Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) have confirmed they are prioritizing the expansion of the English top flight with domestic clubs rather than incorporating Welsh teams, despite reported interest from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in joining an Anglo-Welsh league.
English expansion plans
The Premiership has been reduced to 10 sides after Wasps, Worcester, and London Irish folded during the 2022-23 season. Traditional promotion and relegation has been scrapped from the start of the 2026-27 season following landmark changes voted through by English rugby stakeholders. Instead, clubs from the second-tier Championship will apply to join the Premiership and be assessed on criteria including playing standard, finances, investment potential, infrastructure, and geographical appeal. The league aims to expand to 12 teams for the 2029-30 season, with a long-term ambition to grow further. A joint statement from Premiership Rugby and the RFU said resources are currently focused on supporting English clubs throughout the pyramid who aspire to join the league. The RFU would need to approve any cross-border competition involving Welsh teams.
WRU explores options
Wales' four professional sides — Ospreys, Cardiff, Scarlets, and Dragons — currently compete in the 16-team United Rugby Championship (URC), which includes teams from Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa. The WRU, a stakeholder in the URC, stated it is committed to providing four teams to the URC until the end of the 2027-28 season. By the end of the current season, the WRU will determine the future operating model for the men's professional game in Wales. The union acknowledged the appeal of the English top flight and revealed it is pitching for two of its women's teams, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning, to be included in Premiership Women's Rugby.
Financial pressures
The WRU posted an £18 million loss for the latest financial year, up from a £7.2 million loss the previous year, and predicts a similar loss next year. Chief financial officer Gavin Marshall said the union can only spend £20 million on professional rugby, compared to the £26 million it currently contributes. The Premiership entry fee, known as the "P-share," is valued at £20 million and secures a percentage of central income, voting rights, and the requirement to fund a Premiership Women's Rugby programme. The WRU plans to reduce its professional sides from four to three by 2028, with licences awarded for the capital, east, and west Wales. Ospreys and Scarlets are set to compete for the west Wales licence, while Cardiff (owned by the WRU) and Dragons (independently backed) are safe under current proposals. A rugby summit is scheduled for December, with a final decision on which club will be cut expected in summer 2027. New WRU chair Lyndon Faulkner, who has expressed support for an Anglo-Welsh competition, has also promised to review the three-team proposal amid ongoing uncertainty.
