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Super League votes to add two clubs and return to 14-team competition for 2026
Super League votes to add two clubs and return to 14-team competition for 2026

The Guardian

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • The Guardian

Super League votes to add two clubs and return to 14-team competition for 2026

Super League will expand to 14 teams in 2026 after clubs approved an increase in the competition by two at the earliest possible opportunity. Officials from all clubs met in Leeds on Monday to discuss a strategic review of the professional game that had been led by Nigel Wood, the former chief executive of the Rugby Football League who has now returned as the governing body's chair, despite being paid more than £300,000 to leave in 2018. His review recommended that Super League's best course of action for a strong financial future was to increase the size of the competition. Nine clubs voted in favour of that proposal on Monday afternoon; the Guardian understands that Hull FC and Hull KR voted against the idea, while Wigan Warriors abstained from voting. However, the next steps towards expansion are complicated and epitomise the chaos that continues to engulf the sport's boardrooms following Wood's controversial return to power. Twelve of the 14 teams that play in Super League next year will be determined by the IMG gradings system which was introduced last year. That measures clubs in a variety of on- and off‑field metrics, giving them a score out of 20. The 12 clubs which rank the highest in October will be automatically assured of a spot in Super League in 2026. The expectation as things stand would be that the Championship side Toulouse would replace Salford in the top 12. But that will not be the only change, as two more clubs will essentially be handpicked by an independent panel, based on a selection of criteria that is yet to be finalised. That panel will be led by the RFL board member Lord Jonathan Caine but will also include members of Wood's strategic review committee. Wood was, up until earlier this year, the chair of another side that will now be strong favourites to return to Super League, Bradford Bulls. They are not the only ones who will be hopeful of promotion through this unique and somewhat peculiar method. The Championship leaders York Knights are confident they have a compelling case to become a Super League side for the first time, while London, who would have missed out under the gradings system, now have an increased chance due to support in the boardrooms at certain clubs for the Broncos. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion A move back to 14 teams for the first time since 2014 comes at a crucial time for the sport. Super League is keen to position itself in as strong a position as possible ahead of a new broadcast cycle beginning in 2027. Supporters of the move believe a more simplistic fixture list, with the elimination of loop fixtures where some teams play each other three times, will appeal to all stakeholders. There were also concerns in some quarters about having two French sides, Toulouse and Catalans, in a 12-team competition, which would limit revenue streams.

Fundraising page launched following Higham's cancer diagnosis
Fundraising page launched following Higham's cancer diagnosis

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Fundraising page launched following Higham's cancer diagnosis

A FUNDRAISING campaign has been set up to help out rugby league legend Micky Higham following his latest cancer diagnosis. In June, the former hooker who counts St Helens, Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors and hometown club Leigh among his former clubs during a 500-game career was diagnosed with widespread stage four cancer after discovering a lump on his lower back. It is the second such diagnosis for the 44-year-old, who had fought off stage three melanoma in 2022, but now his family are calling on the rugby league community for support. A JustGiving page has been set up for donations towards the family and potential access to promising clinical trials in Europe, with no such options available in the UK. At the time of writing, more than £23,000 of donations had been pledged with an initial target of £25,000 looking set to be beaten. A fundraising walk is also due to take place on Sunday, August 24, with full details to be confirmed in due course. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO DONATE

Women's Super League round-up: Wigan Power on
Women's Super League round-up: Wigan Power on

BBC News

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Women's Super League round-up: Wigan Power on

Wigan Warriors secured their first-ever home win over Leeds Rhinos to restore their three-point lead at the top of Women's Super Australian Power sisters got the home side off to a quick start at Robin Park Arena, with Tiana scoring a try in the opening minute and Queensland State of Origin star Shaniah adding a second to rock the pushed hard to get into the game but Wigan, still unbeaten this season, soaked it up and then forged further ahead through tries from Molly Jones and Mia-Jayne Atherton before Lucy Murray's try gave Rhinos a toehold in the game before half Eva Hunter established herself as the competition's leading try-scorer with her 13th of the season and teammate Grace Banks sped away for her 12th of the campaign to make sure of the result, with Isobel Rowe adding three conversions before late Izzy Northrop and Bethan Dainton tries made the final score 30-16. Leeds retain a three-point cushion in the hunt for top four play-off places despite defeat, as Huddersfield Giants lost at York Valkyrie despite a valiant from Emma Kershaw, Agnes Wood and Ellie Williamson and a Jas Bell conversion had seemingly put the home side in control at the LNER Community Stadium, but Eva Izumi's try and Sam Hulme's extras put Giants right back in the game before half-time.A fiercely-contested second half intensified as York's Rhiannion Marshall was sin-binned five minutes after going on as an interchange, but York held tight and then made sure with late tries from Peace Lekuru and Bell, with Marshall nailing both kicks to make it Helens' scheduled trip to Warrington Wolves was forfeited by the home side, who cited player availability issues, the game being awarded 48-0 to Saints to keep them in second RFL Board will decide whether Wolves, who had lost their previous eight games, will face further Stewart celebrated her call-up to the Scotland squad for the nation's historic first-ever Test match next week, against Wales, by scoring two tries and converting both for Barrow Raiders against Leigh Stewart powered over in the opening minute and after tries from Mackenzie Taylor and Kate Howard and Charlotte Melvin's conversion had edged the Leopardesses ahead, Stewart struck with six more points before Vanessa Temple rounded off a 16-10 win which sees Raiders leapfrog their opponents into sixth place.

Wigan beat Catalans to cut Hull KR lead at top
Wigan beat Catalans to cut Hull KR lead at top

BBC News

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Wigan beat Catalans to cut Hull KR lead at top

Betfred Super LeagueWigan (16) 28Tries: Wardle, Farrimond, Leeming, Eckersley, O'Neill Goals: Smith 4Catalans (0) 18Try: Rouge, Makinson, Da Costa Goal: Aispuro-Bichet 3 Wigan Warriors cut the gap to Super League leaders Hull KR to two points with a five-try win over Catalans Dragons at the Brick Community reigning champions were without this season's leading try-scorer Jai Field due to concussion protocols and are still missing star stand-off Bevan French through injury, but young players Jack Farrimond and Zach Eckersley stepped into the breach with fine Jake Wardle, Kruise Leeming and Brad O'Neill all adding scores, the Warriors always had their noses in front against a Dragons outfit which had their former player Joel Tomkins in charge for the first time since signing a new deal until 2027 earlier this Dragons showed plenty of spirit and hit back with tries from Cesar Rouge, Tommy Makinson and Alrix Da Costa in a promising second half, but the task facing Tomkins is evident as they have now won just once in their past 12 in all to follow. Wigan: Eckersley; Douglas, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; Farrimond, Smith; Havard, O'Neill, Dupree, Nsemba, Farrell, Mago, Byrne, Leeming, Aispuro-Bichet; Makinson, Laguerre, Darrelatour, Yaha; Rouge, Fages; Sims, Da Costa, Bousquet, Sironen, Garcia, Satae, Navarrete, Maria, Jack Smith.

Catalans to face Wigan in Paris during 2026 season
Catalans to face Wigan in Paris during 2026 season

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Catalans to face Wigan in Paris during 2026 season

Catalans Dragons will meet Wigan Warriors in Paris in 2026 to mark the 20th anniversary of the French club's debut in Super League. The two teams will play at the Stade Jean-Bouin, home of rugby union outfit Stade Francais, on 6 June next year. The match will also mark the 30th anniversary of Super League, which kicked off on March 29, 1996, when Paris St Germain met Sheffield Eagles at the Charlety Stadium. Catalans Dragons president Bernard Guasch said: "It is a great honour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Super League in Paris, where it all began in 1996. "It will mark the return of professional rugby league to our capital and I have no doubt it will be an emotional occasion, both for French and English fans." Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski added: "It's a great honour to take our wonderful sport back to Paris. "This June will mark 30 years since I had the privilege of playing in the Wigan side that narrowly defeated Paris Saint-Germain in what was a historic occasion. Now, to return with our club to this iconic city to face Catalans Dragons is another landmark moment." The match will also be Catalans' first match relocation since they faced Wigan at Barcelona's Camp Nou in 2019, a game which broke the Super League attendance record with a gate of 31,555.

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