Deadline set for decision on new Super League club
A decision on which club will be admitted to Betfred Super League next year is due to be made by the middle of next month.
The competition is seeking a 12th team after clubs voted not to readmit Toronto Wolfpack, who withdrew from the league in July.
Only clubs who were in Super League or finished in the top-six of the Championship in either of the past two seasons are eligible to apply.
A panel drawn up to assess applications will be chaired by Conservative peer Lord Jonathan Caine, vice-chair of rugby league’s All-Party Parliamentary Group.
The panel will also include three members from each of the Rugby Football League (RFL) and Super League Europe (SLE).
The full application process - and the criteria against which applications will be assessed - will be distributed to clubs and published on Thursday.
The deadline for applications is the morning of Monday, November 30. A Super League statement said: “The RFL and SLE are conscious of the limited period of time for the preparation of applications, but equally aware that the successful club will need time to prepare for the 2021 season.
“The application criteria will be aligned, where possible, with information and documentation already held by the RFL, or which applicant clubs should already have in existence. A decision is scheduled to be made by Wednesday December 16, although that deadline could be extended in specific circumstances.”
The next Super League season is expected to begin in March. The statement added: “A number of initial criteria for applicants have been agreed, including that the club must have been in the Betfred Super League, or have finished in the top six of the Betfred Championship, in either 2018 or 2019.
“The RFL will communicate shortly with Betfred League One clubs about the implications of the vacancy created in the Betfred Championship.”
New Canadian club Ottawa Aces have already announced they are deferring their entry into the third tier until 2022, because of the on-going effects of coronavirus.
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