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Newcastle Falcons are officially back in the English Premiership. Barring unforeseen circumstances the club will replace Saracens in the top flight with three-time European champions Saracens dropping to the RFU Championship after being sanctioned for repeated breaches of the salary cap.
The decision comes after the remainder of the Championship season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A similar decision has not yet been made by the Premiership, whose cash-stricken clubs continue to mull over the possibility to playing make-up games later this summer.
As has become custom, the team relegated the previous year proved considerably stronger than their second-tier rivals. Through 15 games of the season Falcons were unbeaten and held an 18-point lead over closest competitors Ealing. Aside from a minor Trailfinders protest the decision has found little resistance.
It also signals a return to the Premiership for Eagles lock Greg Peterson. The 29-year-old featured in 13 games across all competitions for Newcastle this season after returning from the World Cup and has one year remaining on his contract. Peterson had a brief spell with Leicester Tigers prior to signing for Glasgow Warriors in 2015.
Peterson will join leading USA internationals AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks), Paul Lasike (Harlequins), and Bryce Campbell (London Irish) in England’s top division. Three others depart. Joe Taufete’e and Titi Lamositele will move to France, signing for Lyon and Montpellier respectively. Kapeli Pifeleti remains on the books for Saracens and could be promoted from an academy to a senior deal this coming season.
At the other end of the Championship spectrum is Yorkshire Carnegie. Previously known as Leeds Tykes, the former Premiership side has endured significant financial upheaval in recent years and were forced to operate in a semi-professional capacity this past season.
Carnegie drop into National One after a winless season with doubts over their ability to continue in any form of professional rugby. Returning to the Championship are Richmond, another semi-pro outfit who may be suddenly more competitive with funding cuts set to further erode Championship budgets.
