What IMG’s proposal means for Catalans Dragons, Toulouse Olympique and clubs outside UK

IMG made their recommendations to rugby league clubs in Super League, Championship and League 1.

The headline was the change to relegation and promotion with a return of licensing for the first time since 2014 after five successful years since 2009.

Since then, relegation of different forms has taken centre stage in Super League but is no longer as IMG suggest wide changes.

The next step in this saga will take place at a follow up meeting in October with a decision expected “later in autumn” according to an RFL spokesperson.

Though, the change to relegation has been the headline, there are plenty of other changes which have been suggested by IMG such as the capping of foreign teams.

They said: “Participation of clubs outside the UK to be capped and with additional standards to support domestic growth.”

Thus, it seems IMG believes UK clubs should be prioritised moving forward.

Now it doesn’t seem that Catalans nor Toulouse will be booted out of the leagues but it seems no other clubs outside the UK will join them.

This means that should another Toronto Wolfpack scenario emerge, no matter how exciting the project, it is unlikely we will see them in Super League.

All of this somewhat echoes what Steve McNamara said after the first meetings with IMG when he accused Huddersfield and others of claiming the Dragons brought nothing to Super League despite playing in the 2021 Grand Final.