Two Championship clubs, Chinnor and Cambridge, have expressed outrage over their exclusion from the upcoming Premiership Rugby Cup, deeming the decision “appalling” and “unfair.” The revamped 2024-25 season will see only 10 of the 12 second-tier sides participate alongside 10 Premiership teams, leaving Chinnor and Cambridge out. Last season, all Championship clubs competed, marking a significant involvement of lower-level teams in the cup after 18 years.

### Key Points:
– **Chinnor Director’s Reaction:**
– Nick Easter stressed the disappointment, highlighting challenges in scheduling due to gaps in fixtures.
– **RFU’s Position:**
– An RFU spokesperson justified the change as necessary for competition evolution after feedback that the previous 22-team format was too stretched.
– **Cambridge’s Claims:**
– The chairman, Tim Hague, indicated the decision led to a substantial loss of income and continuity for their club, resulting in a request for financial compensation.

### Competition Structure:
– **Format:**
– Competition will consist of five regional pools with four clubs, leading to knockout rounds in early March.
– **Opening Matches:**
– Notable matchups include Northampton vs. Leicester and Cornish Pirates vs. Exeter Chiefs on the opening weekend.
– **2024-25 Pools:**
– **Pool 1:** Newcastle Falcons, Sale Sharks, Doncaster Knights, Caldy
– **Pool 2:** Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, Coventry, Nottingham
– **Pool 3:** Harlequins, Saracens, Ealing Trailfinders, London Scottish
– **Pool 4:** Bath, Bristol Bears, Bedford Blues, Ampthill
– **Pool 5:** Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, Cornish Pirates, Hartpury