Championship scraps play-offs into Premiership Rugby

The winner of English rugby's second-tier league will from next season gain automatic promotion to the Premiership, authorities said on Friday.

England's Rugby Football Union hope the move will give that team more time to prepare for life among the elite.

Under the current system, the Championship's top four teams compete in a season-extending play-off.

"The first-past-the-post system will allow the promoted club a greater amount of time to recruit ahead of the next season which is important for their preparation," said Ian Ritchie chief executive of RFU.