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Latest IMG proposals for Super League

Dakink

Bench
Messages
3,135
If the current SL teams become the new league, the sport is done over in the UK...
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,544
Looks like keighley, batley, Wakey and maybe cas voting against. Should still pass easily.

 
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Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,544
Big day for the game in the uk with the img proposal due to be voted on today!

 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,544
Hull KR will vote in favour of IMG's grading proposals on Wednesday, and CEO Paul Lakin hopes to see a Championship club use the concept to secure a place in Super League.

Clubs will meet at Huddersfield's John Smith's Stadium in what is effectively D-Day for the grading system IMG has recommended to take the game forward. The proposals are expected to be voted for in favour by a majority, despite some clubs intending to vote against them. Wakefield Trinity have confirmed they will not support the proposals while Castleford Tigers are understood to be planning to reject it too. Keighley Cougars and Batley Bulldogs are two other clubs expecting to go against the plans.
Lakin believes the proposals are the best way to generate growth within clubs and the sport itself. Beyond that, he thinks it could provide a platform for Championship clubs to become a sustainable top-flight outfit in the future.

"I'm hoping the clubs all raise their own bar in terms of what they need to do to achieve the best grade possible," he said. "Every club has its strengths and weaknesses and will be positioned to get their points, but this encourages clubs to strengthen their infrastructure.

"The whole IMG model encourages the bar to raise, that has to be good for the sport, rather than dumbing down and bringing the bar even lower. I'd really like to see a Championship club grab the initiative and achieve a Category A licence in the near future, one that might not be able to do it just through what happens on the pitch and can see the potential advantages of growing their club.

 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,544
Exclusive: Wigan Warriors CEO Kris Radlinksi has branded opposition to IMG's proposal as "old self-interest", as the sport gathers for a vital vote today.

The RFL Council will meet in Huddersfield on April 19 for a crucial vote on whether to accept IMG's club grading criteria that has been created.

It has been reported that Super League clubs Wakefield and Castleford may vote against IMG, while it is believed the likes of Hull KR, Salford and Warrington are supportive.

Featherstone, Batley and Keighley have gone public against IMG grading, but rugbyleaguehub.com Long Readsunderstands there are League One clubs and community members of the RFL Council who will vote in favour of the marketing giant's plans.

Wigan boss Radlinksi believes the majority vote needed will happen, but has questioned those in opposition to IMG.

"I think it will pass - perhaps not as a landslide but enough to get people excited," he told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.

"We just need to move forward with it now and start talking about all the positives currently. There is a good feel about things at the moment."

Asked about those voting against IMG, Radlinksi replied: "It is back to the old self-interest. One of the main reasons that we support IMG is the fact that it is an independent decision led by market leaders in sport.

"Why would we agree to a 12-year partnership and then not back what they suggest?

"There was actually no reason to bring them in if we did not have the intention of backing their way forward."
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,544
And the vote is in….…


The Rugby League Council, the sport’s decision-making body which comprises representatives from all three professional competitions and the community game, have today voted in favour of Club Grading - the first recommendation from IMG, the sport’s long term strategic partner, as part of the Reimagining Rugby League strategy.

In a Special General Meeting in Huddersfield, the Yorkshire town where the rebel rugby code was formed as the Northern Union in 1895, the recommendations were supported by a majority of clubs in each of the three professional competitions, and received unanimous support from the community game.

Ten of the 11 Betfred Super League clubs voted in favour, with one absention. (The 12th club, Catalans Dragons, were not entitled to vote).

Eight of the 13 Betfred Championship clubs voted in favour, with one absention. (The 14th club, Toulouse Olympique, were not entitled to vote)

Seven of the 11 Betfred League One clubs voted in favour, with one absention.

The total number of votes in favour was therefore 32, with seven opposed, and three absentions.

Under the weighting system for Council votes which ensures an equal weight for Super League clubs on the one hand, and Championship / League One on the other, there was an 86%-14% result.

Simon Johnson, the Chair of the Rugby Football League and a Board member of Rugby League Commercial, said:

“This has been a highly significant day for the sport and I am proud of the vote of the Council today.

“Our clubs were unanimous in supporting the 12-year strategic partnership with IMG when it was proposed in 2022, and have now given strong support for the Club Grading recommendation which is crucial in allowing the sport to grow and fulfil its potential – on the domestic and international stage.

“We thank the team at IMG for the detailed and dedicated work that underpinned this recommendation. Our own teams at the RFL and RL Commercial will continue to work with IMG and other parts of the Endeavor organisation, notably Seven League and 160over90, to advance the other six recommendations included in Reimagining Rugby League.

“In terms of Club Grading, it is important to stress again that there will be no changes to the existing arrangements for promotion and relegation this season.

“In the closing stages of the season this autumn, illustrative gradings for all clubs will be published, providing all with a clear idea of where they stand, with 12 months until the gradings are updated to determine membership of the top tier competition in 2025. We will also continue to work with clubs to develop the Minimum Standards that will sit alongside the Grading Criteria and continue to consult with Council.

“It is also important to reinforce that this outcome, whilst being crucial to the future growth of the sport, is only the first step. Work is currently underway to further develop the domestic calendar for 2024, deliver certainty to the international calendar and continue the digital transformation within Rugby League that will continue to lay the foundations for a greater return from the sport’s assets in the future.”

Matt Dwyer, Vice President of Sport Management, IMG Media, said:

“We greatly appreciate all the clubs’ input and support during this process. While there is naturally no one set of recommendations that will suit everyone, we strongly believe that club grading, as part of the wider Reimagining Rugby League strategy, is essential to ensure sustainable growth of the game as a whole, and are pleased to see that such a strong majority of clubs agree.

“This is a positive milestone for the future of the sport and we are excited to continue driving progression in other areas over the coming months, including through our work with Seven League on digital transformation and 160over90 on branding.”

 
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wain

Juniors
Messages
369
And the vote is in….…


The Rugby League Council, the sport’s decision-making body which comprises representatives from all three professional competitions and the community game, have today voted in favour of Club Grading - the first recommendation from IMG, the sport’s long term strategic partner, as part of the Reimagining Rugby League strategy.

In a Special General Meeting in Huddersfield, the Yorkshire town where the rebel rugby code was formed as the Northern Union in 1895, the recommendations were supported by a majority of clubs in each of the three professional competitions, and received unanimous support from the community game.

Ten of the 11 Betfred Super League clubs voted in favour, with one absention. (The 12th club, Catalans Dragons, were not entitled to vote).

Eight of the 13 Betfred Championship clubs voted in favour, with one absention. (The 14th club, Toulouse Olympique, were not entitled to vote)

Seven of the 11 Betfred League One clubs voted in favour, with one absention.

The total number of votes in favour was therefore 32, with seven opposed, and three absentions.

Under the weighting system for Council votes which ensures an equal weight for Super League clubs on the one hand, and Championship / League One on the other, there was an 86%-14% result.

Simon Johnson, the Chair of the Rugby Football League and a Board member of Rugby League Commercial, said:

“This has been a highly significant day for the sport and I am proud of the vote of the Council today.

“Our clubs were unanimous in supporting the 12-year strategic partnership with IMG when it was proposed in 2022, and have now given strong support for the Club Grading recommendation which is crucial in allowing the sport to grow and fulfil its potential – on the domestic and international stage.

“We thank the team at IMG for the detailed and dedicated work that underpinned this recommendation. Our own teams at the RFL and RL Commercial will continue to work with IMG and other parts of the Endeavor organisation, notably Seven League and 160over90, to advance the other six recommendations included in Reimagining Rugby League.

“In terms of Club Grading, it is important to stress again that there will be no changes to the existing arrangements for promotion and relegation this season.

“In the closing stages of the season this autumn, illustrative gradings for all clubs will be published, providing all with a clear idea of where they stand, with 12 months until the gradings are updated to determine membership of the top tier competition in 2025. We will also continue to work with clubs to develop the Minimum Standards that will sit alongside the Grading Criteria and continue to consult with Council.

“It is also important to reinforce that this outcome, whilst being crucial to the future growth of the sport, is only the first step. Work is currently underway to further develop the domestic calendar for 2024, deliver certainty to the international calendar and continue the digital transformation within Rugby League that will continue to lay the foundations for a greater return from the sport’s assets in the future.”

Matt Dwyer, Vice President of Sport Management, IMG Media, said:

“We greatly appreciate all the clubs’ input and support during this process. While there is naturally no one set of recommendations that will suit everyone, we strongly believe that club grading, as part of the wider Reimagining Rugby League strategy, is essential to ensure sustainable growth of the game as a whole, and are pleased to see that such a strong majority of clubs agree.

“This is a positive milestone for the future of the sport and we are excited to continue driving progression in other areas over the coming months, including through our work with Seven League on digital transformation and 160over90 on branding.”

here's hoping this is the start of a new era of club stability, leading to sport growth!
 
Messages
407
Great outcome. Looking forward to seeing SL grow to 14 teams next year with the inclusion of Toulouse and one other with no relegation at the end of this year.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,544
Great outcome. Looking forward to seeing SL grow to 14 teams next year with the inclusion of Toulouse and one other with no relegation at the end of this year.
They've confirmed there will be relegation this year. Sadly it doesnt look like Toulouse, york or London will challenge Featherstone for promotion so it will be a small west yorkshire club down just to be replaced by same again.
 
Messages
407
Eur
ERL I’d go for. This but without the stars and ERL instead of xiii in middle
View attachment 72934
European Rugby League?

I have no ill feeling to that name, but it does sound very generic and just another competition.

Not that I can come up with a name that excites me either.

The ERL. It’s as good as anything I suppose. Will the RLEF get any royalties for use of their logo?
 

Coastbloke

Bench
Messages
4,167
If the IMG need to do anything, it’s instill a belief in the Super League. The team that beat the Panthers is fifth on the ladder!!

So much potential. Anyone in Scotland, Ireland or Wales wanna earn £100,000-200,000 a year?
 

BODISGOD

Bench
Messages
3,604
With the licensing agreement now in place iMG will turn their energies to a rebrand of Superleague and trying to secure a better next tv deal.

It’s been pretty clear for a while that non football sports and a select few other events have completely stagnated tv rights wise in the last decade.

Over time there has been some jumps when Setanta entered the market and then BT, but the sustained growth that the Premier League has enjoyed has not persisted for everyone else. The current SL deal is just £25m a season when it was £17m/£18m in 1995…! At the time the Premier League got 10 times as much, now it is 66 x the amount.

The time has come to go it along to a degree with rights. I’d take £15m a season and just one non exclusive Sky game a week along with the current FTA arrangement.
 

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