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The Sun
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Why Super League's expansion encourages mediocrity, not greatness
IT WAS nice to get a dose of early festive spirit yesterday as Super League clubs voted to expand the competition to 14 clubs from next season. For this really did have the air of turkeys voting for Christmas. 2 The last year or so has been dominated by talk of IMG, you know the global broadcasting giant that has negotiated contracts worth billions of pounds? The firm whose recommendations on grading brought visible improvements to the environment the sport is played in. To me, this decision screamed: 'What do they know? We're rugby league people.' Well, 'rugby league people', you have opened the door to mediocrity being rewarded. Run the club you own like it's an unwanted toy? Have almost 20,000 empty seats at your home matches? Your stadium has one seated and covered stand? Hey, you're welcome to try and join us in 2026. The only saving grace is that 12 of the clubs will be decided by IMG's grading scheme, even then there's a huge flaw. An independent panel will put forward the other two clubs – and to think, 'rugby league people' moaned about the demise of traditional promotion and relegation previously. Set criteria will be made clear. Er, they should be crystal clear already. Time is not exactly of the essence. 'It gets rid of loop fixtures,' is seen as one excuse. Fair enough, but what have they been replaced with, more humdrum matches as the gap between top and bottom grows? What should have happened is contraction rather than expansion. 10 top teams going at it week after week – now that will be something people will want to watch. Broadcasters want to show the best, not one good side easing past a mediocre one while not getting out of second gear. I can almost hear the, 'It's not enough matches for us,' argument from here. Well, make more of what you have. 2 There have been welcome strides in making matches into events at the clubs that get it. However, not enough have realised it. Being able to read the writing in the stands during a match does not exactly scream 'Must see.' Will having more clubs, diluting the talent pool further, change that? I don't think so. Maybe, just maybe, England – you know, the team that should be big everywhere and not an afterthought – could have a game or two as the top flight has been reduced. Still, we are where we are and to quote a phrase heard all too often from 'rugby league people,' it is what it is. And do not even get me started on the away fans argument.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Clubs in Europe's top division in rugby league vote to add more teams from 2026
HEADINGLEY, England (AP) — Clubs in the Super League, the top-tier of European rugby league, have voted to increase the number of teams in the competition to 14 from next season. The future structure of the league was discussed during a meeting at Headingley, north England, on Monday, with a proposal agreed to immediately open up two additional places, provided certain conditions are met. 'The 12 existing Betfred Super League clubs have today voted to extend the competition to 14 teams for the 2026 season, subject to conditions,' a statement from Super League (Europe) Limited read. 'This would be done by combining the Club Grading System introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport's long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine, who was recently elected as a member of the Rugby Football League Board, and the Strategic Review Sub-Committee. 'The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel — provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria. 'Further details of the composition of the panel and the timing of the process will be confirmed in due course.' The Super League currently includes eleven teams from England and one side based in France — Catalans Dragons. The new proposals could see Championship teams such as Toulouse Olympique, Bradford Bulls, York Knights and London Broncos considered for a place in the expanded 14-team top-flight. Salford Red Devils, meanwhile, could see their Super League spot for 2026 reviewed given the club's ongoing financial issues.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
‘Never watching this nonsense again' rant fans as major league confirms two-team expansion for 2026 season
SUPER LEAGUE clubs have brought forward the expansion to 14 clubs to next season. It was expected the addition of two more sides would not come until 2027, to tie in with the next broadcasting deal. 2 The Super League will expand to 14 teams for the 2026 season Credit: PA 2 Two teams will be selected by an independent panel Credit: Getty But at a meeting of top flight sides in Leeds today, the majority voted to expand for 2026. It has angered fans, who reacted: "I'm never watching this nonsense again." Another said: "The death has started." But other disagreed, commenting: "Finally! About time. This should have happened years ago." READ MORE IN SPORT IMG's grading system will decide 12 of the clubs who will make up the larger competition, which will see the end of despised loop fixtures and keeping the 13 home matches. However, two teams others will be chosen by an independent panel. This means those from outside the top 14 can be picked if they do not make the 12, so the prospect of Toulouse Olympique being overlooked is open. And with Salford set to still be relegated despite the expansion, there is the prospect of three clubs, including Bradford, coming up. Most read in Rugby League BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK If the Red Devils do stay in, that will mean a miraculous escape after months of chaos under the shambolic ownership of Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown. However, a Bulls' return would spark many complaints given the link with new Rugby League Commercial chair Nigel Wood, who headed the "club-led strategic review". Until March, he was chairman at Odsal – the condition of which, with one seated and covered stand - is another source of anger among supporters. And a raising of the overseas quota rules, allowing teams to have ten foreign players from 2026, has raised fears of a dilution of talent across 14 teams. London Broncos, currently 10th in the Championship and Oldham, only promoted from League One last year, are also keen on a place at the top table. A 'This would be done by combining the club grading system introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport's long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine. 'The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel – provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria. 'The Super League clubs have the right to determine the number of the clubs in the competition. 'The possibility of immediate expansion to 14 clubs was one of a number of options put to a meeting of the existing 12 clubs.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
‘Never watching this nonsense again' rant fans as major league confirms two-team expansion for 2026 season
Three new clubs could be in the league OUT MY LEAGUE 'Never watching this nonsense again' rant fans as major league confirms two-team expansion for 2026 season SUPER LEAGUE clubs have brought forward the expansion to 14 clubs to next season. It was expected the addition of two more sides would not come until 2027, to tie in with the next broadcasting deal. 2 The Super League will expand to 14 teams for the 2026 season Credit: PA 2 Two teams will be selected by an independent panel Credit: Getty But at a meeting of top flight sides in Leeds today, the majority voted to expand for 2026. It has angered fans, who reacted: "I'm never watching this nonsense again." Another said: "The death has started." But other disagreed, commenting: "Finally! About time. This should have happened years ago." READ MORE IN SPORT WADE IN Christian Wade's attitude sees him make mark in THIRD professional sport IMG's grading system will decide 12 of the clubs who will make up the larger competition, which will see the end of despised loop fixtures and keeping the 13 home matches. However, two teams others will be chosen by an independent panel. This means those from outside the top 14 can be picked if they do not make the 12, so the prospect of Toulouse Olympique being overlooked is open. And with Salford set to still be relegated despite the expansion, there is the prospect of three clubs, including Bradford, coming up. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK If the Red Devils do stay in, that will mean a miraculous escape after months of chaos under the shambolic ownership of Sire Kailahi and Curtiz Brown. However, a Bulls' return would spark many complaints given the link with new Rugby League Commercial chair Nigel Wood, who headed the "club-led strategic review". Until March, he was chairman at Odsal – the condition of which, with one seated and covered stand - is another source of anger among supporters. And a raising of the overseas quota rules, allowing teams to have ten foreign players from 2026, has raised fears of a dilution of talent across 14 teams. London Broncos, currently 10th in the Championship and Oldham, only promoted from League One last year, are also keen on a place at the top table. A Super League statement said: 'The 12 existing Super League clubs have voted to extend the competition to 14 teams for the 2026 season, subject to conditions. 'This would be done by combining the club grading system introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport's long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine. 'The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel – provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria. 'The Super League clubs have the right to determine the number of the clubs in the competition. 'The possibility of immediate expansion to 14 clubs was one of a number of options put to a meeting of the existing 12 clubs.'
Washington Post
a day ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Clubs in Europe's top division in rugby league vote to add more teams from 2026
HEADINGLEY, England — Clubs in the Super League, the top-tier of European rugby league, have voted to increase the number of teams in the competition to 14 from next season. The future structure of the league was discussed during a meeting at Headingley, north England, on Monday, with a proposal agreed to immediately open up two additional places, provided certain conditions are met. 'The 12 existing Betfred Super League clubs have today voted to extend the competition to 14 teams for the 2026 season, subject to conditions,' a statement from Super League (Europe) Limited read. 'This would be done by combining the Club Grading System introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport's long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine, who was recently elected as a member of the Rugby Football League Board, and the Strategic Review Sub-Committee. 'The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel — provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria. 'Further details of the composition of the panel and the timing of the process will be confirmed in due course.' The Super League currently includes eleven teams from England and one side based in France — Catalans Dragons. The new proposals could see Championship teams such as Toulouse Olympique, Bradford Bulls, York Knights and London Broncos considered for a place in the expanded 14-team top-flight. Salford Red Devils , meanwhile, could see their Super League spot for 2026 reviewed given the club's ongoing financial issues.
