Frustrated English club in ‘advanced talks’ to join the URC

The PREM is set to transition into a franchise-based model from the 2026-27 season, ending traditional automatic promotion and relegation, and this has been welcomed by the clubs currently in the English top flight, as it provides stability and offers the chance for significant investment.

This has proven to be the case, as the owners of Bournemouth are closing in on taking over Exeter Chiefs, Red Bull have taken ownership of Newcastle and Sir James Dyson has acquired a 50% stake in Bath Rugby.

The PREM will aim to encourage an expansion from 10 to 12 teams for the 2029-30 season, with further long-term growth to 20 teams targeted by 2040; however, clubs will have to meet strict minimum standards regarding financial sustainability, investment capacity, and stadium infrastructure.

However, for one club this dream of playing in the PREM may not be possible despite consistently finishing in the top two for the last decade in the second division of English rugby, because their Vallis Way base fails to meet the RFU’s minimum standards criteria.

Cameron Anderson of Harlequins scores the opening try during the Premiership Rugby Cup match between Ealing Trailfinders and Harlequins (Getty Images)

Now, Ealing Trailfinders are in advanced talks with the United Rugby Championship about joining the competition if the WRU are successful in cutting a region ahead of the 2027-2028 campaign, according to Rugby Pass.

Ealing look set to lift their fourth Champ title in five years, as they have won all 25 of their fixtures in the English second division this campaign.

The barrier denying the club from playing in the PREM is the capacity of their stadium assurances over safety compliance, as despite the minimum standards being tweaked in 2024 to allow clubs to reach the required capacity of 10,000 over the course of four seasons, Ealing still haven't been able to comply.

A URC match ball during a Glasgow Warriors training session at Scotstoun Stadium, on May 09, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Getty Images)

Yet, this is not a barrier to playing in the URC, and so this may have encouraged them to seek a place in this rugby competition, and this saw them attempt to join the league three years ago as they held talks to merge with the Ospreys.

However, with it likely either the Ospreys or the Scarlets will be axed at the end of next season, the URC are aiming to find a club to replace one of these Welsh regions.

Ealing are now one of the clubs likely to join the URC, with there being conversations previously about London Irish joining, South African side the Cheetahs joining, or it being Georgian club Black Lion, while there had also been whispers about it being a Spanish team.