Anyone heard the rumour that the RFL and SUPERLEAGUE are changing the format of the competitions in 2018 to accommodate Toronto dontbknow any other details hoping someone had heard the same rumour as me and can enlighten us on it.
Awaiting replies in expectation

It could be changing as soon as next season the 8s are definitely getting binned off

SL will be 14 teams in 2018
Middle 8s will see the top 4 go up automatically, 5 vs 6 as the MPG plus 1 'wildcard'
Guarantee this is true , Dave told me.

I think he said 2018 which is next year is it not

SL going to 14 teams I have herd from v good source and you have been invited back in regardless of weather you get promoted or not, not kidding here either

I'm losing track of time

Well considering all SL clubs are not meeting until next month to discuss future structures, it's refreshing to know that they have already gauged public opinion via the use of an uber-troll on RLfans.

It's bound to be a winner

Where does the extra £3m + a year come From?

Same place it did before

Have they got an increase in the sky money then? Maybe Toronto and to louse have agreed to be self Funding?

Can't see it myself. No way would any SL chairman agree to funding cuts to allow 2 further teams.

Jake thinks he's Nick Ferrari from LBC and he obviously believes this is an uncosted Labour Party pledge.

Sounds like a corbynism. Let's magic up £3m a year out of thin air

IF it was or is true they would not need £3m a year has they are all ready on god knows how much money so they would only be toping it up want they

Tbf to Jake, as far as the expansion back to 14 SL teams go, it does have the whiff of a Rovers wish evolving into a rumour.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a change of some sort though - e.g. binning off the 8s. Three seasons isn't a bad lifespan for a system under the RFL. How long did licensing last to provide a stable environment for long-term investment? 4 years was it?

6 I think(?), 2009-2014.

Whilst the current system isn't perfect, it does strike a balance between the top league being fairly hard to get into (as promotion isn't automatic), but also that any team could in theory rise through the leagues like we see in football.

I can't see a 14-team SL next year for the same reasons as Jake, unless the RFL are somehow able to negotiate more cash from Sky. The new deal that kicked off this year runs until the end of 2021, and SL clubs get c£1.8m. Cut that money between 14 clubs and each of the current 12 will be losing c£250-£300k.

Relegation was back for 2014, so we're both wrong.



I agree about 14 teams - I can't see the SL chairman voting to divide the Sky pie more ways. Especially with the cap going up. Toronto could be the new Bridgend, I suppose, and a 13 team league wouldn't work well - but I've seen enough of the 'relegation cancelled' rumours when we were under threat in SL (2007 and 2016) to be more than a little dubious.

I broadly agree about the current system. It has problems, but so do the alternatives. My one real niggle with it is the complexity, in a sport already overburdened (IMO) with overly complex regulation.

At the of the day it's what sky wants the chairman won't have a say in it

No, the chairman have every say in it, it's completely their say.

Yeah they would, SL clubs get £1.65m a year now X 2 is £3.3m, take off whatever toulouse and toronto are getting.

Going back to franchising I've heard

I think you're mischief making. This is more wishful thinking from Hull KR supporters mixed with winding up by Hull fans.

If the chairman had a say in it sky wouldn't be able to get away with such a crap deal take the sky money away and most the clubs would go to the wall

Potentially 10/12 more games could be broadcasted. I can't see Sly having an issue with throwing another £3.6m in.