Overview
- Prem Rugby said Thursday that clubs approved in principle a £5.4m minimum squad spend from next season while keeping the £6.4m cap that can stretch to £7.8m with credits.
- Clubs that fall short would face fines equal to the gap, with regulatory sign-off still pending and formal punishments due to start in the 2029-30 season.
- The competition is moving to a closed, franchise-style model that targets expansion from 10 to 12 teams in 2029-30 with entry based on geography and strict financial and development criteria.
- Any new club would first complete a season in the second-tier Championship, with a reported first-year payroll transition that allows 25% of the floor if it files a plan to reach the full spend in year two.
- The league is weighing neutral-venue semi-finals from 2029 and aims for 10 marquee ‘big games’ by 2030, with Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium cited as a possible host.