Essential:

The Club must provide evidence of its ability to trade for the 2025/26 season which will include:

(a) A fully costed business plan;

(b) Budget and cash flow forecasts for Season 2025/26 (and, ideally, beyond); i. To be submitted at the start of each season.

(c) Annual management accounts showing income and expenditure for the previous Season; i. Showing YTD actual vs budget; ii. At 6 month or 12 month intervals; OR iii. DCMS loan submissions (where applicable);

(d) Current Club assets and liabilities;

(e) Financial Projections / Budget for the current season (season prior to Tier 2 league entry) demonstrating all costs associated with the Club;

(f) Details of any Club loans and repayment dates;

(g) Such other financial information as the Club believes is relevant; and

(h) Such other financial information as the RFU may reasonably request.

Thereafter, the Club shall be required to observe financial monitoring obligations as set out in the RFU Regulations.

i. Annual financial statements (as filed at Companies House or equivalent for company type) must be used

ii. The Club must provide a completed RFU Financial Questionnaire in a form stipulated by the RFU which will include the provision of written submissions on:

(a) Summary of trading history over the past three years;

(b) Proposals for funding losses / shortfalls;

The Club must provide a completed RFU Financial Questionnaire in a form stipulated by the RFU which will include the provision of written submissions on:

(a) Summary of trading history over the past three years;

(b) Proposals for funding losses / shortfalls;

(c) Processes in place to identify and manage financial risk.

Assurance of 3rd party funding must be confirmed by a letter of support from an ultimate beneficial owner(s) (if applicable).