Super League clubs approve dramatic 14-team expansion plan for the first time since 2014

Super League is set for its biggest transformation in over a decade after clubs voted to expand the top-flight competition from 12 to 14 teams starting in 2026.

The landmark decision was confirmed on Monday following a meeting of member clubs at Headingley, signalling a dramatic shift in English rugby league’s elite tier — and its future.

It will mark the first time since 2014 that Super League operates with 14 teams, having slimmed down to 12 ahead of the 2015 season. The current dozen clubs voted in favour of expansion, ushering in a new phase built on a controversial grading system and the judgment of an independent panel.

Under the new framework, the top 12 teams from the 2025 grading table will automatically secure their spots in the 2026 Super League. Two additional clubs will be chosen by a newly appointed panel, provided those applicants meet the “sufficient merit” criteria already set out.

That panel will be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine, a recent addition to the Rugby Football League’s board and its strategic review sub-committee. Caine’s influence is expected to shape the future identity of the league — and which clubs can break into it.

Club grading has already become a defining force in the sport. Under the ‘Reimagining Rugby League’ initiative spearheaded by media powerhouse IMG and Rugby League Commercial, clubs have been evaluated on both on-field and off-field metrics — covering everything from performance to commercial strength, facilities and community engagement.

This system first made its impact ahead of the 2024 season, when London Broncos were relegated from the top flight despite surviving on sporting merit, with Wakefield Trinity promoted based on grading criteria.

Now, with two more slots up for grabs, the competition is set to intensify. Any clubs across the Championship and League One believing they have the infrastructure and performance pedigree to earn elevation will be aiming for 2025 excellence.

Super League has undergone numerous format changes since the 14-team era was scrapped. From 2015 onwards, a variety of models were trialled — including the infamous ‘Super 8s’, which divided the league into pools after the regular season. That structure was binned ahead of the 2019 season.

In recent years, the league has employed a loop fixture system to pad out its schedule. With 12 teams, each side faces every opponent home and away, then plays four extra matches against selected teams based on the previous season’s rankings. That brought each side to a 27-game regular season — a format still in use in 2025.

The proposed 14-team league for 2026 could see that structure overhauled once again, with questions now circling how many matches will be played and whether loop fixtures will finally be consigned to history.

Though Wigan Warriors were crowned champions in 2024 and achieved a historic quadruple, it was St Helens who topped the end-of-season club rankings. It’s this grading model, and not trophies, that will now determine Super League status — a fundamental change in what success means.

What’s certain is that the battle for a place in the Super League is no longer just fought on the pitch. With a panel now holding the keys to the kingdom, and club metrics under the microscope, the road to 2026 promises to be as political as it is physical.