are a long way from meeting the controversial Minimum Standards Criteria (MSC) imposed by the RFU as a prerequisite to promotion.
Only Doncaster Knights’ Castle Park has passed the stringent test since the new regulations were introduced, but the opportunity to get promoted at all from 2027 has been made all but impossible, except for what the RFU calls “ambitious” Champ Rugby clubs.
Worcester are one club that are hoping to re-join the top table, although they declined to apply for promotion this year.
These changes, which are the latest of a major overhaul in the professional and semi-professional game, have been agreed after “months of detailed work, involving leading stakeholders such as the RFU, PREM Rugby, Champ Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby and the Rugby Players Association”.
The RFU also claim they have consulted with investors, players and supporters.
The Chair of the Champ Board, Simon Gillham OBE added: “The Champ Board and clubs have welcomed the chance to contribute to the development of this proposal. We see great promise in the direction set out and are committed to helping make it a success.
“This process has been and is a new opportunity for all England rugby’s leading stakeholders to work together collaboratively.
“We look forward to working closely with the RFU and Men’s Professional Rugby Board in the weeks and months ahead to resolve outstanding critical issues impacting the Champ, including governance, funding, jeopardy and aspiration.”
Champ Rugby has just started a three week break, with Bedford Blues climbing back up to second in the standings following a gutsy 23-19 victory at Caldy on Saturday (28 February).
Read: Bedford Blues back up to second after tight Caldy win
Bedford Blues are back in action on Saturday, 21 March as they welcome Nottingham to Goldington Road.
