6 publishers · first seen Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:17 UTC · updated Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:25 UTC
Prem Rugby and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the English top-flight to 12 teams by the 2029-30 season, focusing on English clubs despite reports of Welsh interest. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has been in discussions with Prem Rugby and the RFU about a potential Anglo-Welsh league, but both parties stress that resources are focused on supporting English clubs aspiring to join. Expansion plans require any prospective club to meet strict entry criteria, including a financial commitment of up to £23.5m, comprising the P-share and funding a Premiership Women’s Rugby programme.
The WRU faces financial challenges, reporting a loss of £18.1m for 2025-26, and is considering reducing its four professional regions to three by 2028. While the WRU has expressed interest in exploring competition opportunities, including potential inclusion of Welsh women's teams in Premiership Women's Rugby, any move by Welsh clubs into the Premiership would require RFU approval due to the cross-border nature of the league.
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