‘Never watching this nonsense again' rant fans as major league confirms two-team expansion for 2026 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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Willie Mullins left ‘shocked' as iconic Thurles Racecourse shuts down after nearly 300 years
THE legendary Willie Mullins has expressed his shock at the sudden closure of Thurles Racecourse. Kilkenny horse training icon Advertisement 2 Thurles racecourse permanently closed on Friday after a shock announcement confirmed the news 2 Iconic Trainer Willie Mullins was shocked and saddened by the sudden news of the track's closure The iconic trainer, who has saddled over 250 winners at the County Tipperary venue reacted to Friday's announcement that Ireland's last privately-owned racecourse would Speaking to PA, Mullins said: 'It was a major shock this morning to hear the news. "It will be a huge blow for Irish racing, more specifically Irish jump racing and winter jump racing. "Thurles is a track that always had beautiful ground in the winter when other tracks couldn't. Advertisement read more on racing "It's the last family-run track in Ireland, I believe. Pierce Molony ran it for years, his father ran it before him and Riona - and family have run it since Pierce died - and they've been fantastic for the Irish jump fraternity over the years.' Thurles, which held its first recorded meeting in 1732, has been owned and operated by the Molony family since the early 20th century. Thurles was famed for being able to handle any conditions, especially in the depth of the Irish winter. Its biggest race of the season also had a knack for producing Gold Cup winners at Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing And earlier in the day, She said: "It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today. Match of the Day host Gabby Logan cheers on jockey daughter, Lois, as she makes racing debut at Goodwood "We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing, and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support. "Horseracing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. Advertisement "My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators. "Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we've managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that. "The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. "Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor. Advertisement "We're going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options."
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Pre-season daily round-up: New chapter in Isak saga as Paqueta ponders legal action
Elsewhere we have an update on the Lucas Paqueta situation, and a beautiful Diogo Jota tribute from James Milner. Here is the daily pre-season round-up. Newcastle reject Isak bid from Liverpool, but saga far from over Liverpool have decided against making a second bid for Alexander Isak after seeing a €126million (£110million) offer rejected by Newcastle United. The Swedish striker, who is training on his own at Real Sociedad, remains keen on joining Liverpool and according to reports from Sky in Germany, Isak's camp are keen to get a deal done. Will Newcastle hold onto their disgruntled star, or will Isak's persistence pay off? Arne Slot's side are preparing for two friendlies with Athletic Bilbao at Anfield, with games at 5pm and 8pm respectively on Monday August 2, before the Community Shield against Crystal Palace on August 10. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Ball in Paqueta's court over legal proceedings in wake of 'most complicated' betting case It will be left up to Lucas Paqueta as to whether he sues the FA for lost earnings and pushes for them to pay his £1million legal fees after his acquittal for spot-fixing charges, the head lawyer of his legal team has told Standard Sport. Alastair Campbell, partner at Level, who headed up the West Ham star's legal team throughout the 'unprecedented' near-two-year investigation has revealed he plans to celebrate the verdict with Paqueta and his family when the player returns to London. Campbell declared it the 'most complicated' case he has worked on. Paqueta was set to leave West Ham and join Man City for £85m on a lucrative deal in August 2023 before it first emerged he was being investigated for misconduct. Paqueta's move to City broke down immediately. ADVERTISEMENT Then, in May 2024, he was charged with four counts of intentionally influencing betting markets by deliberately getting himself booked in four Premier League matches between November 2022 and August 2023 — allegations which went unproven after a two-year investigation which ended last Friday. The result was made public on Thursday. Wrexham add more PL experience to side as Conor Coady joins Wrexham have signed defender Conor Coady from Leicester for an undisclosed fee, pending international clearance. Coady, capped 10 times by England, has agreed a two-year deal with the option of a further year and is the newly-promoted Championship club's seventh summer signing. Coady will join Ireland stalwart James McClean in Wales as the club look to consolidate in the Championship after three successive promotions. The 32-year-old told the club's official website: 'I'm over the moon. It's a special day, I'll be honest. 'We've all seen what the club has done over the past few years and for me to join is really special and I can't wait to meet the boys and get started.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Watch: James Milner explains his beautiful Diogo Jota tribute James Milner will wear the number 20 shirt at Brighton this season in memory of the late Diogo Jota, describing his former Liverpool team-mate as a 'great friend'. The Portuguese forward died aged 28 last month in a car crash, alongside his brother Andre Silva, just weeks after helping Liverpool clinch Premier League title glory. Liverpool have retired the number 20 jersey worn by Jota in his five seasons at Anfield, three of them alongside Milner before the veteran England midfielder moved to Brighton in the summer of 2023. Watch below as Milner explains his decision.
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘It's crazy' – Sheffield Wednesday star breaks silence on threat to STRIKE as Championship club's crisis deepens
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY star Jamal Lowe has spoken out about the situation facing the Championship crisis-club. Owls stars were told this week that they would not be paid on time for the fourth month out of the last five. Advertisement 3 Jamal Lowe spoke to Sky Sports News about Wednesday's dire situation Credit: Sky Sports News 3 Lowe, 31, is one of the Owl's remaining senior players Credit: Getty Manager Several key players have left this summer, including the likes of Josh Windass, While club stalwart Amid the madness of Wednesday's situation, owner Dejphon Chansiri has so far Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Having been told that they would not be paid on Friday as scheduled, players Wednesday are scheduled to get their season underway in just nine days with a trip to Speaking to Sky Sports outside the club's training ground this morning, forward Lowe said: "Just a lot of uncertainty really. Just like the fans and just like everyone that's following the story, we kind of find out at the same time. "So if it's on Twitter, that's when we find out sometimes. But no one's experienced this before so no one really knows what to do, when to expect stuff. Advertisement Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "It's all unknown territory for everyone. And like you say, players aren't getting it (paid on time) but a lot of the staff that work here every day or work at the stadium every day aren't getting paid either. "So it's tough for everyone. It's tough for us but for them, we more think about them in harder times like this where you only find out the day before payday whether you're getting paid or not. Sheffield Wednesday crisis deepens as players free to resign, club legend leaves and staff going months without pay "And it's not enough time to organise whatever you need to organise if you've got stuff coming out. No one knows. Everyone's got a different story. It is tough." Advertisement On speculation over Wednesday will even be able to fulfil their fixture against Leicester next week, Lowe added: "We haven't spoken that far ahead yet. But everyone's fit. We've been working hard because the season doesn't stop for anyone. "They're not going to feel sorry for us and say, 'why don't we just push their games a couple of weeks back?' "Everyone's working as much as they can to be fit. But what happens from there, I don't know." Wednesday are currently down to around 11 senior players still on the books, with the squad likely to have to be supplemented by under-23 players. Advertisement 'IT'S A CRAZY TIME' On the exodus that has taken place at Hillsborough this summer, Lowe, 31, said: "As you can imagine, people have left. It's an unstable situation at the minute. No one holds any bad feelings towards anyone who's left. "Everyone completely understands. It's a crazy time. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. We'll just have to see what's going on." Rohl was replaced by his former assistant Henrik Pedersen. Lowe is pleased that the Dane will at least be able to provide some continuity. Advertisement The former "But he was already here already, so that makes life a little bit easier. We've got similar ideologies about how we want to play. "So that's not an issue. That's probably the most positive thing out of the situation. There's not too much change with that. But we will see, man. We will see." When asked about staying positive, Lowe admitted: "If you don't laugh, you'll cry. So we have to laugh." Advertisement 3 Dejphon Chansiri has so far refused to budge on his £100m asking price Credit: Getty
