We might still be in the 2024 season but the 2025 campaign is one that is set to be historic with the make-up of the three Rugby League divisions in England being determined by grading and not simply on-field performance. As such there will likely be plenty of movement between Super League and the Championship.
In a step away from the traditional promotion and relegation, the make-up of Super League, Championship and League One will be determined by each team’s grading. That’s something that has been introduced by IMG, the marketing partners that the RFL has agreed to a 12-year deal in an attempt to make the sport more commercially viable.
Much of the motivation behind grading is to ensure and preserve the sustainability of the sport with teams made to focus on off-field issues such as stadium, finances, and marketing, perhaps more so than simply fielding the best possible 13. As such, it potentially safeguards against teams going bust by going all out for promotion and not making the cut.
Preliminary grades were confirmed back in October and the RFL confirmed last week when the first official grades are released. With that in mind, here are the likely 12 teams who will be in Super League in 2025.
What will Super League look like in 2025?
How many Grade A clubs will be in Super League next year?
Credit: Imago Images
The preliminary grades that were released back in October confirmed that there were seven Grade A teams in Super League. It has been explained that any team with an A Grade will be guaranteed a spot in Super League, with the competition potentially even set to expand if more than 12 teams hit that mark.
To achieve an A Grade, teams must hit 15 out of 20 points and the seven to do so in the preliminary grades were Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Catalans Dragons, Warrington Wolves, Hull KR and Hull FC.
Even with the troubles going on at Hull FC, the club are likely to remain in Super League even in the unlikely scenario that they lose their Grade A status.
The Black and Whites have had a woeful start to 2024 and that’s culminated in wholesale change starting with the sacking of Tony Smith, and in turn hiring Richie Myler as Director and the recent departure of Chief Executive James Clark after 15 years.
More likely than a reduction in Grade A clubs would be the fact that more teams join the current seven in that elite status with teams like Salford Red Devils (8th) and Huddersfield Giants (9th) knocking on the door.
Four teams set to fight it out for three places
Credit: Imago Images
With the seven Grade A clubs almost certain to remain and it very likely that both Salford and Huddersfield join that mix, it comes down to which sides will make up the final quarter of Super League in 2025.
That’s where it gets more complicated though with four teams set to battle it out over just three places, whilst Bradford Bulls would potentially also throw their hat into the ring should Odsal ever be brought into the 21st century.
As that’s not the case, it means the four sides battling it out are Leigh Leopards, Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Trinity and Toulouse Olympique.
For London, it will be another one-year stay in Super League with the club initially graded as the lowest of the Grade B teams meaning that they will almost certainly be playing in Championship next season.
The preliminary gradings should be taken with a pinch of salt after Castleford were confirmed to have incorrectly submitted data that meant they missed out on points.
Castleford have since tried to secure their Super League status with a new investor coming aboard and significant work to their stadium, something that has also happened at Wakefield Trinity who look very likely to be a Super League side in 2025.
Trinity could earn bonus points for winning the 1895 Cup too as well as the huge stadium developments they’ve undergone, whilst Leigh Leopards will of course benefit from their impressive 2024 season and the fact their stadium is already up to a high standard.
The fourth team are Toulouse Olympique who are boosted by the fact their catchment area score is so high and it will likely come down to the wire between the Olympians and the Tigers.
If Castleford Tigers can boost their average attendance to over 7,500 then they might retain their Super League status, meaning that their fate could genuinely be in the hands of the Wheldon Road faithful.
With all that said, here’s Serious About Rugby League’s Predicted Super League for 2025.
Leeds Rhinos
Wigan Warriors
St Helens
Catalans Dragons
Warrington Wolves
Hull KR
Hull FC
Salford Red Devils
Huddersfield Giants
Wakefield Trinity
Leigh Leopards
Toulouse Olympique
Anonymous
May 11, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Bullshit
Michael Smith
May 12, 2024 at 8:10 am
Really what a load of rubbish 4 teams with no away support 2 with no home support worthy of any note 3 that play in football stadium’s and also too many proped up by millionaire’s that if ever they lost their finances they would collapse ex kowkash
Andy
May 12, 2024 at 4:15 pm
What about Featherstone getting super league they should be a good bet as wel
James barling
June 11, 2024 at 2:13 am
Kick out Hill FC And the tigers and the bulls and rovers
Ronnie
June 18, 2024 at 7:57 pm
What about Widnes a great rugby league club and Bradford bulls
Rolf Piola
September 20, 2024 at 12:30 am
Hull FC may likely come bottom of the table but still qualify for a place in Super League,doesn’t sound right.
Stray
September 29, 2024 at 1:02 am
How about capping it 14 teams.
Need to improve french competition and put Toulouse in.