London Irish and the Championship — another Worcester situation?
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2026 2:13 am
The talk of London Irish potentially joining the Championship next season raises some interesting questions, but I think there’s a long way to go before we get to that stage.
First of all, they’ve got a lot of work to do regarding a suitable ground, facilities and all the other details required to make a return viable. Surely those practical issues need to be resolved before we start debating exactly how their admission would work.
The Worcester situation was different. Following their demise, applications were invited to fill the vacancy, and a process could be put in place for everyone to understand. This season, the promotion and relegation arrangements are already established, and clubs are competing on that basis.
If London Irish were to be admitted outside the normal route, the consequences could extend well beyond the Championship. Clubs fighting at the bottom of the league and those battling for promotion from National 1 could both be affected.
Any exceptional arrangement needs to be agreed and communicated well in advance, so every club knows where it stands before a ball is kicked. That’s only fair to those investing time, money and effort in competing under the existing rules.
Unfortunately, the RFU doesn’t always inspire confidence when it comes to handling these sorts of situations, which is why clarity and proper planning are so important.
That said, I think there’s another consideration here. The Championship is beginning to gain traction in its own right. The standard of rugby has been impressive, the competition is producing some excellent games, and the coverage from Clubber and BLAZE has helped bring the league to a wider audience. I would imagine both broadcasters are pleased with the product so far.
Rotherham’s return has certainly given us plenty to talk about, but the Championship as a whole is looking increasingly competitive and entertaining.
I’m not against London Irish rebuilding and returning to the game. But they need to get the foundations right first, and the RFU needs to ensure that any decision protects the integrity of the competition and the clubs already in it.
The Championship is developing its own identity. We should be building on that progress, not creating unnecessary uncertainty around promotion and relegation.
What does others think?
First of all, they’ve got a lot of work to do regarding a suitable ground, facilities and all the other details required to make a return viable. Surely those practical issues need to be resolved before we start debating exactly how their admission would work.
The Worcester situation was different. Following their demise, applications were invited to fill the vacancy, and a process could be put in place for everyone to understand. This season, the promotion and relegation arrangements are already established, and clubs are competing on that basis.
If London Irish were to be admitted outside the normal route, the consequences could extend well beyond the Championship. Clubs fighting at the bottom of the league and those battling for promotion from National 1 could both be affected.
Any exceptional arrangement needs to be agreed and communicated well in advance, so every club knows where it stands before a ball is kicked. That’s only fair to those investing time, money and effort in competing under the existing rules.
Unfortunately, the RFU doesn’t always inspire confidence when it comes to handling these sorts of situations, which is why clarity and proper planning are so important.
That said, I think there’s another consideration here. The Championship is beginning to gain traction in its own right. The standard of rugby has been impressive, the competition is producing some excellent games, and the coverage from Clubber and BLAZE has helped bring the league to a wider audience. I would imagine both broadcasters are pleased with the product so far.
Rotherham’s return has certainly given us plenty to talk about, but the Championship as a whole is looking increasingly competitive and entertaining.
I’m not against London Irish rebuilding and returning to the game. But they need to get the foundations right first, and the RFU needs to ensure that any decision protects the integrity of the competition and the clubs already in it.
The Championship is developing its own identity. We should be building on that progress, not creating unnecessary uncertainty around promotion and relegation.
What does others think?