Talks of merger show just how URC has grown as it heads into fourth season

It's exactly one week since the BKT United Rugby Championship issued a Friday afternoon statement, denying reports that they were in discussions with the Premiership around a new British and Irish League.

Their wording was very specific.

While they dismissed the notion of a 'British and Irish League’, there was a conspicuous absence of any reference to a full merger between both the URC and Premiership.

It’s believed the IRFU are open to a merger, but only if the South African and Italian sides are brought along with them. Either way, with the involvement of CVC Capital Partners in both leagues, as well as the Six Nations, this story is certain to run further.

The current iteration of the United Rugby Championship is only three seasons old, so last week’s reports of yet another change to the club game’s structure brought with it a weary sigh.

Talks of mergers and acquisitions and rebrands have been a constant theme over the 24 seasons since the first Celtic League, but crucially, this time it’s because the formula is working.

It was notable that last week’s kite-flying predominantly came from the English press. With the folding of Wasps, Worcester and London Irish in recent years, the Premiership is now working as just a ten-team league which hasn’t seen relegation for three years.

The product itself is good, but revenue is an issue, both from TV and attendances, with clubs having lost out on extra home games since the reduction of the league to ten teams.

All the while, the URC appears to be growing in strength.

Their figures for the 2023/24 season showed a small growth in attendances (3%), but a 29% growth in TV figures watching the league, and although the money coming into the league via TV is still dwarfed by that of the