A last-minute rebellion from several Super League clubs is threatening to derail the competition’s planned expansion to 14 teams. Deep-seated fears over the financial stability of a larger league are fuelling a move to “press the pause button” on the proposals, despite a vote in favour of the change just months ago. The dissent is rooted in a perceived lack of due diligence and a rushed implementation timeline that many feel could be catastrophic for the sport.
The core of the issue lies in the financial unknown. Concerned club officials have voiced alarm over the Rugby Football League’s (RFL) failure to provide a detailed business plan or financial modelling to justify the expansion. This lack of transparency has created significant anxiety, especially given that the league’s primary broadcaster, Sky Sports, is reportedly opposed to the move and will not be increasing its rights fee to cover the additional teams.
This opposition from the league’s media partner is a major red flag for the dissenting clubs. The current television deal, already a significant reduction from previous agreements, is set to expire next season. There is a palpable fear that alienating Sky Sports could lead to a further decrease in broadcast revenue, a scenario that could force some clubs into a semi-professional, part-time status just to survive.
The process itself has also drawn heavy criticism. While Australia’s NRL spends years meticulously planning any expansion, the RFL is attempting to push this monumental change through in a matter of weeks. The panel tasked with selecting the new clubs has been given a very short window to properly vet applications, raising questions about the robustness of the entire procedure.
In response to the growing unrest, the RFL has stated that clubs had over a year to consider the expansion and that the vote in July was “overwhelmingly in favour” after a presentation on the rationale. However, with informal meetings now being scheduled to address the backlash, it is clear that the path to a 14-team Super League is far from secure, and a significant battle for the future of the sport is now underway behind the scenes.