Voting revealed for proposed Super League promotion and relegation change

Clubs have today voted on a proposal on changes to how promotion and relegation works between Super League and the Championship.

At an RFL Council meeting, clubs voted against a proposed amendment that would have seen the winner of the Championship Grand Final promoted to Super League.

The amendment had been proposed by Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams with the suggestion being that should a Grade B club win the Championship Grand Final, they automatically replace the lowest-ranked Grade B Super League club.

In the event that all of the Super League clubs were ranked as Grade A clubs anyway then the competition would be expanded.

The RFL have now confirmed that the proposal was voted down with 63% of the vote (weighted in favour of Super League clubs) opposing the amendment.

Proposal to amend Super League promotion and relegation rejected

The proposal itself was a contentious one due to a number of factors, namely the fact that the lowest-ranked Grade B side in Super League could theoretically be a team in the play-offs and suffer relegation.

In 2024, Salford Red Devils ranked 12th with just 13.97 points making them a Grade B side, however, they finished fourth in Super League whilst Grade A clubs such as Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos missed the play-offs completely.

Those in favour of the proposal deemed it as a compromise of sorts and a good way to retain the traditional promotion and relegation element of the sport without throwing the IMG system to the wayside.

That said, it was voted against with the RFL confirming in a statement: “A special resolution proposed by Batley Bulldogs to amend the Club Grading Model relating to promotion and relegation between the Betfred Championship and Super League was defeated by 63% to 37%.”

A number of other changes were also voted upon including the introduction of a Captain’s Challenge, a refrain from introducing the proposed stricter tackling rules and some smaller changes to the IMG grading.

Adam Hills MBE was also confirmed as the new RFL President with Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP departing. Paying tribute to the Warrington Wolves fan Hoyle, RFL Chair Simon Johnson said: “I want to thank Sir Lindsay for everything he has done for the sport as our President. It has been a real honour and privilege for our sport to have someone of the status of the Speaker of the House of Commons working on our behalf and attending so many of our events, with such an authentic enthusiasm and passion for Rugby League.”