Premiership II plans announced

This proposal was put to the Championship clubs last year and they were given a deadline to apply but no club did. So the RFU under the new Prem 2 committee have re issued it. Will the Championship clubs still stand firm. The battle last year included the RFU assumption and Franchise club could apply (Wasps etc). Subject to any club achieving the new criteria. This would allow any club in Nat 1 to apply even if they do not finish in the top 2. However no mention of Promotion from Nat 1 or relegation from Championship. Presumably they are expecting a number of current Championship clubs to fail the criteria.

Can you please substantiate your claim about Newcastle Falcons’ owners “wanting out?”

They’ve said no such thing.

We looked at this last year. An even split would see Bishop’s Stortford and (then) Chinnor go North.

Now then; presumably Felicity Kvesic is related to Coventry’s Matt Kvesic, so must have some knowledge at least.

The giveaway here is that Worcester have apparently been “invited “ to apply.

The depth of incompetence and disdain for anyone outside the gilded circle at the RFU is stupifying.

1

To: Universities, Colleges and

RFU Member Clubs

30th September 2024

Tier 2 - INVITATION TO SUBMIT A FORMAL EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

At its September 2024 meeting the RFU Council approved the mechanism for entry for

additional teams into the Tier 2 (currently known as the Championship) league from 2025/26.

Entry will be via a tender process.

The process for the existing 12 Championship clubs to validate and evidence their ability to

meet the ‘Essential’ minimum operating standards, and other matters, in order to participate

in the new Tier 2 league, is coming to the end of the validation.

Following a further review process, the Tier 2 Board, ratified by the RFU Council, have

approved the following, regarding the Tier 2 league, from 2025/26:

• The size of the T2 league has been modelled to start with between 12-14 clubs with

the intention for this to expand over time if and when it is beneficial to do so.

• Additional clubs wishing to be involved in the Tier 2 league from 2025/26 will be

required to tender.

• A Panel will make recommendations to the Tier 2 Board for final ratification by the

RFU Board for those additional clubs selected for entry into the league in 2025/26.

• The league is subject to promotion and relegation on an annual basis.

• Additional Clubs entering the league in 2025/26 will be subject to the conditions of

the Participation Agreement, the RFU Rules and Regulations and compliance with

the Minimum Operating Standards, the commercial growth strategy and other

agreements as notified by the RFU.

The Tier 2 League

The vision, mission and objectives of the Tier 2 league has been refined as follows:

Tier 2 Vision: A professional league to inspire and engage the current and future

generations of rugby fans, whilst bringing commercial sustainability and growth to clubs.

A. Growth Mindset | An aligned league of professional Clubs who retain, acquire, and

grow clubs, players and fans.

• Clubs will have marketing resources primarily focused on the growth of the fan

base.

• The league will have an aligned audience growth strategy.

B. Locally Brilliant, nationally relevant | Delivers a consistent high quality event day

experience and entertainment for fans in the stadium and at home.

• Clubs will meet aligned minimum facilities standards to ensure a consistent quality

match day experience.

• Clubs will have an aligned ticketing solution to maximize collective marketing efforts

and drive as many tickets sales as possible.

• The League and Clubs will collectively monitor and evaluate Matchday experience.

C. Investable | Creating the best second tier rugby union competition in the world,

underpinned by a sustainable business model.

• Clubs will have sustainable P&Ls with manageable debt plans.

D. Opportunity | Delivers professional playing and coaching opportunities for the best

young Premiership talent and the very best talent in Tier 2 and the Community

Game.

• There will be a clear and effective loan agreement with the Premiership and its clubs

to ensure that England’s top young talent has the game time required to flourish and

grow local interest.

• T2 Clubs will play a clear role in the development pathway for young players.

• There will be a clear player pathway between the Premiership, T2, National leagues

and academies.

E. Compelling Content | A competitive narrative with the drama and jeopardy that only

of live sport can deliver.

• There will be a central marketing programme and an aligned Club approach.

• There will be both Club and central creative resource to develop T2 content.

F. Integrity | A competition that makes sense, rewards ambition and plays a key role in

growing Rugby Union in England.

• There will be a transparent and consistent competition structure from the Premiership

down to community leagues.

• There will be clear and consistent opportunities for Clubs to transition between

leagues by satisfying criteria.

• There will be a play-off transition mechanic to drive a jeopardy narrative between the

adjacent leagues.

To that end, universities, colleges and RFU member clubs are invited to submit an Expression

of Interest to apply for an additional place in the league from the 2025/26 season. A summary

of the opportunity, timeframes and the processes are provided in the documentation below.

Expressions of Interest should be made by completing the pro forma provided below and

returning it by e-mail to tier2@rfu.com.

Expressions of Interest must be received no later than 5:00pm Sunday 13th October 2024.

All clubs, universities and colleges who submit an Expression of Interest will then receive a

full Request for Proposal (RFP) to apply for a place in the league. This will be sent by email

on Tuesday 15th October with a response to the request for proposals due no later than by

5pm on Tuesday 12th November 2024. The adjudication of tenders will take place in

November and we will aim to notify successful teams in December.

The submission of an Expression of Interest is without prejudice, and in no way constitutes

an obligation, either on the club, university or college to pursue a place in the league, or to

enter into an agreement with the RFU; or on the RFU to develop the RFP process or to enter

into an agreement with any club, university or college.

This Expression of Interest stage is an initial and indicative exercise, with the intention of

gauging the level of interest among clubs, universities and colleges, prior to circulation of the

RFP, whose contents will supersede the information given within the documentation provided

here.

However, failure to submit an Expression of Interest by the stated deadline may mean that a

club, university or college is not subsequently invited to submit a proposal for the award of a

place in the league.

If you have any queries regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact

tier2@rfu.com, otherwise we look forward to receiving your response, as appropriate, in the

near future.

Yours sincerely,

Conor O’Shea

Executive Director of Performance Rugby/Tier 2 Board Member

Rugby Football Union

INVITATION TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Introduction

The Tier 2 Board was established in July 2024 with an independent Chair and representatives

of the Championship Clubs and the Rugby Football Union. The Tier 2 Board has had delegated

and reserved to it certain regulatory and other powers in relation to the operational and league

management functions of the Tier 2 league. The Tier 2 Board will be responsible and

accountable for driving the growth strategy to achieve the commercial aims of the Tier 2

League.

The RFU will invest approximately £4m per year in club operations, central growth strategy

and player development incentives. Clubs will be expected to cover their own costs, in line

with the MOS.

Clubs, universities and colleges are asked to consider costs carefully, and whether they will

be able to meet them, before submitting an Expression of Interest.

Criteria

Once request for proposals are received, the submissions will be reviewed against the

following criteria:

Player Base

Clubs will be expected to have a registered player base of 45 adult players, of whom at least

30 can play at the second level of the men’s domestic game and in order to field a first XV. In

addition, clubs will be able to dual register up to 15 players. It is expected there will be an

England Qualified Player (EQP) requirement set for all league fixtures, which may require

clubs to play a certain number of EQPs in their match-day squad.

Minimum Operating Standards Framework

The ability to meet Minimum Operating Standards which will be demonstrated through the

completion of the self-assessment process, similar to that which the Championship clubs have

completed, prior to entry to the 2025/26 season.

These standards have been produced in consideration with benchmarks from other sports

properties and refined in consultation with Championship Clubs, NLR, PRL and RFU

representatives. Those standards, while uncosted, are progressive and deliver the ambitions

and strategy for the new league, while also remaining achievable for current Championship

clubs and aspirant clubs from the wider game.

Included in the pack you can find the minimum operating standards in detail for Year 1

(2025/26) and the focus is on an applicant Club’s ability to meet the Essential standards.

Tier 2 Minimum Operating Standards for 2025/26 | Rugby Football Union

(englandrugby.com)

Financial Viability

The ability to demonstrate financial viability will be assessed against the financial elements

of the Minimum Operating Standards with a template provided.

League Central Objectives

The ability to align with the league central objectives. This will be assessed against three

areas:

Player Base & Competitiveness; Commercial and Geography

This will enable the selection panel and the Tier 2 Board to review in detail the clubs'

strategies to ensure that clubs’ ambitions are backed by careful and realistic planning, and

that they are able to demonstrate an alignment with the league central Growth Strategy.

Non RFU Leagues

For any applicants that are not currently in the league structure, consideration will also be

given to the following elements:

a. Membership of the RFU or evidence that an applicant can comply with the relevant

provisions of RFU Regulation 3.4 (Membership of the RFU);

b. If entering the league structure otherwise in accordance with RFU Regulation 6,

consideration will also be given to RFU Regulation 5 and in particular the provisions

relating to Rugby Creditors.

The Tier 2 Board will make a final recommendation to RFU Board which will approve the

final number and composition of teams for Tier 2 2025/26 season in January 2025.

Participation Agreement

Clubs, universities and colleges which are included within the league will sign a participation

agreement with the RFU which sets out the terms and conditions of participation, and the

respective obligations of each party.

About £4million in funding.

So funding about £250k per side, with the rest spent on central marketing.

Hardly an earth-shattering increase.

And up to 15 dual registered players per squad.

Sweeney Delenda Est