Super League is in the grip of an internal power struggle, as the decision to expand to 14 teams has fractured the consensus among its member clubs. What was presented as an “overwhelmingly” positive vote in July has unravelled into a late-stage challenge, with a faction of clubs now actively lobbying to halt the move over grave concerns about the sport’s financial future.
The division stems from a perceived lack of due process and transparency from the Rugby Football League (RFL). While Hull KR and Hull FC were the initial public dissenters, it’s now understood that several other clubs share their doubts. They argue that they were asked to vote on a monumental change without being supplied with any detailed financial analysis or a long-term business strategy, a failure of governance that they now refuse to accept.
Finances are the primary battlefield in this conflict. The anti-expansion block is pointing to the league’s main broadcaster, Sky Sports, which is not only opposed to the plan but also holds the league’s future in its hands. With the current TV deal already a sharp decline from its peak, the prospect of further reductions is terrifying for clubs, many of whom are already struggling to break even. The fear is that a 14-team league would mean less money for everyone, potentially leading to a decline in professional standards.
The RFL’s leadership is now on the defensive. Their claim that the expansion was considered for over a year is being directly challenged by clubs who feel the critical decision-making has been rushed into a few weeks. The fact that minutes from the July shareholders’ meeting have not been circulated has only deepened the suspicion and mistrust between some clubs and the governing body.
This split has moved beyond mere disagreement into active political manoeuvring. While an extraordinary general meeting to force a revote has been discussed, the current focus is on behind-the-scenes lobbying and informal meetings with the RFL. The outcome of these discussions will be pivotal, determining whether the league proceeds with a contentious expansion or heeds the warnings from within its own ranks and rethinks its entire strategy.