The English Premiership is regarded as one of the world's most competitive leagues, with top internationals from both the northern and southern hemispheres battling it out to make it a hugely physical 12-team competition.

The championship has its origins in the Courage Leagues, which were formed in 1987 when a league pyramid was introduced to the English game when previously only friendlies and regional cup competitions existed.

Bath and Leicester were initially the dominant teams in the top flight, with Leicester becoming England's first official champions.

Professionalism inevitably changed the league format and in 1996, under new sponsors, wealthy benefactors bankrolled teams like Saracens, Newcastle and Northampton.

The English top flight was rebranded in 2000 with the introduction of an eight-team play-off system. This meant the club who topped the League at the end of the season were still regarded as Premiership champions, while the play-off winners won the Championship title.

For the 2002-03 season it was deemed the team who finished top of the League should play the winner of the second and third-place play-off for the title.

However, in 2005-06 the system was restructured to today's format, where the table-topping team receive a home draw in the play-off semi-finals against the side who finished fourth in the League.

The third and second-place teams make up the second play-off and bid for a place in the Twickenham final.

London Wasps have been the most successful team since the introduction of the play-offs, with the Wycombe-based club crowned Premiership champions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008.