Newcastle Falcons promotion set to be confirmed as RFU end Championship season

Newcastle Falcons' promotion to the Premiership looks set to be rubber-stamped after the Rugby Football Union Council agreed to conclude the Greene King IPA Championship season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The side led the league by 18 points from Ealing Trailfinders when competition was forced to stop due to the pandemic.

Saracens have already accepted relegation from the Premiership due to breaches of salary cap regulations.

The RFU said that the final standings for the 2019-20 Championship and also the men's and women's community game would be calculated on a best playing record formula.

The organisation's president, Peter Wheeler, said:

The RFU said the final tables will be published by 6pm on Friday.

Newcastle Falcons' chairman Semore Kurdi said there was no air of celebration about their promotion and that sport "pales into insignificance during times of national emergency".

He said: "These aren’t the circumstances under which any team would want to be promoted, but we thank the RFU for reaching a quick and decisive conclusion.

"We fully appreciate the bigger picture with regards to the ongoing pandemic, and how sport pales into insignificance during times of national emergency."

The club thanked the players, staff and supporters for their part in the side's 15 game unbeaten league run.