'Highly significant day': promotion and relegation to be scrapped as club grading plan wins crucial vote

The Rugby League Council, including representatives from all three professional competitions and the community game, overwhelmingly backed the proposal at a meeting in Huddersfield.

The grading system is the first recommendation from marketing experts IMG’s ‘reimagining rugby league’ strategy.

French clubs Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique were not entitled to vote. Ten of the 11 Betfred Super League clubs – including Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity – were in favour. Salford Red Devils abstained, but later said that was an error and they had intended to vote yes.

Eight of the 13 Championship clubs who had a vote cast theirs in favour, Whitehaven – who did not attend the meeting – being recorded as an abstention. Featherstone Rovers and Batley Bulldogs voted against, along with Keighley Cougars and Barrow Raiders.

Seven League One clubs voted in favour, with one abstention. Hunslet and Dewsbury Rams both voted no.

Reacting to the ballot, RFL chairman Simon Johnson said: “This has been a highly significant day for the sport and I am proud of the vote of the council.

“Our clubs were unanimous in supporting the 12-year strategic partnership with IMG when it was proposed in 2022 and have now given strong support for the club grading recommendation which is crucial in allowing the sport to grow and fulfil its potential – on the domestic and international stage.”

Johnson stressed there will be “no changes to the existing arrangements for promotion and relegation this season”.

He added: “In the closing stages of the season, this autumn, illustrative gradings for all clubs will be published, providing all with a clear idea of where they stand with 12 months until the gradings are updated to determine membership of the top tier competition in 2025.

“We will also continue to work with clubs to develop the minimum standards that will sit alongside the grading criteria and continue to consult with council.

“It is also important to reinforce that this outcome, whilst being crucial to the future growth of the sport, is only the first step.

“Work is currently underway to further develop the domestic calendar for 2024, deliver certainty to the international calendar and continue the digital transformation within rugby league that will continue to lay the foundations for a greater return from the sport’s assets in the future.”

Matt Dwyer, vice-president of sport management at IMG Media, said: “We greatly appreciate all the clubs’ input and support during this process.

“While there is naturally no one set of recommendations that will suit everyone, we strongly believe that club grading, as part of the wider ‘reimagining rugby league’ strategy, is essential to ensure sustainable growth of the game as a whole and are pleased to see that such a strong majority of clubs agree.

“This is a positive milestone for the future of the sport and we are excited to continue driving progression in other areas over the coming months.”