The Rugby Football League has announced that the 2024 Super League season will not feature any relegation. The decision has been taken to provide stability to the competition, which has seen multiple teams drop out and get relegated in the past few years.
The RFL has been working on a plan to create a more sustainable and stable Super League competition, and the decision to suspend relegation for the 2024 season is part of this plan. The league will instead introduce a new system that will see the bottom-placed team face off against the winner of the Championship in a play-off match to determine promotion to the Super League.
The move has been welcomed by Super League clubs, who believe that it will provide a level of certainty and stability that has been missing in recent years. Super League CEO Robert Elstone said, “This is a significant step forward for the Super League competition. It gives clubs the security they need to plan for the future and make long-term investments in their squads and facilities.”
The decision to suspend relegation is also expected to help improve the competitiveness of the Super League. In recent years, many teams have struggled to maintain their place in the competition, which has led to a lack of investment and competitiveness. With no relegation, teams will be able to focus on developing their squads and playing attractive rugby, which should lead to more exciting matches and a better experience for fans.
The RFL has also announced that it will be working with clubs to create a new development pathway for young players. The aim is to provide a clear pathway for talented young players to progress from the academy ranks to the Super League, which will help to improve the overall standard of the competition.
The decision to suspend relegation has been met with some criticism, however. Some fans and commentators have argued that relegation is an essential part of the sport and that removing it will take away some of the excitement and drama of the competition with a Bradford Bulls fan saying “I think it’s unfair on the Championship teams to have to play a team from the the league above in order to go up. Not right in my opinion.”
Despite the criticism, the RFL is confident that the decision to suspend relegation for the 2024 season is the right one. The league believes that it will provide stability and certainty for clubs and improve the competitiveness of the competition. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the start of the 2024 season to see how these changes will affect the Super League competition.
-Ryan Greenwood