Prem Rugby play-off semi-finals set to move to neutral venue

The Prem Rugby play-offs are set to be played at a neutral venue from the 2029-30 season.

The current format, which means the top two teams in the regular season table get home advantage in the semi-finals, has been in place since 2005.

But league bosses say they have a vision of playing both the play-offs on consecutive days in one city, similar to the European finals weekend.

It is thought Liverpool and Brighton are two of the cities under consideration at this early stage.

This season’s play-offs were a major success, with Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens and the Rec in Bath hosting two epic contests in front of sold-out crowds.

However, with both grounds having a modest capacity of about 15,000, Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor believes there is an opportunity to grow the product on both a commercial and sporting level.

France’s Top 14 semi-finals have taken place this season at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome, which has a capacity of more than 67,000.

“The games that we have just had were awesome in terms of the rugby spectacle, and they’re sell-out games within their home crowds. But I think they would sell out larger venues and neutrals would go as well.” Massie-Taylor said.

Speaking at a Prem Rugby event with sports investors, where Massie-Taylor outlined the future strategy of the league, he added: “This is about the long term. In the long term, it will be more valuable if you are playing in bigger stadia. They become main events and you have longer time to sell the games.”