Premiership Women's Rugby Invites Clubs to Explore Joining the League
Premiership Women's Rugby has launched an 'expressions of interest' process aimed at inviting more clubs to join the league. Currently, the league consists of nine teams, having been established in 2023 following the rebranding of the Premier 15s. The initiative, described as an "exploratory stage", is not a formal application process but seeks to assess the readiness of potential entrants. Genevieve Shore, executive chair of PWR, emphasized the opportunity for clubs to participate in a "dynamic, fast-growing, world-class competition" and contribute to the future of women's rugby. Key details include: Clubs across the UK and Ireland have until 30 April to express their interest. Decisions regarding further discussions will follow the submission deadline. New and existing franchises are eligible if they meet specific criteria, including: - An annual investment of at least £1.2m in their rugby program. - The ability to field a squad of 45-55 players. - Facilities that comply with PWR competition, broadcast, and training standards. Notably, Leicester and Trailfinders were the most recent clubs to join the league three years ago, alongside established teams like Gloucester-Hartpury, Bristol, and Saracens. All teams, except Trailfinders, are backed by men's Premier sides. While expansion for the 2026-27 season had been ruled out, the future remains open-ended. Conversations regarding women's teams are ongoing, particularly with Bath, whose chief executive indicated collaborative discussions with PWR about future participation. Recent changes by the Rugby Football Union mandate that any club aspiring to join the men's top tier must demonstrate a commitment to the women's game.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-03-31