Widnes Vikings can today confirm a statement from Super League Europe, regarding an expansion to the number of teams for 2026.
Statement
The 12 existing Betfred Super League clubs have today voted to extend the competition to 14 teams for the 2026 season, subject to conditions.
This would be done by combining the Club Grading System introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport’s long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine, who was recently elected as a member of the Rugby Football League Board, and the Strategic Review Sub-Committee.
The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel, provided the panel judges find that there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria.
Further details of the composition of the panel and the timing of the process will be confirmed in due course.
The Super League clubs have the right to determine the number of clubs in the competition. The possibility of immediate expansion to 14 clubs was one of a number of options put to a meeting of the existing 12 clubs at AMT Headingley on Monday afternoon.
The club remains fully committed to securing a place in the Betfred Super League for the 2026 season, whether through the IMG grading system or via the forthcoming application process.
