Premiership Rugby bosses seek RFU talks over ending relegation
Tuesday 5 February 2019 17:35, UK
Premiership bosses are seeking talks with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) over ending promotion and relegation in England's top flight.
Fears had been raised about England's top clubs forcing a breakaway, but the league's governing body Premiership Rugby has pledged to thrash out a way forward with the RFU.
The RFU's interim chief executive Nigel Melville branded the idea of ring-fencing the Premiership this season as "wishful thinking" in December.
But England's top-flight clubs agreed at Tuesday's monthly Premiership Rugby board meeting to seek out a summit meeting with RFU chiefs.
"Our key objective is to deliver long-term financial sustainability for professional rugby in England," a Premiership Rugby spokesperson told PA Sport.
"Now is the right time to sit down with the RFU, who are our partners within the Professional Game Agreement.
"We will be coming back to the next Premiership Rugby board meeting on 9 April with an update.
"These crucial discussions are about deciding the most effective structure for the top end of the game in England. They have to be structured, balanced and create the best long-term solution for English rugby."
