The second tier league was rebranded and restructured as the RFU Championship which replaced the old National Division One.
The new structure which was partly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be reviewed every three years and saw the following changes:[5] Below level 6 leagues sizes will depend on number of teams and geographical location.
[6] In February 2021, the RFU approved a moratorium on relegation from both the Premiership and Championship in response to uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was also confirmed that league structure and minimum standards criteria for promotion were being reviewed.
[8] A summary of changes is outlines below: Promotion remains subject to minimum standards which have been reviewed and include several factors.
The premiership still includes strict ground criteria and a salary cap that must be met by all participants.
Promotion from the Championship remains (subject to eligibility), however the bottom side have not been relegated since the end of the 2019–20 season.
Debate still continues over the question of promotion and relegation, but with the strict criteria fears are reduced.
The top four teams at the end of the home-and-away season entered play-offs to determine the league champion, which earned promotion providing Premiership entry standards were met.
The bottom team at the end of home-and-away season was relegated to, and replaced by the champions of, the third tier National League 1.
The league-season champions earned automatic promotion (again, assuming that they meet Premiership standards).