14 Team SL and Merged Championship?

[Perth Red]

So we ended up with Bradford, York and Toulouse. Despite all the hand wringing, whinging and conspiracy theories the strongest three clubs in the championship have been promoted to SL. Seems the system worked after all! Good result for SL.

Now it’s up to the new clubs to build their clubs to stay there, and for London to build a club worthy of SL that can score more than one of the 14 above them.

Bring on 2026!

 

[taste2taste]

Can anyone explain what the independent board is that selected the teams ?

Do they make any other decisions for Super League ?

 

[Gobsmacked]

So do these clubs have any guaranteed amount of time in SL or is it back to promotion and relegation?

 

[Perth Red]

Can anyone explain what the independent board is that selected the teams ?

Do they make any other decisions for Super League ?

No. They were put together solely to choose the strongest two candidates for expansion.


panel was: Lord Caine chair, Abi Ekoku (RFL Non-Executive Director), Peter Hutton (RL Commercial Senior Non-Executive Director), Rhodri Jones (RL Commercial Managing Director), Dermot Power (RFL Non-Executive Director), Graeme Sarjeant (RFL Head of Legal), Tony Sutton (RFL).

 

[Perth Red]

So do these clubs have any guaranteed amount of time in SL or is it back to promotion and relegation?

We haven’t had promotion and relegation for two years. It is now based on the grading system. The top 14 graded clubs in October 2026 will form the 2027 SL

 

[Gobsmacked]

We haven’t had promotion and relegation for two years. It is now based on the grading system. The top 14 graded clubs in October 2026 will form the 2027 SL

Big loss for London than.

 

[taste2taste]

Big loss for London than.

London can be promoted next year if they improve in thier grades.

 

[taste2taste]

Good to see Toulouse in SL

For the delusional dreamers ( me ) who hope France can once again be competive at international level, this is a step in the right direction.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Good to see Toulouse in SL

For the delusional dreamers ( me ) who hope France can once again be competive at international level, this is a step in the right direction.

I wish the NRL pumped some money into both them and Catalans for development.
They need money into juniors, the French comp and into these 2 SL clubs so Rugby league can develop talent and keep it in France and it not be surrendered to the 14's

 

[Gobsmacked]

London can be promoted next year if they improve in thier grades.

They've got the men and the cash to do it drastically. Huddersfield are looking shaky.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Too many clubs now are already considered an "A"
Surely there's a plan to move the markings of success higher?

 

[RL The greatest game]

As expected, then. Can’t say I’m not disappointed with Bradford’s inclusion and very little explanation there from the RFL as to how exactly they’ve jumped six spots in a year.

There’s a real issue in RL in the UK with fans believing all sorts of conspiracies and believing that the game and referee’s are some sort of group that decides outcomes of games and who wins games and trophies. The comments sections on social media after a game are usually more about referees and accusations of them being “bent” and this, where the head of the RFL and former chairman of Bradford Bulls has overseen Bradford’s jump up the table despite never winning the Championship and a club director a year ago shaking the begging bowl, is just going to heighten the accusations and conspiracy theories.

Anyway, curry night in Bradford is back on the cards. That’s something, I suppose.

Isn't the recent former chairman of the Bradford Bulls now on the RFL?

 

[RL The greatest game]

Too many clubs now are already considered an "A"
Surely there's a plan to move the markings of success higher?

They won't do that otherwise they would have to include stadia criteria and that wouldn't be good for the Bradford Bulls as without doubt they will have the worse ground in Super League next season and even worse than Castlefords and that's saying something.

 

[RL The greatest game]

Top 3 sides from the championship go up.

only thing that doesn’t sit well for me if Bradford being ranked 10th.

Yes stadia should be included in the criteria on future gradings

 

[jolly boys outing]

Isn't the recent former chairman of the Bradford Bulls now on the RFL?

Yes.

 

[RL The greatest game]

Yes.

So that would explain why there is a lot of ill feeling toward the Bradford Bulls then and raises serious questions on how the criteria was watered down to get them in Super League

 

[RL The greatest game]

Big loss for London than.

And in turn British Rugby League.

 

[jolly boys outing]

So that would explain why there is a lot of ill feeling toward the Bradford Bulls then and raises serious questions on how the criteria was watered down to get them in Super League

I don’t think people are too bothered about the bulls getting into super league but more the fact that they finished 10th in the IMG rankings that allows them full funding and not 50% like Toulouse and York will be receiving .

 

[RL The greatest game]

I don’t think people are too bothered about the bulls getting into super league but more the fact that they finished 10th in the IMG rankings that allows them full funding and not 50% like Toulouse and York will be receiving .

I get that.
In your opinion do you think Nigel Wood had a strong saying in them getting 10 place so they get the full funding?

 

[jolly boys outing]

I get that.
In your opinion do you think Nigel Wood had a strong saying in them getting 10 place so they get the full funding?

Of course nobody can prove it but it’s deeply suspicious.