The RFL have confirmed to clubs the timetable for delivery of the third of the recommendations in IMG’s Reimagining Rugby League Strategy – the introduction of a grading system to determine membership of the Betfred Super League from 2025.
Deadlines have been confirmed for the submission of the necessary data by clubs in each of the three divisions – League One (Monday 2 September), Super League (Monday 23 September) and Championship (Monday 30 September) – in each case, immediately after the completion of the regular league season (and before the start of the Play-Offs).
For each of the divisions, there will then be a period of work internally by the RFL followed by liaison between clubs and the Governing Body, before the data is presented for external audit, following a tender process held earlier this year to engage with an assurance partner to assist in the process.
Clubs will only be informed of their own score, until after the Betfred Championship Grand Final – the last fixture of the domestic season – on the weekend of October 19-20.
Only after that match – which carries 0.25 points for the winners – will the rankings be finalised. They will then be shared with clubs on Tuesday October 22, before publication on Wednesday October 23.
The RFL and RL Commercial have also confirmed to Championship clubs this week that there will be a significant uplift in prize money for the Betfred Championship Grand Final, with the winners to secure a six-figure sum – recognising the fact that the match will no longer offer automatic promotion to Super League for the winners.
