League rugby in England began with the formation of the Courage Leagues in 1987, after years of informal games organised by clubs around the country. In the first season 12 clubs were expected to organise fixtures between themselves and Leicester were England's first official champions when they beat Waterloo on the last day of the 1987-88 season.

The following year regular fixtures were introduced and in 1994 the league expanded to a full program of home and away matches for the first time, coinciding with the league being televised for the first time.

The number of clubs in the English top flight fluctuated between 10 and 14 clubs over the following years before settling on 12 ahead of the 1999-2000 season with promotion and relegation a constant issue of debate.

The league became fully professional in time for the 1996-97 season but financial pressures saw the Premiership reduced to 12 teams for the 1999-2000 season when Richmond went bankrupt and London Scottish merged with London Irish.

A change in title sponsor saw the league re-named the Allied Dunbar Premiership for the 1997-98 and since then Zurich and most recently Guinness have sponsored the Premiership.

In the 2000-01 the season structure was revamped to include an eight-team play-off system, with the league winners still being regarded as English Champions, while the play-off winner would be crowned "Championship winner". In 2001-02 a controversial play-off system was introduced that would see the play-off winners crowned as champions rather than the league winners. This proposal was shelved due to an outcry from clubs and fans, but was implemented in the following season.

The first-placed side would play the winners of a play-off between the second and third placed side, a trend that was replaced almost immediately for the following season by a semi-final system pitting first against fourth and second against third.

Since 2003, the winner of the league has been determined by the play-off final. Wasps have mastered the play-off system, winning titles in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 but never topping the league.

Courage League

Allied Dunbar Premiership

Zurich Premiership

Guinness Premiership

Aviva Premiership

Zurich Championship finals

Premiership finals (Twickenham Stadium)