Franchise will be 14 teams - official
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:44 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 459782.stm
The Rugby Football League (RFL) has confirmed the Super League will expand from 12 to 14 clubs next season.
The plans were first announced in 2005, but there had been speculation that the RFL would stick to a 12-team roster.
However, RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis told the BBC that with television and sponsorship income increasing, now was the right time to make the change.
"I believe the sport is on the up and there are so many things that are going well," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Television income, sponsorship income and crowd figures - so much is going well.
I think the sport is ready to make that transition
RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis
"The international game is growing and it is probably as good a time as any for the sport to go to a 14-team Super League competition."
Salford, Widnes, Celtic Crusaders and Toulouse are among the teams hoping to be chosen when the two extra teams will be named next month.
Lewis insisted the change would not damage the National League, the division below Super League.
"I know the National League is a very strong competition and that will remain very strong even when Super league goes to 14," he said.
Super League's expansion had been in doubt late last year, with the RFL claiming it would only occur if there was a big increase in the £9 million annual sponsorship deal from Sky Television.
But the RFL signed an improved three-year deal to cover the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons last November which will see Sky show 29 Super League games per season, while the BBC continues to screen the Challenge Cup.
The Rugby Football League (RFL) has confirmed the Super League will expand from 12 to 14 clubs next season.
The plans were first announced in 2005, but there had been speculation that the RFL would stick to a 12-team roster.
However, RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis told the BBC that with television and sponsorship income increasing, now was the right time to make the change.
"I believe the sport is on the up and there are so many things that are going well," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Television income, sponsorship income and crowd figures - so much is going well.
I think the sport is ready to make that transition
RFL executive chairman Richard Lewis
"The international game is growing and it is probably as good a time as any for the sport to go to a 14-team Super League competition."
Salford, Widnes, Celtic Crusaders and Toulouse are among the teams hoping to be chosen when the two extra teams will be named next month.
Lewis insisted the change would not damage the National League, the division below Super League.
"I know the National League is a very strong competition and that will remain very strong even when Super league goes to 14," he said.
Super League's expansion had been in doubt late last year, with the RFL claiming it would only occur if there was a big increase in the £9 million annual sponsorship deal from Sky Television.
But the RFL signed an improved three-year deal to cover the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons last November which will see Sky show 29 Super League games per season, while the BBC continues to screen the Challenge Cup.