THE RFU announced today that there will be no relegation from the Premiership at the end of the season, with the league expanded to 13 teams for 2021-22.

The RFU Council voted with a “strong majority” for a temporary suspension of relegation, which will also extend to the Championship — with no team going down to National League One.

The governing body says that, as long as the winner of this season’s Championship is eligible for promotion under the RFU’s current minimum standards criteria, the 2021-22 season will consist of 13 teams in the Premiership and 11 in the Championship.

The council made the move after taking into consideration the impact of Covid-19 on the game.

The cancellation of tomorrow’s Premiership game between Northampton and Newcastle takes the number of fixtures lost to the pandemic to six so far this season, and the RFU fears the impact could mean that relegation is based on cancellation rather than on-field merit.

RFU, Premiership Rugby and Championship representatives will now work on recommendations for changes to the season structures from 2021-22, and officials say the moratorium on relegation could last for three or four years.

They say the aim is for a different approach to promotion and relegation which will recognise the ambition of clubs in the Championship and below and continue to allow a route to the Premiership.

Officials will discuss new minimum standard criteria and a review of the domestic calendar to allow additional preparation time for the England men’s team ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

RFU president Jeff Blackett said: “We want to ensure a healthy elite game to support successful winning England teams that generate income to stimulate and preserve the game across all levels.

“The council will continue to be closely engaged with the proposals from the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the Championship to ensure we maintain the integrity of the future league structures for England Rugby.”