The Rugby League Council, the sport’s decision-making body which comprises representatives from all three professional competitions and the community game, have today voted in favour of Club Grading – the first recommendation from IMG, the sport’s long term strategic partner, as part of the Reimagining Rugby League strategy.
In a Special General Meeting in Huddersfield, the Yorkshire town where the rebel rugby code was formed as the Northern Union in 1895, the recommendations were supported by a majority of clubs in each of the three professional competitions, and received unanimous support from the community game.
But how did the fans of the game feel about this decision?
Some fans bought into it and the belief that any club can now be a Super League side.
https://twitter.com/AncientLoyal_/status/1648659689926688774?s=20
However, some felt the opinions of fans were being ignored.
11 of the 18 comments so far are opposed to this power grab. But as usual, all the data gathered from surveying fans will be sitting at the bottom of an expensive bin in an expensive office block. Come on @TheRFL tell us what the fans thought #valuealltheclubs
— Dave The Cardboard Box (@dave_cardboard) April 19, 2023
That said, many were ready for the sport to begin to grow.
Good to see a majority have accepted these proposals. Time to get them ready and set in place. This is our chance to potentially grow the support
— Kris Holden 🍒⚪ (@KrisHolden_1878) April 19, 2023
Meanwhile, some were of the view that changes were simply inevitable.
Whether you oppose or not, these changes were needed.
Can’t have what we’ve had for 30 years and expect it to grow.
Something needed to happen. This is what 86% of the clubs have agreed to. Just get behind it.
— Jake (@Jake_Smith90) April 19, 2023
There were some of course calling it the death of the sport and they were called out as this was likened to creation of Super League.
All these claiming RIP Rugby League.
They said the same thing about Super League.
— Swagless Wonder. (@Gav_Leaf) April 19, 2023
They were still there in number however.
Games gone
— Steven Holland (@chop983) April 19, 2023
Others described this as a return to “the failure of franchising.”
Disapointing to see the sport return to the previous utter failure of franchising.
— Thomas Mangnall (@TMangnall) April 19, 2023
Others believes it would make a “farce” of relegation calling back to when Wigan Warriors avoided the drop by breaking the salary cap.
I remember the time when Wigan spent £m above the salary cap to escape relegation when it was a near certainty.
With a grade A licence, they could lose all 30 games, won't need to worry about going over the cap, and still stay up.
Presumably relegating some other mug.
FARCE.— KM (@Mulvaney1Kevin) April 19, 2023
But of course the naysayers mostly just described it as the death of the sport.
Turkeys voting for Christmas, I see… 🙄
Rest In Peace Rugby League 😔
— BlazeMeister1978 (@BlazeMeister78) April 19, 2023
