RFU & Premiership Rugby sign New professional game agreement

The Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby Limited have agreed a progressive new partnership for the next eight years.

The agreement for club and country will see Premiership clubs benefit from the successful financial performance of England Rugby for the first time, as PRL and the RFU have agreed an appropriate share of rugby revenues as a basis for the investment over the life of the deal.

This will enable both the RFU and the clubs to continue to grow together on and off the pitch, and to ensure all parties work together to make the domestic game and England international teams stronger in the future.

The partnership is worth over £200 million, with the first four year payment fixed at £112 million.

The Professional Game Agreement will see the England Elite Player Squad increase from 33 to 45 players and greater flexibility during core international periods so 36 players can be selected for the camp instead of 33.

The England Head Coach will now also be able to make the final selection of 45 squad members in the first week of October.

The new agreement will include increased funding of academies, and new academy licences have been awarded to 14 professional clubs.

Premiership Rugby will now manage and sell the commercial rights of the Anglo Welsh Cup from the beginning of this season while the RFU will continue to regulate the competition.