[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/news/article/480/9120861/super-league-cut-to-12-teams[/url

so the bottom two this coming season to be relegated?? would think thats going to be London and maybe one from wakey/cas/bradford.

from 2015 onwards its the split into 3 leagues after 23 rounds

Its a fudge no one seems to like and the chances of a Championship side making it up through that system is next to none, Fev or Sheffield getting stuffed by a Cas or Hull KR whose budget will be 4 or 5 times bigger will soon wear thin and more meaningless matches will get fans at all levels drifting away from the game.

99% of the fans seem to be against the move to 3x8... must be down to money, not that there is much of that!

I am all for the new structure. It will create more interesting games, especially come the end of the season when the bottoms teams are playing for nothing. At the moment, the fact that over half the teams in the league get into the end of season play off's is ridiculous. its meant to award the crème de la crème of teams. And whilst you are right about teams not having the same money when they meet up in the middle league, you have to remember that the four that have come down from the super league will be playing without confidence and the top teams from the lower division will be playing well. It only takes one team to go up from the lower division for it to be a success in my opinion.

Also for those saying that youngsters are not going to get as much of a chance, well if your so confident that the teams in the lower division wont get promoted then what is stopping teams still playing their youngsters?

Lets see if any current championship side makes SL1 as in all likelihood if anyone from outside the original SL1 line up makes it up it will be one of both of the teams that go at the end of 2014. If 2 "new" teams make it to SL1 in the first 3 or 4 seasons it will be a great achievement but can not see it happening. The door has been opened to give the likes of Fev a chance but it is a very slim one and whilst supporters of SL2 clubs will embrace it early on if its a case of seeing those clubs stuffed when they face SL1 clubs it will soon wear thin and they may end up getting lower gates while forking out bigger wages.

those that know they aren't going to make the top 8 could make the run up a joke- they could sit back save their best players play the kids so that they have fresh bodies to ensure they keep their place in SL

I am unsure of the new structure but will to give it a good go! Not all the facts are out like how money will be split and how the middle 8 will compete to decide the top four of that mini league to gain access back to the next years top twelve. But I am sure it will be interesting! I am always looking to support the underdog in the league and challenge cup so when it comes to the super league sides playing the championship sides I know I will be watching!

6 clubs voted against and 7 voted for it. Catalans abstained apparently.

I guess we were against it because it will mean a dimunition in money for SL teams ( all clubs apart from Leeds and Wigan ) are struggling. If this is the case it will be harder to keep players and stop the drain to OZ or RU.

ATEOTD the decision is made, it's up to the clubs, media and fans to make the best of it and see where it takes us.

Lots of opinion on why it won't work, but these need to be managed and exploit the positives it will provide the game.

What games will sky pick too. Will they go for the top 8 games or put a few of the bottom 8 games on? Not sure I'd want to watch some of the potential miss match games on a Friday night. It's going to be a real eye opener when it starts next year.

Can someone clarify? 2 leagues of 12, therefore 6 teams relegated from the championship in 2014
2015 the Championship 1 will be 16 teams, including Coventry, will there be P/R between SL2 and whatever Champ 1 is called ?

Yeah cos having two thirds of the competition qualifying makes sooooo much more sense doesn't it.

In 2015

2 clubs from Superleague drop into Championship..

Top 9 clubs in Championship stay in Championship.

Top Club in Championship 1 is promoted to Championship.

Teams outside top 9 in Championship will play in Championship 1.

Two teams promoted from Championship 1 every year. The Champions and 1 club through play offs.

Two teams relegated from Championship ie the bottom 2 of the relegation play offs.

That was the original proposal put forward by the RFL. Whether that is the one adopted I don't know.


I'm not sure whether that clarifies it or just makes it more confusing though.

Thats 30 games in Champ 1 + CC + Northern Rail ? + playoffs, thats a long season for a successful side?

Championship 1 will be:



So it may well be that not every team plays each other.

However both Superleague and Championship will run with a 23 game season plus 7 game play offs plus Semi final and Grand Final (not in Promotion/relegation group which will have a 4th v 5th play off) so you might be correct with the 30 game season.

I like the new structure. Too many people have rubbished it out of hand without trying to understand it. It really is simple. 2 divisions of 12. At end of season, top 8 play each other once to be crowned champions; bottom 4 and top 4 from Championship play each other once - top 4 will play in SL the following season; bottom 8 play each other once, possibly to see who stays in Championship. Every game will mean something, every point will be important.

How is it complicated to have a season of 2 x 12 divisions with and end of season play off?

top 8 play each other once? is it not top 4. so no grand final and no play offs anymore if the top 8 play each other once?

can see some real lop sided scores between the bottom 4 of the 12 and top for of the other 12... could see Hull Fc Vs dewsbury... etc crowds going to go down even further!

anyway will get on with it when it arrives lets just hope we dont finish in the bottom 2 this season

The Superleague play offs are 8 teams playing in a round robin fixture with the higher placed 4 teams having the extra home game. Similarly the bottom 8 in the Championship will play off for the Championship Shield. Points from the 23 round league season will carry over into these play offs.

The Promotion play offs wont have points carried forward and won't have a semi final and final but do feature a play off between 4th and 5th for the final Superleague place next season.

The odd thing is this format was used for 15 years in Swiss soccer and was abandoned because crowds fell, sponsors turned away and TV revenues went down. Something the RFL either seem unaware of or uncaring about.

the bottom 4 from superlague and top 4 from championship play each other once and the four highest clubs go back into superleague the next season.

However the top 8 in Superleague play in the play offs the same way as now (the way it is done may be slightly different) but the concept is still the same and it will still lead to a grand final.

media.therfl.co.uk/docs/Policy%2 ... 202013.pdf That's the RFL's proposals points 5.1.14 to 5.1.32 cover the league structure. Quote PROPOSALS 5.1.14 From 2015 the Super League (Tier 1) will comprise 12 teams. 5.1.15 From 2015 the Championship (Tier 2) will comprise 12 teams. 5.1.16 Both divisions will play a main league format of 23 matches, with every club playing each other home and away and a Magic event in both leagues. 5.1.17 The Magic event will be staggered to give each division an opportunity to attract significant media attention. 5.1.18 After 23 rounds the season Play Offs will commence with the 24 teams splitting into three groups of 8. 5.1.19 The top 8 will compete in the Super League Play Offs. 5.1.20 The middle 8 will compete in the Super League Qualifying Play Offs. 5.1.21 The third 8 will compete in the Championship Shield. 5.1.22 Each Play Off group will comprise 7 fixtures. In the Super League Play Offs and the Championships Play Offs (i.e. top 8 and third the four highest ranked clubs will receive the benefit of four home fixtures. 5.1.23 In the Super League Qualifying Play Offs (the middle the four teams who have qualified from the Championship will receive the benefit of 4 home game fixtures. 5.1.24 Thereafter, in the Super League Play Offs and Championships Play Offs (top 8 and third , two Semi-Finals will be contested with teams as follows; 1 v 4 and 2 v 3, with home advantage being available to the highest ranked side. 5.1.25 From the two semi-finals the Super League Grand Final and Championship Shield Grand Final will be constructed. 5.1.26 In the Super League Qualifying Play Offs no Semi-Finals or Grand Final are envisaged. The first three teams in this ‘mini league’ will qualify for re-admission into the Super League competition for the following year. However, at the end of the Play Offs series, the team ranked fourth will play the team ranked fifth in a one-off game to determine the last Super League place for the following season. 5.1.27 In the top and third 8s, league points will be taken forward into the Play-Offs. Clearly it will not be possible for the middle 8 to carry points forward. 5.1.28 The bottom two clubs from the Championships Play Offs will be relegated to Championship One (Tier 3) for the following season. 5.1.29 The champion club from Tier 3 will be automatically promoted and a second club will be promoted via a Play Off system comprising clubs 2 to 5 in that competition. 5.1.30 The clubs contesting the Super League Play Offs in any season (i.e. the top 8 clubs) will join the Challenge Cup in the Fifth Round in the following season. 5.1.31 The issue of the umbrella branding of the three professional playing leagues should be given additional consideration by the RFL Board following further stakeholder consultation and work with a respected external agency once the structures have been determined. 5.1.32 However the current description of Tiers within the sport is amended to be: Tier 1 – Super League Competition. Tier 2 – Championship Competition. Tier 3 – Championship One Competition. Tier 4 – Conference Leagues. Tier 5 – Regional Leagues. Tier 6 – Merit and other Leagues. (for the purposes of this report and to assist the reader by avoiding confusion, the assumption is that this structure has been adopted)'"

media.therfl.co.uk/docs/Policy%2 ... 202013.pdf That's the RFL's proposals points 5.1.14 to 5.1.32 cover the league structure. Quote PROPOSALS 5.1.14 From 2015 the Super League (Tier 1) will comprise 12 teams. 5.1.15 From 2015 the Championship (Tier 2) will comprise 12 teams. 5.1.16 Both divisions will play a main league format of 23 matches, with every club playing each other home and away and a Magic event in both leagues. 5.1.17 The Magic event will be staggered to give each division an opportunity to attract significant media attention. 5.1.18 After 23 rounds the season Play Offs will commence with the 24 teams splitting into three groups of 8. 5.1.19 The top 8 will compete in the Super League Play Offs. 5.1.20 The middle 8 will compete in the Super League Qualifying Play Offs. 5.1.21 The third 8 will compete in the Championship Shield. 5.1.22 Each Play Off group will comprise 7 fixtures. In the Super League Play Offs and the Championships Play Offs (i.e. top 8 and third the four highest ranked clubs will receive the benefit of four home fixtures. 5.1.23 In the Super League Qualifying Play Offs (the middle the four teams who have qualified from the Championship will receive the benefit of 4 home game fixtures. 5.1.24 Thereafter, in the Super League Play Offs and Championships Play Offs (top 8 and third , two Semi-Finals will be contested with teams as follows; 1 v 4 and 2 v 3, with home advantage being available to the highest ranked side. 5.1.25 From the two semi-finals the Super League Grand Final and Championship Shield Grand Final will be constructed. 5.1.26 In the Super League Qualifying Play Offs no Semi-Finals or Grand Final are envisaged. The first three teams in this ‘mini league’ will qualify for re-admission into the Super League competition for the following year. However, at the end of the Play Offs series, the team ranked fourth will play the team ranked fifth in a one-off game to determine the last Super League place for the following season. 5.1.27 In the top and third 8s, league points will be taken forward into the Play-Offs. Clearly it will not be possible for the middle 8 to carry points forward. 5.1.28 The bottom two clubs from the Championships Play Offs will be relegated to Championship One (Tier 3) for the following season. 5.1.29 The champion club from Tier 3 will be automatically promoted and a second club will be promoted via a Play Off system comprising clubs 2 to 5 in that competition. 5.1.30 The clubs contesting the Super League Play Offs in any season (i.e. the top 8 clubs) will join the Challenge Cup in the Fifth Round in the following season. 5.1.31 The issue of the umbrella branding of the three professional playing leagues should be given additional consideration by the RFL Board following further stakeholder consultation and work with a respected external agency once the structures have been determined. 5.1.32 However the current description of Tiers within the sport is amended to be: Tier 1 – Super League Competition. Tier 2 – Championship Competition. Tier 3 – Championship One Competition. Tier 4 – Conference Leagues. Tier 5 – Regional Leagues. Tier 6 – Merit and other Leagues. (for the purposes of this report and to assist the reader by avoiding confusion, the assumption is that this structure has been adopted)'"

I just dont understand it, so will just take each game as it comes ....

and your already a rugby league fan, great way this is to bring in the new fans!

like you though will just wait till it happens and hope it works

interesting comments about it being used in swiss soccer and failing badly