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55 minutes ago
The Rugby Football League [RFL] has confirmed nine clubs have submitted formal applications to be included in next season’s expanded 14-team Super League.
In an official statement, the RFL said two of Super League’s current teams, Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC, applied for entry before last Friday’s deadline.
The seven other clubs to apply come from the Championship.
They are Bradford Bulls, Doncaster, London Broncos, Oldham, Toulouse Olympique, Widnes Vikings and York Knights.
A decision announcing the composition of next year’s competition will be confirmed on Thursday, 16 October.
The RFL said 12 positions will be determined by the IMG club grading process, with an elected seven-person panel deciding on whether to add two further clubs.
Lord Caine will chair the panel, which includes Tony Sutton, departing chief executive of the RFL, and Rugby League Commercial’s managing director Rhodri Jones.
In a separate statement posted on X, Castleford Tigers said they had not submitted an application to next season’s Super League because they were confident their IMG score would be enough to secure a place.
In January, Castleford were one of nine clubs to be given Grade A status by the RFL – guaranteeing them a spot in Super League.
The same system meant Wakefield Trinity were promoted to this year’s Super League, at the expense of London Broncos.
Clubs will be re-assessed every year with teams staying in the top flight if they keep their Grade A status.
In addition to five standing pillars – fandom, performance, finances, stadium and community – the RFL-elected panel will also judge each application against two further items of criteria relating to finance and sustainability and playing strength, before deciding on which clubs to add.
The RFL state that these include “financial performance in 2025; detailed financial performance and sustainability forecasts for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons; and their ability to field a competitive team in 2026 and beyond”.
