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Sides from the Championship will join Premiership sides in a revamped Premiership Rugby Cup next season.<\/span><\/p>\n The 24 teams in the top two tiers will be split into four pools of six with five group matches, followed by semi-finals featuring each pool winner in February 2024 and a final in March.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n It is the first time in 18 years that Premiership sides will face lower-tier teams in a cup competition. <\/span><\/p>\n Exeter are the holders after <\/span>beating London Irish in last month’s final.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The group stages will take place over five consecutive weekends from early September until early October, before the World Cup. <\/span><\/p>\n The news comes as Championship sides continue to have concerns over their level of funding from the Rugby Football Union and struggle to gain promotion to the top flight.<\/span><\/p>\n Ealing were <\/span>ineligible for promotion<\/span><\/a> because their ground did not meet Premiership criteria. <\/span><\/p>\n