Premiership Rugby#Tries

{{See also|History of the English rugby union system}}

{{unreferenced section|date=January 2017}}

The governing body of rugby union in England, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), long resisted leagues as it was believed that the introduction of leagues would increase 'dirty' play and put pressure on clubs to pay their players (thereby contravening the amateur ethos).{{cite journal |last1=Malcolm |first1=Dominic |last2=Sheard |first2=Ken |last3=White |first3=Andy |title=The changing structure and culture of english rugby union football |journal=Culture, Sport, Society |date=September 2000 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=63–87 |doi=10.1080/14610980008721879 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/14610980008721879?needAccess=true |access-date=24 October 2023|url-access=subscription }} Instead, clubs arranged their own fixtures and had traditional games. The only organised tournaments were the County Cups and County Championship – the former played by clubs and the latter by County representative teams e.g.1980- 81 Rugby Union County Championship. The Daily Telegraph and a few local newspapers – such as the Yorkshire Post – compiled 'pennants' based on teams' performances, but as the strength of fixture lists varied, it was at best an estimate of a team's performance throughout a season.

In 1972 the RFU sanctioned a national knock-out cup – the RFU Club Competition, the predecessor to the Anglo-Welsh Cup – followed first by regional merit tables and then, in the mid-1980s, by national merit tables. One of the casualties of the move to competitive leagues was the loss of some traditional games as the new fixture lists didn't allow time for all of them.

The league system has evolved since its start in 1987 when the Courage Leagues were formed – a league pyramid with roughly 1,000 clubs playing in 108 leagues, each with promotion and relegation.

In the first season, clubs were expected to arrange the fixtures on mutually convenient dates. The clubs involved were Bath, Bristol, Coventry, Gloucester, Harlequins, Leicester, Moseley, Nottingham, Orrell, Sale, Wasps and Waterloo. That first season was an unqualified success, with clubs in the upper echelons of the national leagues reporting increased crowds, interest from both local backers and national companies, and higher skill levels among players exposed to regular competition. The fears that leagues would lead to greater violence on the field proved largely unfounded.

By the next season, the RFU allocated fixed Saturdays to the league season, removing the clubs' responsibility for scheduling matches. There was no home and away structure to the leagues in those early seasons, as sides played one another only once.

Initially two teams, Bath and Leicester, proved to be head and shoulders above the rest in the Courage League, and between them dominated the top of the table.

In 1994, the league structure expanded to include a full rota of home and away matches for the first time. The 1994–95 season was the first to be shown live on Sky Sports, a relationship which continued until the 2013–14 season when BT Sport acquired the exclusive rights in a deal which is currently scheduled to end after the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/partners/sky_sports.php#.UVFqgRyeOSo|title=Partners | Sky Sports|publisher=Premiership Rugby|date=28 June 2012|access-date=31 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427165823/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/partners/sky_sports.php#.UVFqgRyeOSo|archive-date=27 April 2013|url-status=live}}

The league turned professional for the 1996–97 season when the first winners were Wasps, joining Bath and Leicester as the only champions in the league's first decade. Clubs like Saracens, Newcastle and Northampton were able to attract wealthy benefactors, but the professional era also had its casualties, as clubs like West Hartlepool, Richmond and London Scottish were forced into administration when their backers pulled out.{{cite web|url=http://www.londonscottish.com/oneclub/history.php|title=Club History|publisher=London Scottish FC|date=13 April 2013|access-date=19 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401101336/http://londonscottish.com/oneclub/history.php|archive-date=1 April 2016}}

The start of the 2000–01 season brought with it a re-vamping of the season structure. In 2000–2001 an 8-team playoff (the Championship) was introduced. However, the team finishing top of the table at the end of the regular season was still considered English champions ("Premiership title").

Halfway through the 2001–02 season, with Leicester odds-on to win their fourth title in succession, it was controversially decided that the winners of the 8-team playoff would be crowned English champions.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/leicester-livid-as-seasons-spoils-are-left-up-for-grabs-691178.html|title=Leicester livid as seasons spoils are left up for grabs|date=10 February 2001|work=The Independent|access-date=28 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123072024/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/leicester-livid-as-seasons-spoils-are-left-up-for-grabs-691178.html|archive-date=23 January 2012}} There was an outcry from fans and this proposal was dropped.

From the beginning of the 2002–03 season, a new playoff format was introduced to replace the 8-team Championship. The format required the first-placed team in the league to play the winner of a match between the second- and third-placed teams. Critically, the winner of this game (the Premiership Final) would be recognised as English champions. Although Gloucester won the league by a clear margin, they then faced a three-week wait until the final. Having lost their momentum, they were beaten by second-placed Wasps (who had defeated third-placed Northampton) in the play-offs. The playoff structure was reformatted in the 2005–06 season in which the first-placed team would play the fourth placed team in a semi-final (a Shaughnessy playoff).

Since the implementation of the playoff system, only six teams have won both the regular season and playoffs in the same year: Leicester twice in 2000–01 (the first year of the playoffs), 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2021–22 Sale Sharks in 2005–06, Harlequins in 2011–12, Saracens in 2015–16, Exeter in 2019–20, and Northampton Saints in 2023–24

Of all the Premiership teams, Wasps have made a reputation for playing the competition format to perfection, peaking at the right time to be crowned English Champions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008. Wasps did not lead the league standings at the end of the season in any of these years. Conversely, Gloucester have garnered an unfortunate reputation for leading the table at the end of the regular season, only to fall short of winning the Premiership title, losing finals in 2003, 2007, and 2008. Gloucester's single victory in the playoffs, in 2002, occurred when league leaders Leicester were still considered English champions, meaning Gloucester's Championship victory was considered secondary.

The 2011–12 season saw Harlequins add their name to the trophy on their first attempt, winning 30–23 against the nine-times champions Leicester. Leicester would have to wait until 2012–13 for their 10th championship, where they defeated Northampton in the final.

The 2013–14 Aviva Premiership season saw Northampton become the 8th different team to win the trophy. This was achieved when they defeated Leicester Tigers in the semi-final 21–20, thus denying Leicester a 10th Consecutive Final.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27406882|title=Premiership semi-final: Northampton 21–20 Leicester|work=BBC Sport |department=BBC Sport|date=16 May 2014|access-date=4 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519153938/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27406882|archive-date=19 May 2014|url-status=live}} In the final, they defeated Saracens 20–24 with a try in the last minute of extra time to win the 2013–14 Aviva Premiership.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27590375|title=Premiership final: Saracens 20–24 Northampton Saints|work=BBC Sport |department=BBC Sport|date=31 May 2014|access-date=2 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602010250/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27590375|archive-date=2 June 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/31890.php |title=Aviva Premiership Final: Saracens 20 Northampton Saints 24 |publisher=Premiership Rugby |date=31 May 2014 |access-date=2 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603080306/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/31890.php |archive-date=3 June 2014 }}

With the future of the Heineken Cup uncertain beyond 2013–14, due to a row between England's Premiership Rugby Limited and France's LNR on one side and the sport's governing bodies on the other, Premiership Rugby Limited explored several moves toward expanding its brand into the United States. In May 2013, Premiership Rugby Limited and U.S.-based RugbyLaw entered into a plan by which the two organisations were to help back a proposed U.S. professional league that could have begun play as early as 2014.{{cite news|title=NFL joins plan aiming to create professional rugby union league in US|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/may/11/nfl-rugby-union-rugbylaw-barbarians-irish|first=Tom|last=Dart|website=The Guardian|date=11 May 2013|access-date=4 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203134618/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/may/11/nfl-rugby-union-rugbylaw-barbarians-irish|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=live}} The first phase of the plan was to involve two preseason exhibitions featuring an "American Barbarians" side that would combine international veterans and young American talent. The "Barbarians" were intended to play matches in August 2013 in the U.S. and London, but those plans fell through, and the matches were indefinitely delayed.{{cite news|title=US professional rugby union project delayed to 2014|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jun/05/us-professional-rugby-union-london-irish|first=Tom|last=Dart|website=The Guardian|date=5 June 2013|access-date=4 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816234555/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/jun/05/us-professional-rugby-union-london-irish|archive-date=16 August 2013|url-status=live}}

In August 2013, Peter Tom, the chairman of Leicester Tigers, confirmed that discussions had taken place within Premiership Rugby Limited about the possibility of hosting selected Premiership matches in the US.{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2013-14/rugby/story/192919.html|title=America to host Aviva Premiership matches?|work=ESPN Scrum|date=4 August 2013|access-date=4 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807231016/http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2013-14/rugby/story/192919.html|archive-date=7 August 2013|url-status=live}} The first match played in the USA was on 12 March 2016 when London Irish were defeated by Saracens at the Red Bull Arena in the New York Metropolitan Area.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34647359|title=London Irish to play Saracens in New York Premiership match|department=BBC Sport|date=27 October 2015|access-date=27 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028020131/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34647359|archive-date=28 October 2015|url-status=live}} This match was intended to be the first of a three-year deal which would have seen London Irish play one home match each season in the US, but their relegation from the Premiership at the end of the 2015–16 season scuttled that plan.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/may/17/saracens-newcastle-philadelphia-premiership-rugby |title=Saracens to face Newcastle in Philadelphia under four-year US deal |first=Martin |last=Pengelly |work=Theguardian.com |date=17 May 2017 |access-date=22 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521083151/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/may/17/saracens-newcastle-philadelphia-premiership-rugby |archive-date=21 May 2017 |url-status=live }} A new deal was reached with American sports marketing company AEG in 2017 which was intended to see at least one Premiership match taken to the US for four seasons starting in 2017–18. The first match under the new deal was held on 16 September 2017, with Newcastle Falcons taking their home fixture against Saracens to the Talen Energy Stadium in the Philadelphia suburb of Chester, Pennsylvania. In 2018–19, although no match was scheduled to take place in the US, the round 6 match between Saracens and Harlequins was the first broadcast on network television in the US of a Premiership Rugby game. The game was shown live on NBC. In 2019–20, and 2020–21 once again no matches were scheduled to take place in the US.

2018 also saw a revamp of the league's secondary competition with the launch of the Premiership Rugby Shield.

In December 2018, it was announced that the Luxembourg based investment advisory firm CVC Capital Partners had bought a 27% stake in Premiership Rugby in a deal worth £200m.{{Cite news|date=19 December 2018|title=Premiership Rugby: Minority shareholding sold to CVC Capital Partners for £200m|language=en-gb|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46626471|access-date=16 February 2021}} A previous offer to purchase a 51% majority share was rejected.{{Cite news|title=Premiership clubs against majority deal|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45490184|access-date=16 February 2021}} The money from the investment was planned to be used to improve facilities at clubs and grow the game globally.{{Cite web|title=Premiership Rugby confirm new partnership with CVC Capital Partners|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/2018/12/20/premiership-rugby-confirm-new-partnership-with-cvc-capital-partners/|access-date=16 February 2021|website=Premiership Rugby|language=en-US}}

In March 2019, allegations emerged that Saracens may have broken the league's salary cap. In June, Premiership Rugby announced that they would investigate the allegations.{{cite news|url=https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/domestic-club-rugby-union/34171/the-business-links-how-saracens-salary-cap-breach-became-the-biggest-story-since-bloodgate/|work=The Rugby Paper|access-date=19 November 2019|date=12 November 2019|title=The Business Links – How Saracens' salary cap breach became the biggest story since Bloodgate}} In November 2019, Saracens were found to have been in breach of the salary cap regulations due to failure to disclose player payments in the 2016–17, 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, which would have taken them over the senior player cap.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50457698|date=18 November 2019|access-date=18 November 2019|work=BBC Sport|title=Saracens salary cap breach: Premiership champions will not contest sanctions}} They were handed a 35-point deduction for the 2019–20 season and fined £5.3 million.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/breaking-saracens-docked-points-and-fined-for-breaching-salary-cap-regulations/|title=Saracens docked points and fined for breaching salary cap regulations |date=5 November 2019 |website=Ruck |access-date=5 November 2019 }} The judgement found that Saracens had been reckless in entering into the arrangements with players without disclosing them to Premiership Rugby.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/saracens-to-accept-5m-fine-for-breach-of-salary-cap-b2fmss266 |first=Stephen |last=Jones |date=17 November 2019 |access-date=19 November 2019 |work=The Times |title=Saracens to accept £5m fine for breach of salary cap }}

On 18 January 2020, Premiership Rugby announced that Saracens would be relegated to the RFU Championship for the 2020–21 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/51143657 |date= 18 January 2020 |access-date= 18 January 2020 |work= BBC Sport |title= Saracens facing relegation from Premiership over salary cap breaches }} Premiership Rugby CEO Darren Childs said this punishment was due to Saracens lack of cooperation in a mid-season audit to prove compliance in the 2019–20 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51198054|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=21 January 2020|access-date=22 January 2020|title=Saracens: Premiership Rugby urge club to be more transparent}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/premiership-rugby-why-relegating-saracens-the-only-option|work=Rugby Pass|date=22 January 2020|access-date=22 January 2020|title=Relegating Saracens the 'only option'}}

On 23 January 2020, Lord Dyson's full report into Saracens' spending was published, it revealed that Saracens had overspent the salary cap by £1.1m in 2016–17, £98,000 in 2017-18 and £906,000 in 2018–19. These included £923,947.63 of property investments between Nigel Wray and three unnamed Saracens players. It also included Saracens claim that the Salary Cap was unenforceable under competition law, this defence was rejected.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51222415|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Sport|title=Saracens salary cap breaches: What we have learned from Premiership Rugby report?}} On 28 January 2020, Premiership Rugby applied a further 70 point deduction for the 2019–20 season to ensure Saracens would finish bottom of the league table.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51283088|publisher=BBC|work=BBC Sport|title=Saracens: Edward Griffiths resigns as interim CEO as club docked further 70 points|date=28 January 2020|access-date=29 January 2020}}

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all elite sports in England in spring 2020. The RFU initially suspended both the Premiership and Championship before eventually cancelling the Championship season.{{Cite web|title=Greene King IPA Championship season Cancelled|url=https://www.championshiprugby.co.uk/news/article/greene-king-ipa-championship-season-cancelled|access-date=16 February 2021|website=www.championshiprugby.co.uk}} Newcastle Falcons, who topped the Championship table at the time of the season's premature end were promoted based on their playing record and would replace Saracens in the Premiership the following season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/newcastle-falcons-promoted-into-gallagher-premiership|title=Newcastle Falcons promoted into Gallagher Premiership|website=www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk|language=en|access-date=16 February 2021}}

The 2019–20 Premiership Rugby season recommenced on 14 August and the final was held 24 October 2020.{{Cite web|title=Update on the 2019-20 season|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/update-on-the-2019-20-season|access-date=16 February 2021|website=Premiership Rugby|language=en-US}}

The disruption of the 2019–20 season meant the 2020–21 season commenced 10 weeks late on 20 November 2020 and ran over a reduced timeframe of 32 weeks (down from 42).{{Cite web|date=6 August 2020|title=Gallagher Premiership release full fixture list for rescheduled season|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/gallagher-premiership-release-full-fixture-list-for-rugby-restart/|access-date=16 February 2021|website=RugbyPass|language=en}}

The financial impact of the pandemic also caused the salary cap to be temporarily reduced for a maximum of 3 seasons from the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web|title=Premiership Rugby clubs unanimously vote to temporarily reduce the salary cap|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/premiership-rugby-clubs-unanimously-vote-to-temporarily-reduce-the-salary-cap|access-date=11 June 2020|website=Premiership Rugby|language=en-US}}

A moratorium on relegation was also approved in February 2021, meaning no teams would be relegated as a potential consequence of another team receiving more points due to games cancelled because of COVID-19. With this news it was also confirmed that the league's minimum standards criteria for promotion would be reviewed as would league structure from the 2021–22 season. The new structure extended the moratorium on relegation for a further two-years. A playoff between the top team in the Championship and the bottom team in the Premiership is also introduced in the 2023–24 season.{{Cite web|title=RFU Council Votes in Favour of COVID Recovery Plan|url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/rfu-council-vote-in-favour-of-covid-recovery-plan|access-date=29 June 2021|website=www.englandrugby.com}}

On 26 September 2022, Worcester Warriors went into administration and were suspended from the league.{{Cite web |date=27 September 2022 |title=Administrators begin task of finding a buyer for Worcester Warriors |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-football-union-gloucester-begbies-traynor-worcester-warriors-twickenham-b2176657.html |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

Their upcoming fixture against Gloucester on 1 October, was also cancelled.

On 6 October, Worcester Warriors were suspended for the rest of the season, relegated from the premiership, and all past and future fixtures for that season expunged.{{Cite web |last=Skippers |first=David |date=6 October 2022 |title=Premiership: Worcester suspended for rest of the season and relegated |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/premiership-worcester-warriors-suspended-for-rest-of-the-season-and-relegated |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=PlanetRugby |language=en}}

On 17 October 2022, Wasps went into administration and were suspended from the league.

Their upcoming fixture against Sale Sharks on 18 October, was also cancelled.

On 28 October, Wasps were suspended for the rest of the season, relegated from the premiership, and all past and future fixtures for that season expunged.{{Cite news |title=Wasps suspended from the premiership, and relegated |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/63429086|access-date=28 October 2022|work=BBC Sport|language=en}}

On 6 June 2023, London Irish were suspended from the Premiership after missing a deadline to pay players and staff.{{Cite news |title=London Irish suspended from Premiership after failing to provide financial assurances |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/65819546|access-date=6 June 2023|work=BBC Sport|language=en}} Irish subsequently went into administration on 7 June.{{Cite news |title=London Irish file for administration after suspension from all club competitions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65834979|date=7 June 2023|access-date=14 June 2023|work=BBC Sport|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607145409/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65834979|archive-date=7 June 2023}}

Despite ongoing financial concerns the league remained very competitive during these years. Northampton Saints defeated Bath in the 2023–24 final. This meant the league had produced five different winners of the competition in five years stretching back to the 2019-20 season with Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Saracens and Northampton Saints all winning the competition.{{cite web |title=Northampton Saints 25 FT 21 HT: 15 - 10 W W L Bath Rugby |url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/match-centre/277017/live-commentary |publisher=Premiership Rugby |access-date=9 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/about/history |publisher=Premiership Rugby |access-date=9 December 2024}}

In June 2025, Bath returned to the Premiership final for a second consecutive year defeating Leicester Tigers 23–21 to secure their first title in 29 years and to make it six different winners of the tournament in as many seasons.{{cite web |last1=Kitson |first1=Robert |title=Russell inspires Bath to Premiership title despite late Leicester fightback |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/14/premiership-rugby-bath-leicester-match-report |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=14 June 2025}}

The Premiership began the 2022–23 season with 13 clubs, but both Wasps and Worcester Warriors were removed from the league, and automatically relegated, after going into administration.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63874448 | title=Worcester Warriors and Wasps: RFU rejects clubs' appeals over Premiership relegation | work=BBC Sport | date=6 December 2022 | access-date=11 December 2022 | language=en-UK}} Ahead of the 2023–24 season, London Irish also dropped out of the league, as a result of financial insolvency.{{Cite web |title=London Irish suspended from Gallagher Premiership and all leagues by RFU due to financial issues |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12550/12897294/london-irish-suspended-from-gallagher-premiership-and-all-leagues-by-rfu-due-to-financial-issues |access-date=6 June 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}

{{Location map+|England|width=300|float=right|caption=Locations of current Gallagher Premiership Rugby Teams|places=

{{Location map~|England|lat=51.3734210|long=-2.3575857|label={{nowrap|Bath}}|background=white|position=right}}

{{location map~|England|lat=51.4635409|long=-2.6213731|label={{nowrap|Bristol}}|background=white|position=left}}

{{Location map~|England|lat=50.7096207|long=-3.4704987|label={{nowrap|Exeter}}|background=white|position=left}}

{{Location map~|England|lat=51.8710381|long=-2.2450738|label={{nowrap|Gloucester}}|background=white|position=left}}

{{Location map~|England|lat=51.450278|long=-0.344167|label={{nowrap|Harlequins}}|background=white|position=right}}

{{location map~|England|lat=52.6248649|long=-1.1349918|label={{nowrap|Leicester}}|background=white|position=top}}

{{location map~|England|lat=55.0156900|long=-1.6659450|label={{nowrap|Newcastle}}|background=white|position=left}}

{{Location map~|England|lat=52.2405553|long=-0.9204891|label={{nowrap|Northampton}}|background=white|position=right}}

{{Location map~|England|lat=53.4696051|long=-2.3781022|label={{nowrap|Sale}}|background=white|position=left}}

{{Location map~|England|lat=51.603506|long=-0.223642|label={{nowrap|Saracens}}|background=white|position=top}}

}}

• Note: Capacity listed for rugby union games may differ from official stadium capacity

{{reflist|group=f}}

A total of 28 clubs have been involved in the top-flight since the league's inception in the 1987–88 season. The most recent club to make its debut in the Premiership was London Welsh, which made their top flight debut in 2012–13.

Three clubs — Bath, Gloucester and Leicester Tigers — have appeared in every season to date. Harlequins have only missed the 2005–06 season due to relegation. Six other clubs have appeared in at least 20 seasons — Saracens, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks, London Irish, Bristol Bears and Newcastle Falcons. The financial insolvency, expulsion and automatic relegation of Wasps during the 2022–23 season means their record of being ever-present effectively ended at the end of the 2021–22 season.

Coventry, Liverpool St Helens, Moseley, Nottingham, Rosslyn Park, Rugby and Waterloo only appeared during the amateur era, whereas Exeter Chiefs, Leeds Tykes, London Welsh, Richmond, Rotherham Titans and Worcester Warriors have only appeared during the professional era.

Below, the 2024–25 clubs are listed in bold; ever-present clubs are listed in bold italics. Years listed are the calendar years in which the seasons ended. All current teams will remain in the league until at least 2024.

{{update|section|reason=Some of these are no longer current referees, the reference given is over 4 years old|date=November 2023}}

Referees in the Premiership are selected from the RFU's Professional Referee Unit. The Professional Referee Unit consists of 15 referees with match appointments decided by PRU management team of ex-international referees Ed Morrison, Brian Campsall and Tony Spreadbury.{{cite web|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/about-us/who-we-work-with/premiership-rugby-match-officials/|publisher=Premiership Rugby|access-date=22 August 2018|title=Premiership Rugby Match Officials|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323225841/https://www.premiershiprugby.com/about-us/who-we-work-with/premiership-rugby-match-officials/|archive-date=23 March 2019|url-status=live}}

List of Premiership Referees

Source:

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Wayne Barnes
• Matthew Carley
• Sara Cox
• Karl Dickson
• Tom Foley
• Simon Harding
• Andrew Jackson
• Greg MacDonald
• Craig Maxwell-Keys
• John Meredith
• Luke Pearce
• Dean Richards
• Christophe Ridley
• Ian Tempest
• Tim Wigglesworth

{{div col end}}

They are supported by a large team of assistant referees.

The Premiership Rugby league season typically runs from September to June and comprises 18 rounds of matches, with each club playing each other home and away. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:

• 4 points are awarded for a win
• 2 points are awarded for a draw
• 0 points are awarded for a loss, however
• 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
• 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

Since the restart of the 2019–20 season, scheduled fixtures which are cancelled because of a COVID-19 outbreak in one of the competing teams will have their outcome and points allocation decided by a Premiership Rugby panel. As of the start of the 2021–22 season, if the fixture cannot be rescheduled, it is recorded as a 0–0 draw. In this situation, if one team would have been able to fulfil the fixture, they will be awarded 4 points, while the team unable to field a matchday squad due to a COVID-19 outbreak will be given 2 points – otherwise, if both teams are impacted by COVID-19, they will each receive 2 points for the affected fixture.

Following the completion of the regular season, the top 4 teams enter the play-offs, which are held in June. The top two teams receive home advantage, the league leaders hosting the 4th ranked team, and the 2nd place team hosting the 3rd place team. The winners of these semi-finals progress to the final, held at Twickenham Stadium, with the winner of the final being crowned champions.

Admittance to the Premiership, which is Level 1 of the men's 106-league English rugby union system, is achieved through a system of promotion and relegation between the Premiership and the RFU Championship. Originally this meant a season-winning Championship club was promoted, replacing the lowest placed Premiership club which was relegated (between 2021 and 2023 promotion continued but no Level 1 club has been relegated).{{cite press release |url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/play-off-system-removed-from-greene-king-ipa-championship-from-next-season/ |title=Play-off system removed from Greene King IPA Championship from next season |publisher=Premiership Rugby Limited |date=3 March 2017 |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309171650/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/play-off-system-removed-from-greene-king-ipa-championship-from-next-season |archive-date=9 March 2017 |url-status=live }}

Promotion from the Championship is subject to the Minimum Standards Criteria. If a promotion-winning team does not meet these standards then there is no promotion. In the 2011–12 season London Welsh won promotion from the Championship but were initially denied promotion under the criteria, reprieving Newcastle Falcons from relegation. However London Welsh were found eligible on appeal and Newcastle were relegated.{{cite web|last=Mairs|first=Gavin|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9365484/London-Welsh-to-join-Aviva-Premiership-after-winning-appeal-against-decision-to-deny-them-promotion.html|title=London Welsh to join Aviva Premiership after winning appeal against decision to deny them promotion|work=The Telegraph|date=29 June 2012|access-date=31 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820091743/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9365484/London-Welsh-to-join-Aviva-Premiership-after-winning-appeal-against-decision-to-deny-them-promotion.html|archive-date=20 August 2012|url-status=live}}

;Relegation change and new regulations

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a moratorium was approved in February 2021 for a halt on top-flight clubs being relegated from the Premiership beginning that season. As promotion from the Championship would not be stopped, this meant the Premiership would expand to 13 teams in the following year.{{Cite web |date=29 June 2021 |title=Premiership to expand to 14 teams from 2022-23 season |url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/31730620/premiership-rugby-expand-14-teams-2022-23-season-no-promotion-relegation-2023-24 |access-date=22 February 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=RFU Council Votes in Favour of No Premiership Relegation|url=https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/rfu-council-votes-in-favour-of-no-premiership-relegation|access-date=14 February 2021|website=www.englandrugby.com}}

The moratorium was extended by an additional two seasons in June 2021. New regulations would also include a moratorium on promotion from the Championship in the same season had the Premiership expanded to 14 teams and introduce a play-off between the bottom placed Premiership Club and top placed Championship club in 2023–24. New minimum standards criteria were announced in September 2022, confirming that promotion from the championship was still due to take place in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Minimum Standards Criteria for Promotion Update |url=https://www.championshiprugby.co.uk/news/article/minimum-standards-criteria-for-promotion-update |access-date=25 September 2022 |website=www.championshiprugby.co.uk}}

The Premiership could have expanded again to 14 teams from the 2023–23 season but the league returned to 12 teams on 6 October 2022 when Worcester Warriors were expelled from the league for the season after entering administration due to financial problems.{{Cite web|title=Worcester Warriors: Premiership club suspended for season and relegated|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63165973|date=6 October 2022|access-date=6 October 2022|website=BBC Sport}} Despite trying to find a buyer, the club was wound up in February 2023.{{Cite web |title=Worcester player and staff contracts terminated after high court ruling {{!}} Worcester {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/05/worcester-player-and-staff-contracts-terminated-after-high-court-ruling-rugby-union |access-date=5 October 2022 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}

On 17 October 2022, Wasps became the second Premiership club to enter administration that season. The club was also automatically relegated from the Premiership, with their remaining games cancelled and all results expunged.{{Cite web |last=Rucker |first=Rugby |date=17 October 2022 |title=BREAKING: Wasps are now officially in administration |url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/breaking-wasps-are-now-officially-in-administration/ |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=Ruck |language=en-GB}} London Irish finished the season but were suspended for the following season during the off season meaning the Premiership contracted to just ten teams from the 2023–24 season.

The top seven teams qualify for the following season's European Rugby Champions Cup. The eighth champions cup place is awarded to either the winner of the Challenge Cup or the team placed eighth. Teams placed 8 & 9th that do not qualify for the Champions Cup play in the Challenge Cup. The final Challenge Cup place is offered to either the 10th team in the Premiership or the team promoted from the Championship.

Between 1987 and 2002, the team at the top of the league was crowned English champions. Since 2002–03, the winner of the league has been determined by a Premiership Final, which takes place at Twickenham and consists of two rounds of knock-out play amongst the top four teams.

This change was originally considered controversial, particularly when Wasps won four of the first six play-off finals without ever topping the regular season table, with Sale the only team to both top the table and win the Premiership final in that period.

As of the end of the 2023–24 season, nine table-topping teams have won the Premiership in twenty-two seasons, including four times in the last five seasons. These teams’ names are italicised under the "Top of Table" column below.

In most seasons, at least one team has been relegated at the end of the season, although in 1995–96, there was no relegation to allow division expansion, and in 2001–02, Leeds were given a reprieve because the Division One champions did not have a suitable ground to allow promotion. Relegation was also suspended between 2020–21 and 2022–23 to allow further expansion – although Worcester and Wasps were both relegated for going into administration during the 2022–23 season, as was London Irish ahead of the 2023–24 season.

{{for|a list of top try and points scorers by seasons|Premiership Rugby top scorers}}

All records relate to the 1997–98 season onward when National League One was re-launched as the Premiership.

Source:{{cite news|url=https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/18ecb8e9-4c57-4e8d-987d-5924baae714a.pdf|title=All-Time Player Stats

|work=Stuart Farmer Media Servies|access-date=28 August 2024}} {{updated|31 May 2025}}. Bold italics denote players active in the 2025–26 Premiership.

:Green background with § denotes the award-winning player also won the Premiership title during the same season

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The following table outlines the current senior coaches at each Premiership club, as of the 2024–25 season:{{cite web | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/directors-of-rugby-season-previews | title=Directors of Rugby: Season Previews | website=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}

Note: The designation of the senior coaching staff member as either Director of Rugby or Head Coach, and the responsibilities they hold, varies between individual clubs.

The following senior coaches have won the Premiership Director of Rugby of the Season Award since 2000:{{cite news | url=https://premiershiprugby.com/content/dai-young-to-depart-wasps | title=Dai Young to depart Wasps | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://premiershiprugby.com/content/dean-richards-to-step-down-as-newcastle-falcons-head-coach | title=Dean Richards to step down as Newcastle Falcons Head Coach | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://premiershiprugby.com/content/pat-lam-wins-global-reach-director-of-rugby-of-the-season-award | title=Pat Lam wins Global Reach Director of Rugby of the Season Award | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://premiershiprugby.com/content/borthwick-dedicates-london-pride-director-of-rugby-of-the-season-award-to-his-team | title=Borthwick dedicates London Pride Director of Rugby of the Season Award to his team | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://premiershiprugby.com/content/mark-mccall-named-director-of-rugby-of-the-season | title=Mark McCall named Director of Rugby of the Season | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/premiership-rugby-awards-phil-dowson-named-director-of-rugby-of-the-season | title=Premiership Rugby Awards: Phil Dowson named Director of Rugby of the Season | publisher=Premiership Rugby | date=22 May 2024 | access-date=23 May 2024}}

:Green background with § denotes the award-winning Director of Rugby also won the Premiership title during the same season

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The following former players and officials have been inducted into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame since 2013:{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/about/premiership-rugby-hall-of-fame | title=Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/four-new-legends-inducted-into-the-premiership-rugby-hall-of-fame | title=Four new legends inducted into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/four-legends-inducted-into-the-premiership-rugby-hall-of-fame | title=Legends inducted into the Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/premiership-rugby-hall-of-fame-2023-inductees-announced | title=Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame - 2023 inductees honoured at the final | publisher=Premiership Rugby | access-date=31 March 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/premiership-rugby-hall-of-fame-paul-sackey-first-inductee-of-2024 | title=Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame: Paul Sackey - first inductee of 2024 | publisher=Premiership Rugby | date=14 May 2024 | access-date=14 May 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/premiership-rugby-hall-of-fame-danny-grewcock-inductee-of-2024 | title=Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame: Danny Grewcock - second inductee of 2024 | publisher=Premiership Rugby | date=21 May 2024 | access-date=21 May 2024}}{{cite news | url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/hall-of-fame-richard-wigglesworth-the-final-inductee-of-2024 | title=Premiership Rugby Hall of Fame: Richard Wigglesworth the final inductee of 2024 | publisher=Premiership Rugby | date=5 June 2024 | access-date=5 June 2024}}

Note: Between 1997 and 2012, the winners of the Premiership Player of the Season and Director of Rugby of the Season awards (as detailed above) were also included in the Hall of Fame.

{{unreferenced section|date=April 2024}}

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In 2024 the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the RPA agreed an 8-year Men's Professional Game Partnership (MPGP).{{Cite web|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/content/historic-professional-game-partnership-signed|title=Premiership Rugby | Historic Professional Game Partnership signed|website=premiershiprugby.com}}

The English Premiership operates a salary cap,{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/structure/salary_cap.php#.UQk3_mc4f1M|title=Salary Cap|last=client|date=11 May 2016|access-date=30 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122155943/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/structure/salary_cap.php#.UQk3_mc4f1M|archive-date=22 January 2013|url-status=live}} set by the Premiership Rugby Board, specifying the money a club can spend on the player salaries of its squad per season. Until the 2024–25 season, the base cap is £5 million, with an "academy credit" of up to £600,000 (£100,000 per player for up to six players).

A club may use the academy credit on a player that: (i) joined the club before his 18th birthday; (ii) is under age 24 at the start of the season; and (iii) earns a salary of more than £50,000. Under the credit scheme, the first £100,000 of a qualifying player's salary is not counted against the cap.

Since the 2022–23 season, each club has been allowed to exclude one player from the cap calculations, a decrease from two in prior seasons. An exception is made for any team which had two excluded players currently under contract. Both players remain excluded until the first of their contracts expire.

The "excluded player" slot can be filled by any player on a team's current roster who meets any of the following criteria:

• Played with his Premiership club for at least two full seasons before he was nominated as an excluded player.
• Played with his Premiership club for the full season before being nominated as an excluded player, after having played outside the Premiership.
• Played outside the Premiership in the season before he was nominated.

P shares were awarded in 2005 to the 13 clubs then in the Premiership. They are believed to entitle shareholders to a percentage of the central income of Premiership Rugby and voting rights on key issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/gallagher-premiership/what-are-p-shares-in-premiership-rugby-146492|title=What are P shares in Premiership rugby?|first=Rugby|last=World|date=11 October 2022|website=Rugby World}}

In the United Kingdom, Premiership Rugby is broadcast on TNT Sports (previously BT Sport) and streaming on Discovery+, under a contract most recently renewed in March 2024. The broadcaster carries all Premiership Rugby fixtures (an increase from 80 to 93 regular season fixtures), as well as selected Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/12/bt-tv-rights-live-rugby|title=BT lands exclusive UK television rights to show live rugby union|website=The Guardian|date=12 September 2012|first=Josh|last=Halliday|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025150141/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/12/bt-tv-rights-live-rugby|archive-date=25 October 2014|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=2024-03-21 |title=Premiership Rugby agrees new TV deal with TNT Sports for 2024-25 season |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/68625302 |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-21 |title=TNT Sports renews Premiership Rugby deal |url=https://advanced-television.com/2024/03/21/tnt-sports-renews-premiership-rugby-deal/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Advanced Television |language=en-GB}}

ITV holds rights to carry a free-to-air highlights show, aired on ITV4 and ITV1. For the 2024–25 season, the highlight show—previously hosted by Craig Doyle and a panel of players—was rebooted as Gallagher Premiership Unleashed; in addition to highlights, the new format includes feature segments hosted by popular rugby-oriented social media personalities. Doyle—who produces the programme—stated that the programme was intended to help reach a wider audience, amid a collapse in viewership for the more traditional format.{{Cite web |last=Kelleher |first=Will |date=2024-09-22 |title=George Ford kicks Sale Sharks to gritty win over Harlequins |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/sale-sharks-harlequins-premiership-result-t7dktw92k |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=The Times |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Mairs |first=Gavin |date=2024-09-25 |title=Why Ruckstar Lizzie, Squidge and Rugby Nause are the future of ITV highlights |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/09/25/ruckstar-lizzie-squidge-rugby-nause-highlights/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

Talksport and BBC Radio 5 Live, along with various BBC Local Radio stations, broadcast commentary and magazine programming.

In Australia, the Premiership is available on Stan Sport, while in New Zealand, it is on Sky Sports and, in Oceanic islands, on TVWan Sport. In the United States, the Premiership is available on The Rugby Network since 2023. In Canada, it is broadcast on Sportsnet and, in Southern Africa, it is on SuperSport. In Malta, it is aired on TSN, in Italy on Mola, in France on RMC Sport, and in DACH on MTS and DAZN. In Czech Republic and Slovakia, it is on Nova Sport and, in Scandinavian states, it is on Viaplay. In MENA region and Asia, it is on Premier Sports. It has also been broadcast in China since 2017 and, in Japan, on DAZN.

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Top 14, French equivalent of the Premiership, second of the three major northern hemisphere leagues.
• United Rugby Championship, cross-border equivalent of the Premiership, third of the three major northern hemisphere leagues.
• English rugby union system
• List of English rugby union teams
• Premiership Rugby Cup
• Anglo-Welsh Cup (superseded by the Premiership Rugby Cup)
• Premiership Rugby Shield
• RFU Championship, second tier of English club rugby, from which teams are promoted from, and into which teams are relegated from, the Premiership.
• European Professional Club Rugby
• European Rugby Champions Cup
• European Rugby Challenge Cup
• Premiership Rugby Sevens Series
• List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues
• List of English rugby union stadiums by capacity
• List of professional sports teams in the United Kingdom

• {{Official website}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100112040413/http://www.rugbyweek.com/GuinnessPremiership/ Guinness Premiership] Rugby Week
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/default.stm English rugby union news] BBC Sport
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090307235527/http://www.statbunker.com/rugby/ktg/index.php?PL=ktgalltime&Code=8217249&statType=tries All Time Premiership Records]

{{English Premiership (rugby union)}}

{{Rugby union in England}}

{{Premiership Rugby venues}}

{{Original Courage League 1 clubs}}

{{Rugby union in Europe}}

{{Top-level rugby union club competitions}}

{{English and British National Champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:English Premiership (Rugby Union)}}

Category:Premiership Rugby

Category:National rugby union premier leagues

Category:Organisations based in the City of Westminster

Category:Professional sports leagues in England

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Category:Sport in the City of Westminster

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