Premiership Rejects Breakaway League Reports

Premiership Rugby have rejected reports they could form a breakaway league and a “war” with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The Mail on Sunday claimed the possibility of clubs putting together a breakaway league if the RFU refuses to end promotion from and relegation to the Championship had been discussed at a Premiership board meeting.

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The report claimed the two organisations were “at war”, but Premiership Rugby have now moved to deny those claims.

“As anyone would expect the PRB will discuss a number of issues at each meeting, with only some of those ever coming off the drawing board and into reality,” said a Premiership Rugby spokesperson.

“Our Board Meetings are a forum for ideas to be discussed but until there is an agreed policy on any issue, these are just ideas.

“The topic of promotion and relegation from Gallagher Premiership Rugby has been discussed since the game turned professional and is of course a topic raised at many of our Board Meetings.

“If a proposal on promotion and relegation is agreed by our Board it will be presented to the RFU. We are in a partnership with the RFU under the Professional Game Agreement.”

Premiership Rugby head Ian Ritchie told the BBC that the issue of scrapping promotion will be discussed further but stressed they have “worked very closely in partnership” with the RFU and will continue to do so, and stated “to suggest a civil war is imminent is, frankly, ridiculous”.