London Broncos captain Reagan Campbell-Gillard has made the case for why his side should be in Super League for 2027, even revealing that he’s heard that current Super League clubs want the Broncos as a 15th team.
Despite the fact we’re in the middle of September, there is still no confirmation as to whether Super League will be comprised of 14 or 15 teams for 2027 with the Broncos the obvious candidate to come up from the Championship.
As for obvious candidates to drop out of Super League, promoted sides Toulouse Olympique and York Knights finished eighth and tenth on the ladder despite being on half funding, whilst 14th-placed Bradford Bulls are already confirmed to play in Las Vegas next year.
Super League stalwarts Hull FC were a Grade A club in 2025, whilst Castleford expect to be so in 2026. Huddersfield Giants have committed to investing £10 million to develop Dewsbury’s ground and bring it up to Super League standards, meaning there’s no obvious candidate to go down.
The composition of Super League is expected to be confirmed next month when the IMG gradings come out but whether London are in or out remains unknown, as is whether Super League will be a 14 or 15-team comp.
However, Broncos’ captain Campbell-Gillard has suggested they could enter as a 15th team, something he believes Super League clubs want.
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Will London Broncos be in Super League for 2027?
Appearing as a guest on Sky Sports’ The Bench Podcast, Campbell-Gillard was asked the all-important question of if London Broncos will be in Super League for 2027.
“I think so, well I hope so. I think they need it,” he said.
“From what I’m hearing, I think clubs want us to come in so they can have a bye as well [after] having a long season.”
He continued: “I honestly think that there should be a team in the capital and that’s pretty much all I can say on it.
“I really hope that we can get the chance and the opportunity because we’ve made it pretty clear that that’s what we want and we won’t stop until we get it.”
Host Jon Wilkin highlighted the importance of possible NRL involvement, suggesting that could be something that aids London whilst also arguing that the Broncos need to be in rugby league’s ‘growth strategy’.
He argued: “I think the NRL deal is crucial to some extent because Peter V’landys has been very vocal about his support for a London franchise within our competition.
“We need clarity as a game about where it’s going, whether the NRL are involved or not, and if they aren’t then what’s the plan? If the NRL are involved then we need a clear strategy for what growth looks like, much like they’ve done with PNG, with Perth, with maybe a second franchise in New Zealand… that’s all been part of a longer-term strategy.
“We, for a game in this country, feels like we haven’t had a strategy so I think regardless, London have to be part of our growth strategy.”
John Andrews
September 16, 2026 at 4:17 pm
That’s a NO from me and many other SL supporter tbh!
Eric T Cat
September 17, 2026 at 4:55 am
Lost for words on how bad an idea this is. Their average attendance is under 4000, even clubs with big travelling support they’ll get 5500-6000 attendances. What’s the point? They won’t add anything, just expense, travel. They aren’t expanding the sport n the same way Toulouse and Catalans are. If they could draw 10000+ crowds then it might be worthwhile, but with such a small following, in the capital, potentially 10 million to call on, and not reaching 4000, there is no point. It would be better bringing back a Widnes, Halifax, Oldham, clubs that have history and would bring fans back. But, the RFL are involved, I suggest we expect the worst dog’s breakfast imaginable!
John Andrews
September 17, 2026 at 12:29 pm
TOTALLY AGREE WELL SAID ERIC!