English Premiership (rugby Union)
The English Premiership, currently known as Aviva Premiership Rugby or more commonly the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva, is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby union system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership. The competition has been played since 1987, and has evolved into the current Premiership system employing relegation to and promotion from the RFU Championship, known as National Division One before the 2009–10 season. Clubs competing in the Premiership qualify for Europe's two club competitions, the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. The current champions are Harlequins. The most recently promoted side is London Welsh, who, after defeating Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship Final won promotion, following a lengthy appeal. This meant the Newcastle Falcons were relegated to the Championship
Read more about English Premiership (rugby Union): Other Season Highlights, 2012–13 Teams
Famous quotes containing the word english:
““Mustn’t grumble” was the most English of expressions. English patience was mingled inertia and despair. What was the use? But Americans did nothing but grumble! Americans also boasted. “I do some pretty incredible things” was not an English expression. “I’m fairly keen” was not American. Americans were showoffs—it was part of our innocence—we often fell on our faces; the English seldom showed off, so they seldom looked like fools.”
—Paul Theroux (b. 1941)