Super League’s ambition to grow into a 14-team competition has been paralysed by overwhelming financial fears among its member clubs. A late challenge, driven by concerns over sustainability and a lack of a coherent business plan, is threatening to stop the expansion dead in its tracks, revealing a deep rift within the sport.
The paralysis stems from the cold, hard numbers. The league’s primary income from its broadcaster, Sky Sports, has already been slashed from £40m to £21.5m annually. With no new money on offer to support two extra clubs, teams are facing the grim reality of a smaller share of the financial pie. This has led to dire predictions of some clubs being forced to operate on a part-time basis, a major step backwards for the professional game.
This fear has solidified into a firm opposition due to the Rugby Football League’s (RFL) inability to provide a financial roadmap. Clubs have been left in the dark, with no access to the detailed modelling that should underpin such a significant strategic shift. This has created a belief that the ambition is not backed by a viable plan, prompting a strong call to halt the process until 2027.
The already fragile state of the league’s finances adds to the sense of paralysis. With one club, Salford Red Devils, facing an uncertain future, the idea of adding more potentially vulnerable teams into the mix without a clear funding strategy is seen as a move that invites instability rather than growth.
The RFL has maintained that its plan was democratically approved in July, but that initial momentum has clearly stalled. The league is now caught in a standoff, with the RFL’s forward-looking ambition clashing with the clubs’ present-day financial anxieties. Until those fears are addressed with a credible plan, the expansion will remain a paralysed dream.
