Prem and RFU insist focus remains on English clubs amid Welsh interest
English rugby's governing bodies have reaffirmed plans to grow the Premiership with domestic sides after reports the WRU is exploring a cross-border move for two Welsh regions.
Prem Rugby and the Rugby Football Union have issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to expanding the top flight with English clubs, responding directly to reports that Welsh sides could be brought into the competition.
The statement followed a report, cited by the Guardian, that the Welsh Rugby Union is in advanced talks with Prem Rugby and the RFU over turning the English top flight into a cross-border league involving two Welsh teams.
Ruck reported that the discussions were described as 'serious', with WalesOnline understood to have indicated that WRU chief executive Abi Tierney would brief representatives of Wales's four professional regions on the plans.
Yahoo Sports reported that senior figures in English club rugby have confirmed Welsh interest exists, but insisted that formal negotiations are not under way.
Yahoo also reported that Wales's Professional Rugby Board met on Wednesday and was told the WRU intends to explore a future for Welsh sides within the English club game.
In their joint response, Prem Rugby and the RFU said: "The Prem is an attractive league and responsibility for its expansion sits with the Men's Professional Rugby Board (MPRB), which has established detailed entry criteria that any prospective club would need to satisfy."
They added: "Resources are currently focused on supporting English clubs throughout the pyramid who aspire to join the league."
The Welsh governing body's interest comes against a backdrop of financial strain, with the WRU announcing an £18.1m loss for 2025-26 last week, a figure it says bolsters the case for cutting the number of Welsh regions from four to three.
The Premiership has operated with ten clubs since Wasps, Worcester and London Irish were forced out of the competition during the 2022-23 season, and Prem Rugby's stated aim is to grow back to twelve teams in time for the 2029-30 campaign.
Any club seeking entry could face costs of up to £23.5m, covering a P-share that secures a slice of central income and voting rights, as well as a requirement to fund a Premiership Women's Rugby programme.
Traditional promotion and relegation between the Premiership and the Championship has been scrapped from the start of the 2026-27 season following rule changes voted through by English rugby's authorities.
In its place, prospective clubs will apply to join and be assessed against criteria covering playing standard, finances, investment potential, infrastructure and the extent to which their location could widen the league's geographical appeal.
Conditions set out alongside those changes specify that any club hoping to enter the Premiership must first complete a season in the Championship before being considered.
Because the Premiership would become a cross-border competition if Welsh sides were admitted, the RFU would have to sign off on any such move, adding a further layer of approval beyond the MPRB's entry criteria.
With Prem Rugby and the RFU publicly restating that their resources are directed towards English applicants, the next stage rests with the Men's Professional Rugby Board, which oversees the formal expansion process ahead of the targeted 2029-30 growth to twelve clubs.