Newcastle Falcons’ promotion to the Premiership has been confirmed after the Rugby Football Union council agreed to conclude the Greene King IPA Championship season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Falcons led the league by 18 points from Ealing Trailfinders when competition was forced to stop due to the outbreak.

Saracens have already accepted relegation from the Premiership due to breaches of the salary cap regulations.

The RFU said that the final standings for the 2019-20 Championship and also the men’s and women’s community game would be calculated on a best playing record formula.

The organisation’s president, Peter Wheeler, said: “We believe that the decisions made provide fair and balanced outcomes for the game and maintain the integrity of the competitions.”