Following the announcement of the IMG gradings for the upcoming season, which saw three-quarters of the competition earn Grade A designation, the Super League’s expansion to 14 teams as early as 2026 has not been ruled out.

Nine teams, including Championship champions Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers, who were thought to be in danger of being relegated from the league, were given the top position for 2025. Another team that has advanced to the first division is the Leigh Leopards.

Rhodri Jones, the chief executive of Rugby League Commercial, has also acknowledged that discussions on the possibility of extending Super League earlier than anticipated will now proceed. It had previously been said that after 12 clubs achieved Grade A status, Super League expansion would be taken into consideration.

“Given that there are nine Grade As, that conversation begins now, earlier than we anticipated,” Jones stated. As you mentioned, there’s a probability that next year we’ll have 12 As. That will undoubtedly speed up that discussion in a hypothetical situation—it might be 2026.

In response to a question on whether the Super League was financially prepared to expand to 14 teams, Jones suggested that some changes in the financial environment could be necessary before that can occur.

“I believe there is a more comprehensive discussion to be had regarding 14 teams,” he stated. It has been going on, but there has always been a statement that indicated we would evaluate the structure at twelve, and that’s what we’ll do.

Given the current situation and the terms of the broadcast agreement, I believe that a discussion about going to 14 in the current broadcast cycle is necessary.

At that point, you’re feeding more mouths. Even though it’s a running agenda item, if it advances to 2027, you’re at the beginning of the next broadcast discussion.

“The top bullet point is financial sustainability. Do we see a line in the sand, or are the present 12 clubs willing to split it among 14?