PGB statement: Requirements for promotion to the Premiership

The professional game board at the RFU have agreed to loosen the rules governing the minimum stadium capacity rule which prevented Ealing from taking up their promotion to the Gallagher Premiership as winners of the 2021/22 Championship in England. 

It was last April when the RFU confirmed that the Trailfinders wouldn’t be coming up for the 2022/23 season and not having a team promoted from the second tier scuppered the plan to have a 14-club Premiership this term.

The PGB have now revisited the situation but rather than completely reduce the desired 10,001 stadium capacity, they will instead allow second-tier teams a 5,000 capacity entry point to the Premiership and allow additional time for them to get their ground capacities up to that five-figure capacity for the 2024/25 season if they want to stay in the top flight.

A statement read: “The professional game board met today [Friday] to agree on the minimum standards criteria for the 2022/23 season, which includes requirements for promotion to the Premiership from the Championship. 

“Around the principal area of discussion, minimum capacity of grounds, it has been agreed that there will be additional time for a club to build up to a capacity of 10,001:

• At the time of the audit in January 2023, a club must have a capacity of at least 5,000 plus planning permission to develop the ground up to a capacity of 10,001, with funding in place to achieve this. It would have to demonstrate an agreement with a contractor to carry out the work in due course;
• At the start of the season, 2023/24, the club must have a capacity of at least 5,000, if the ground is not a designated ground under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, it must have in place a non-statutory safety certificate from its local authority, and confirmation from its local authority as to its assurance and enforcement process;
• For the start of the 2024/25 season, the club must have a capacity of 10,001 and a full statutory general certificate. If these are not in place it will result in relegation.” 

PGB chairman Phil de Glanville said: “It remains the view of the PGB that a minimum ground capacity of 10,001 is important due to the rigour of the local authority-issued safety certificate for stadia of this size in addition to its importance for fans, sponsors and broadcasters.

“We recognise the challenges of achieving promotion and sustaining the club once in the Premiership and want to support Championship clubs with a transition season to allow Championship clubs more time to achieve the 10,001 capacity criteria once in the Premiership.”