Member of Parliament speaks out against IMG recommendations which would see likes of Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors imm

[josie andrews]

Earlier today, most Super League, Championship and League 1 clubs voted in favour of IMG’s “reimagining of rugby league.”

However, one club stood against their proposals which would see relegation from Super League of the conventional kind end for teams with a category A licence likely to be the likes of Wigan, Leeds and St Helens.

It also leaves some clubs at a disadvantage in battling for a place in Super League.

This club was Keighley Cougars who have underlined their ambitions with the signings of Ben Crooks and co following promotion from League 1 and in a statement tonight said that they felt the recommendations were “unfair” and “anti-competition.”

They have now been backed by a Member of Parliament in the shape of Robbie Moore who is MP for Keighley and Ilkley and released the following statement on Keighley’s website:

I stand unequivocally with the Keighley Cougars position on this issue and I admire the strong stance they have taken today.

Especially with being the only club to vote against the IMG’s completely unfair proposals.

The Rugby Football League and IMG should not be an elitist venture where clubs can pay-in to win, with immunity from relegation.

It’s not fair, and it’s not sport.

I will do all I can in Parliament to support our Keighley Cougars in their efforts to reverse these ridiculous plans.

In favour of fair values and in the long term interests of a sport we all love.

By Robbie Moore, MP for Keighley and Ilkley.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/member-o ... ion-60397/

[Green Machine]

Keighley got shafted years ago when they wouldn’t allow them into Super League because of
their ground not being up to standard. Yet they allowed Castleford and Wakefield to continue when
their grounds were no better.

[josie andrews]

Key details from IMG's rugby league council meeting as with new promotion and relegation system clarified

IMG were invited to the Rugby League Council meeting to take questions on their proposals, with members then voting.

Clubs have voted in favour of IMG's proposals following the latest RFL council meeting. However, that doesn't mean plenty of questions weren't asked of the sport's new strategic partner.

Officials from clubs attended the meeting both in person and virtually as IMG talked over their plans and proposals. Last month, they delivered their much-anticipated recommendations, which included a new grading system to determine which clubs will be in Super League.

Inevitably, that was a major talking point in the meeting, with two officials in particular outspoken in the meeting. Kaue Garcia, one of the Keighley Cougars co-owners, was particularly outspoken, as well as Batley's Kevin Nicholas. In the end, Keighley rejected the proposals while Batley, as well as their local rivals Dewsbury, abstained.

However, one of the key pieces of information to be clarified was around the mechanics of promotion and relegation. We now know that clubs will all be graded on unspecified criteria, with clubs to eventually be graded from A through to C. But what was unclear was what happens if a Grade B club finished bottom of Super League and a Grade B club won the Championship. Crucially, that has now been confirmed and, if that were to happen, the team finishing bottom of Super League will be relegated, and the team who wins the Championship will be promoted. In essence, promotion and relegation from Super League will still exist in its current guise on the basis the club coming up is the same grade as the clubs going down. Grade A clubs will be exempt from Super League relegation.

Meanwhile, there were two particular parts of IMG's proposal that were questioned in the meeting. First, several officials questioned the decision to scrap the Magic Weekend. IMG are thought to be firm in its belief that it needs to be removed from the calendar. The second key matter raised surrounded the Challenge Cup. Several officials are thought to have asked questions surrounding their plans for the competition. Notably, IMG had proposed that the last 16 of the competition was two-legged, though that was widely criticised on social media. There was also a proposal by one that Super League clubs should enter the competition in the first round alongside every other club. IMG officials said they would take another look at their plans for the competition.

One other key piece of information relates to when certain things will be implemented. It was confirmed that the minimum salary cap spend will be implemented in 2025 and the same applies to the French clubs who will need a minimum number of domestic players in their matchday squad. IMG have yet to confirm the numbers behind those two proposals.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... e-25256694

[fozzieskem]

Sad but there's not much new on offer from IMG,I'll say it again I'd be amazed if they vote to get rid of magic and if sky are in favour of binning it then I'd be very wary if I was the sport because I'd say they'll about to pull the plug,but that all crystal ball gazing.

We have been here before yes promotion and relegation doesn't work we know this and I've no issue with it being binned altogether but this grading nonsense is open to all sorts of views it'll end in tears.

As for the plain stupid 2 legged challenge cup tie it's clear they simply don't understand the sport because let's say wigan have played I don't know Swinton and put 80 on them am I expected to rock up to the dw to see the kids put the same number on them again? You may as well bin the comp.

[morley pie eater]

I agree with Fozzie about the plans for the Challenge Cup. At the most, they could consider 2 legs in the semis, but the problem then would be at least 8 SL teams twiddling their thumbs for 2 weekends.

As to promotion and relegation, I'm truly amazed at the number of people who think it was ordained on stone tablets in the time of Moses (the one with the long beard). It has been disastrous for RL, undermining precarious club finances and weakening teams affected (think Cumbrian teams, Widnes, Bradford, Sheffield, Toulouse etc.) The best we managed was with Catalans, who were given 3 years iirc.

Alongside this goes ground standards and development of players. The original attempt from the start of SL recognised this, but there weren't enough clubs up to scratch, so they were given time to improve. As far as stadiums go,this led to the likes of Cas and Wakey getting into long drawn-out processes which, so far, have led exactly nowhere.

The big one for me is youth/player development. Pre-1995 we relied on RU converts and short contracts for Aussies in their off-season. Now only the likes of Wigan, Saints, Leeds, maybe Wire and Hull, and possibly Huddersfield actually produce enough players. This is 27 years down the line from the start of SL.

And we're swamped with South Sea Islanders, ageing Aussies etc etc to try to make up the gap.
Try picking a UK born team from the best at Wakey and Hull KR you'll get the picture as why our standards are so far behind the NRL.

So, for me, the idea of having Grade A clubs who are protected from relegation is an attempt to put right what the original SL concept failed to achieve. It's a carrot and stick approach. Improve your standards and you get a reward. Don't and you face the drop.

The facts are that we haven't improved enough in the past 27 years, and now face extra competition from the likes of US sports and women's football. Attendances are going nowhere fast, and TV contracts are in doubt.

What is the saying? "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”