It’s finally official. We now know that Super League will consist on fourteen clubs in 2026, up from the twelve it has been in recent years.

A statement released by Super League Europe today reads: “The 12 existing Betfred Super League clubs have today voted to extend the competition to 14 teams for the 2026 season, subject to conditions.”

“This would be done by combining the Club Grading System introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport’s long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine, who was recently elected as a member of the Rugby Football League Board, and the Strategic Review Sub-Committee.”

“The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel – provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria.”

“Further details of the composition of the panel and the timing of the process will be confirmed in due course.”

“The Super League clubs have the right to determine the number of the clubs in the competition. The possibility of immediate expansion to 14 clubs was one of a number of options put to a meeting of the existing 12 clubs at AMT Headingley on Monday afternoon.”

The inclusion of an ‘independent panel’ is sure to be an interesting talking point for fans as the game builds towards its new era in 2026. Who will be the two new teams? Indeed, who will be in the top twelve IMG-ranked teams? These questions are likely to remain unanswered for some time yet, as questions continue to be asked of this new structure.

Written by Nathan Major (Site editor & Hull KR fan)

Source: https://www.superleague.co.uk/article/5271/statement-from-super-league-(europe)-limited