The Rugby Football League (RFL) is facing a significant backlash from Super League clubs over what they describe as a “rushed” and inadequately planned expansion to 14 teams. Accusations of a non-robust process and a lack of transparency are fuelling a late effort by several clubs to “press the pause button” on the contentious move, which they fear could destabilise the entire sport.
A primary source of frustration is the complete absence of detailed financial documentation. Club sources have revealed that despite repeated requests, the RFL has failed to share any in-depth financial modelling that would justify the economic viability of a 14-team competition. The formal shareholders’ meeting where the expansion was voted upon reportedly took place without any papers being provided, and the minutes of that crucial meeting have still not been distributed, raising serious governance concerns.
The timeline of the expansion has been another major point of contention. Critics contrast the RFL’s attempt to finalise the process in “a matter of weeks” with the multi-year scrutiny applied to expansion in Australia’s NRL. This compressed schedule has raised doubts about whether the independent panel, tasked with assessing applications, has sufficient time to conduct proper due diligence on potential new member clubs.
This internal dissent is occurring against a worrying financial backdrop. The league’s primary broadcast partner, Sky Sports, is understood to be against the expansion and will not increase its rights fee. With the current £21.5m-a-year deal expiring next season, clubs are terrified that an unpopular expansion could lead to a reduced offer, potentially forcing some to become part-time operations to survive. The financial struggles of the Salford Red Devils only serve to highlight the precariousness of the league’s current state.
In its defence, an RFL spokesperson insisted that the expansion was considered for over a year and that the clubs voted “overwhelmingly in favour” in July. Nevertheless, with informal meetings now being held to quell the rebellion, the RFL is under intense pressure to provide the answers and assurances that have so far been missing, or risk seeing its expansion plans collapse before they even begin.