14 Team SL and Merged Championship?

[Taking The Two]

So, two quite amazing pieces of news out of Super League today.

Firstly, Hull FC, Hull KR and Wigan didn’t vote yes on this because they felt that Nigel Wood didn’t provide enough of the necessary documentation to support the view that 14 teams was the way to go. Amazing. Literally unbelievable that you’re going into selling your plan without the necessary documentation to support your argument. Even more astounding is that EIGHT of the old fools still voted yes despite barely having enough information to make a decision.

Secondly, so Sky are our broadcasters. They haven’t been consulted on the jump from 12 to 14 teams, that comes with a £500,000 per year cost to broadcast the extra games. If that’s not a breach of contract, nothing is. It’s such a dangerous position that Wood and his cronies have put the sport in.

 

[Perth Red]

So, two quite amazing pieces of news out of Super League today.

Firstly, Hull FC, Hull KR and Wigan didn’t vote yes on this because they felt that Nigel Wood didn’t provide enough of the necessary documentation to support the view that 14 teams was the way to go. Amazing. Literally unbelievable that you’re going into selling your plan without the necessary documentation to support your argument. Even more astounding is that EIGHT of the old fools still voted yes despite barely having enough information to make a decision.

Secondly, so Sky are our broadcasters. They haven’t been consulted on the jump from 12 to 14 teams, that comes with a £500,000 per year cost to broadcast the extra games. If that’s not a breach of contract, nothing is. It’s such a dangerous position that Wood and his cronies have put the sport in.

not according to other reports today. HKR wanted to go to 14 clubs in 2027. HFC wanted a 10 team comp. No word yet why wigan abstained.

 

[Taking The Two]

not according to other reports today. HKR wanted to go to 14 clubs in 2027. HFC wanted a 10 team comp. No word yet why wigan abstained.

Or they voted no because they had their preferences (10-14 in years to come) and felt that the information provided on the day wasn’t sufficient to make a decision or to change their mind from their preference.

 

[Perth Red]

Or they voted no because they had their preferences (10-14 in years to come) and felt that the information provided on the day wasn’t sufficient to make a decision or to change their mind from their preference.

That’s not what numerous sources have said. Only one we don’t know is Wigan and why they abstained. HFC want ten teams, hkr want 14 teams but in 2027 not rushed In for next year.

 

[Taking The Two]

That’s not what numerous sources have said. Only one we don’t know is Wigan and why they abstained. HFC want ten teams, hkr want 14 teams but in 2027 not rushed In for next year.

It’s literally been reported today by John Davidson, a rugby league journalist. Yes, those sides might want 10-14-whatever but given the information provided, which was very little, have not had their opinions swayed to back 14 or a 14 sooner than they believe it to be.

 

[Northern]

Super League expansion may put future deal with Sky Sports at risk

The broadcaster, which bankrolls the sport, is reluctant to pay for extra matches if the competition expands to 14 teams

www.theguardian.com

 

[Taking The Two]

Super League expansion may put future deal with Sky Sports at risk

The broadcaster, which bankrolls the sport, is reluctant to pay for extra matches if the competition expands to 14 teams

www.theguardian.com

Daft Derek in his leopard print shirt reckons everyone will pay £25 a month for OurLeague

 

[Gobsmacked]

What a f**king circus.

This is pure incompetence.

 

[Taking The Two]

What a f**king circus.

This is pure incompetence.

Of epic proportion.

It won't happen due to apathy/self interest/not really caring but fans should be up in arms and vocalising their feelings over the next couple of rounds. Whether people think 14 is correct or not, it's how they're getting to 14, the rush to get to 14 so quickly, the reduction in chances for British players with the extension of the Quota spaces from 84 to 140, the complete waste of time, resources and money that IMG has been, the xenophia to the French sides from club chairmen because they don't bring away fans and buy shit microwaved pies, the danger in which those who voted yes have placed the whole sport in due to not liaising with the sport's biggest spender, Sky, and the complete disregard for fans and their feelings and thoughts. There needs to be a breaking point and it'll happen eventually, though by that point, it will be too late. There is a genuine chance that Sky pull the plug and we end up with Derek Beaumont's daft idea of getting 50,000 people to subscribe to Our League, an app that has been pretty poor in the past and that eventuality would essentially be the death knell of the sport in the UK.

 

[Leighton Rhino]

Lol...RL in the UK s never dull

TBH..... If the SKY Dean is going to continue getting worse then maybe a new partner is needed anyway

I got one would ditch SKY if they got rid of RL despite watching a fair bit of football.... Wonder how many others might and what the routine point for sky is

Ultimately the money is a drop in the ocean for SKY

Them ploughing money into women's football just pisses me off ....no one now or ever will want to pay money for it alone.... It's just the PC thing to be seen doing

 

[Perth Red]

Not hard to see how This plays out. The 2 expansion clubs get no grant for 26 keeping pot the same for the other 12. If tv deal doesn’t go up in 27 the two French clubs are offered a place with no grant keeping the pot the same for the 12 English clubs.

why you would expand in middle of a tv deal without agreemnt of the tv provider makes zero sense, good old Nige!

 

[Perth Red]

How will Super League select the 13th and 14th teams for 2026​

He first explained that the most important aspect for any club who joins Super League is sustainability and that would be assessed by ‘mechanics’ similar to the one in which Leigh themselves applied to join Super League and replace Toronto Wolfpack.

So important is sustainability that the panel could even reject applications and inform Super League clubs that they’re best to remain as a 12-team competition.

Beaumont revealed: “It’s a really really robust process with a robust panel and it’s open for that panel to turn around and say, ‘Actually we advise you that there aren’t two clubs who can come up sustainably with what’s being offered and fulfill the fixtures competitively. It would be damaging to Super League and therefore we’re making no recommendations’, which would force us to be 12.”

Nigel Wood to have no influence on Super League selection​

Lord Caine’s credibility was also spoken of by Beaumont whilst it was confirmed that controversial figure Nigel Wood will not be involved in any way.

“The simple answer is that it’s got nothing to do with Nigel,” Beaumont said, before talking about Caine’s credentials.

“He [Caine} was a big negotiator in Northern Ireland and everything with Sinn Fein and I thought somebody like that is not going to compromise their reputation unless they can robustly stand up and justify their decision. I don’t see that changing one bit, wherever Nigel is.”

Fans will likely still ask questions until more clarity is officially given on the process, something that Super League Europe confirmed would happen when they released their statement.

Even so, some in the sport will still advocate for on-field performance to dictate the 13th and 14th team, including Doncaster CEO Craig Hall who spoke out recently.

Super League club owner reveals details of 'robust' process to select expansion teams - Serious About Rugby League

Super League will expand to 14 teams next year with a controversial process confirmed but more details have now been revealed with Leigh Leopards’ owner Derek Beaumont claiming it will be ‘robust’, as he assured fans it would all be done above board. Expansion to 14 teams was something Super...

www.seriousaboutrl.com

 

[Gobsmacked]

How will Super League select the 13th and 14th teams for 2026​

He first explained that the most important aspect for any club who joins Super League is sustainability and that would be assessed by ‘mechanics’ similar to the one in which Leigh themselves applied to join Super League and replace Toronto Wolfpack.

So important is sustainability that the panel could even reject applications and inform Super League clubs that they’re best to remain as a 12-team competition.

Beaumont revealed: “It’s a really really robust process with a robust panel and it’s open for that panel to turn around and say, ‘Actually we advise you that there aren’t two clubs who can come up sustainably with what’s being offered and fulfill the fixtures competitively. It would be damaging to Super League and therefore we’re making no recommendations’, which would force us to be 12.”

Nigel Wood to have no influence on Super League selection​

Lord Caine’s credibility was also spoken of by Beaumont whilst it was confirmed that controversial figure Nigel Wood will not be involved in any way.

“The simple answer is that it’s got nothing to do with Nigel,” Beaumont said, before talking about Caine’s credentials.

“He [Caine} was a big negotiator in Northern Ireland and everything with Sinn Fein and I thought somebody like that is not going to compromise their reputation unless they can robustly stand up and justify their decision. I don’t see that changing one bit, wherever Nigel is.”

Fans will likely still ask questions until more clarity is officially given on the process, something that Super League Europe confirmed would happen when they released their statement.

Even so, some in the sport will still advocate for on-field performance to dictate the 13th and 14th team, including Doncaster CEO Craig Hall who spoke out recently.

Super League club owner reveals details of 'robust' process to select expansion teams - Serious About Rugby League

Super League will expand to 14 teams next year with a controversial process confirmed but more details have now been revealed with Leigh Leopards’ owner Derek Beaumont claiming it will be ‘robust’, as he assured fans it would all be done above board. Expansion to 14 teams was something Super...

www.seriousaboutrl.com

So the plan is to use the word " robust " heaps.. in place of " trust up bro"

 

[Jim from Oz]

Another staggeringly stupid decision by UK RL officials … just to add to the endless staggeringly stupid decisions made by UK RL officials over the 35 years I've been watching the sport there from near and afar.

But I, like many I'm sure, just don't really care any more …

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

Beginning to think a French/Euro league, backed by the NRL and featuring ex-SL teams might be the way to go.

 

[Jonty]

Beginning to think a French/Euro league, backed by the NRL and featuring ex-SL teams might be the way to go.

Either that or a French conference of say 4 teams running in conjunction with 10-12 English based clubs super league.

french teams would obviously be Catalan and Toulouse and then 2 from say Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Montpelier and Bordeaux etc.

 

[Perth Red]

Beginning to think a French/Euro league, backed by the NRL and featuring ex-SL teams might be the way to go.

Haha yeh, vlandys is just going to throw tens of millions of the Australians games money at European rl. You know because he’s known as a generous guy.

 

[Jonty]

Haha yeh, vlandys is just going to throw tens of millions of the Australians games money at European rl. You know because he’s known as a generous guy.

He wouldn’t be doing it as an act of kindness but more a business opportunity like last Vegas.

france for the time being is a very rich country with a huge population that loves sport including rugby.

we also know about the popularity of RL in France pre WW2.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Haha yeh, vlandys is just going to throw tens of millions of the Australians games money at European rl. You know because he’s known as a generous guy.

A ten team league featuring only the best English clubs, 2 elite French, London ect.
Higher concentration of talent adding a prestige in a decent geographical spread..
He'll negotiate a better TV deal to be spent across fewer clubs.

Break even in the first year would be the worst case scenario.
Profit increase year over year. Twelve team league in 5 years, fourteen by ten.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

Haha yeh, vlandys is just going to throw tens of millions of the Australians games money at European rl. You know because he’s known as a generous guy.

Theyd be doing the same investing in the Super League, it's a shitshow.

8 team league, four English established, 2 French established, 1 New French and London. Play eachother twice, with semis and a final.