our YouTube channel here.<\/a><\/p>\nHow will Super League be affected by the Strategic Review?<\/p>\n
There are 16 recommendations for Super League with the stated goal being to: \u201cEnsure that the top tier of the sport is the driver for income generation and growth by creating plans and strategies that expand audiences, grow revenue and more effectively manage the cost base.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the significant ones are Super League remaining a 14-team competition with plans to expand, as well as an eight-team play-off series being recommended. There\u2019s also a call for greater weight on on-field performance in the IMG system, as well as a call for more \u2018on the road matches\u2019.<\/p>\n
Below are the exact recommendations for those matters.<\/p>\n
\u201c31 \u2013 The league should comprise 14 teams but there should be a long-term plan to increase the number of clubs. This should only happen when the sport can financially and operationally sustain such growth \u2013 including player supply \u2013 and where it will not negatively affect the current financial distribution to clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201c33 \u2013 The play-offs should become a Top 8 format until such time as the league moves beyond 16 clubs. Consideration should be given as to how to innovate the play-off format to ensure more talking points are created. Any format change should be based on data and insight from partners and result in increased revenue.<\/p>\n
\u201c35 \u2013 Consideration should be given to updating the grading model to put greater weight on club\u2019s on-field performance, while still enforcing clear minimum standards for top-tier participation. An element of central distribution could be allocated to the grading outcomes to drive standards. Clubs should be widely consulted on what any amended system looks like.<\/p>\n
\u201c36 \u2013 The sport should consider \u2018on the road matches\u2019 in new locations around the UK and the world. These fixtures should align with the sport\u2019s wider strategy. Where a club wishes to consider taking a home match on the road, it should first consult with the governing body before commencing planning.<\/p>\n
\u201c39 \u2013 The dedicated Super League OTT channel should receive further investment with the aim of making it the \u2018go to\u2019 source of daily Rugby League content and information.\u201d<\/p>\n
What else does the Strategic Review recommend?<\/p>\n
Governance<\/p>\n
In relation to governance, the RFL call for themselves and RL Commercial to align with Super League also involved whilst it\u2019s stated that no Board of Directors should feature anyone with an active relationship at a club, something that will spark change.<\/p>\n
Board members attendance at games and meetings should also be recorded, thus creating accountability. Super League clubs voting powers are limited to just Super League matters.<\/p>\n
Below are the exact recommendations for those matters.<\/p>\n
\u201c1 \u2013 The sport should realign the RFL and RL Commercial, keeping both corporate entities to enable there to be appropriate alignment in function and including a corporate body that could be used as an investment vehicle. This should create a corporate Group structure that keeps all three current companies, the major change being that Super League (Europe) Ltd will remain only as a corporate vehicle to hold the Super League clubs\u2019 share in RL Commercial and to distribute funds to those clubs.<\/p>\n
\u201c4 \u2013 No Board of Directors should feature any individual who has an active relationship with any club.<\/p>\n
\u201c14 \u2013 Board and Executive attendance at Rugby League matches, meetings and events should be recorded and available to stakeholders.<\/p>\n
\u201c20 \u2013 The sport should limit the decision-making powers of the Super League clubs to matters which only affect that competition. These decisions should be based on the criteria below and require specific levels of approval:
a. Top-tier primary broadcast contract and title partner (simple majority);
b. Salary Cap Regulations where the Cap is not covered by central distribution
(simple majority);
c. Number of overseas clubs (two in any 14 without veto) (by majority of 60\/40).\u201d<\/p>\n
Championship<\/p>\n
In other areas of the sport, there has been a call for a knockout competition for the second tier to exist, just like the 1895 Cup now though it could well be reworked. Also, clubs in that competition who want to spend above the salary cap should have to provide guarantees, something that should lesson financial issues.<\/p>\n
Below are the exact recommendations for those matters.<\/p>\n
\u201c48 -There should be a tighter Salary Cap linked to the club\u2019s turnover. Clubs who wish to spend above the cap should provide guarantees and a personal underwrite to fund that season\u2019s player costs.<\/p>\n
\u201c49 \u2013 There should be a knock-out competition for Tier 2 clubs.<\/p>\n
Challenge Cup<\/p>\n
Super League clubs should enter at round of 32 and be seeded away, as is the case this year, whilst a possible venue change for the Final should also be considered. As too should a \u2018Magic Weekend-style\u2019 round.<\/p>\n
Below are the exact recommendations for those matters.<\/p>\n
\u201c64 \u2013 Men\u2019s Super League clubs should enter at the round of 32. They should be seeded and drawn away from home.<\/p>\n
\u201c67 \u2013 Consideration should be given to the creation of a \u2018Magic Weekend-style\u2019 round of the Challenge Cup to truly put the magic back into the competition. This would ideally be the Round of 16, creating a new event and broadcast product.<\/p>\n
\u201c70 \u2013 The sport should consider a new venue for the final.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contest, broadcast and season schedule<\/p>\n
There have also been recommendations for other events such as Rugby League 9s, and a possible Charity Shield between the cup winners and Super League winners.<\/p>\n
Below are the exact recommendations for those matters.<\/p>\n
\u201c99 \u2013 Consideration should be given to events that showcase different attributes of players including Rugby League 9s and other linked sports provided such events are strategically delivered and financially sustainable in the medium term.<\/p>\n
\u201c100 \u2013 The sport should consider starting the season with a match between the Challenge Cup winners and the Grand Final winners to raise money for the sport\u2019s charity, Rugby League Cares.\u201d<\/p>\n
France, strategically significant markets and assets<\/p>\n
Greater collaboration between France and England should exist whilst a possible Anglo-French Cup could be played.<\/p>\n
Below are the exact recommendations for those matters.<\/p>\n
\u201c124 \u2013 There should be greater collaboration between the French Super League clubs and the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201c127 \u2013 Consideration should be given to an Anglo-French Cup played between Tier 2 in the UK and the French Rugby League Championship.\u201d<\/p>\n
International Relations<\/p>\n
This focused on regular games for England in the Northern Hemisphere as well as a commitment to playing the World Club Challenge.<\/p>\n
Below are the exact recommendations for those matters.<\/p>\n
\u201c31 \u2013 A plan to seek regular autumn international series events in the Northern Hemisphere against Tier 1 nations and\/or major tournaments played involving England men should be created.<\/p>\n
\u201c134 \u2013 There should be annual matches between the best NRL and Super League clubs. These should be standalone assets and played around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The full document can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768085712_213_srl-logo.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The RFL Strategic Review group have made 144 recommendations to improve the sport\u2019s standing, including a major shake-up…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":386481,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[5903,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-409461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409461"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409461\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/386481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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