After the big rugby league news that Super League will be expanded to 14 teams, a CEO from the Championship has spoken out on the process.
It was confirmed by Super League Europe via a statement that the 12 current Super League clubs had voted in favour of a 14-team competition for 2026, something that has been widely accepted or even praised.
Some have suggested that there is a lack of quality but the removal of loop fixtures by moving to 14 is something that appeals to fans, clubs and broadcasters, however, the method in which expansion will happen has drawn criticism and questions.
It was confirmed by Super League Europe that 12 of the 14 teams will be confirmed by the IMG gradings but the 13th and 14th team will have to apply and then be approved by a panel, chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine.
Caine was recently appointed to the RFL Board and is part of the RFL Strategic Review and per Super League Europe’s statement, he will oversee a panel that ‘recommends’ two clubs from “applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria”.
It was noted that further details will be revealed in time but as it stands, it’s very unclear how that will happen and now one Championship rugby league club’s CEO has spoken out against it.
Championship club CEO’s welcomes Super League expansion but questions methods
Carl Hall, the CEO of Doncaster, has praised the idea of expanding Super League to 14 but he’s stated with strong belief that the 13th and 14th teams should be decided by on-field actions.
Doncaster currently sit sixth in the Championship but they’ll have to fight to defend their play-off spot until the end of the season with two teams lurking behind by just one point.
In a statement from Hall, he said: “We welcome the decision to expand Super League to 14 teams from next season. This is a significant step forward in the efforts to strengthen the game in this country.
“If the opportunity presents itself for this club to reach Super League, we are ready to push the button. We are incredibly passionate about growing the Dons both on and off the pitch and know that Super League is the ultimate destination.”
That in itself is a statement of intent give that Doncaster were in League One until very recently, earning promotion to the Championship thanks to their on-field efforts and that’s how Hall believes the 13th and 14th Super League teams should be confirmed.
Hall’s statement continued: “However, I strongly believe that the two clubs joining the top flight for 2026 should be decided on merit – and by that I mean on-field performance only.
“The Betfred Championship league leaders and the winners of the play-off final are the two clubs which should make up the 14.
“The foundation of this incredible sport is fearless, full-blooded competition and it is that which should determine how each of the divisions are formed.”
There is of course a possibility that the Championship league leaders and play-off winners could be the same team, as was the case with Wakefield last year.
CLUB STATEMENT | A message from chief executive Carl Hall.https://t.co/HTDfYezfeY
🔵 #COYD 🟠 pic.twitter.com/fyqGGWXFxe
— Doncaster RLFC (@Doncaster_RLFC) July 29, 2025
