I decided to try my best to explain the new Super League/Championship restructure. Please be patient. I understand this will be very confusing. Trust me when I say I have tried to make this as simple as I possibly could.
I’m not joking…
Explaining The Super League/Championship Restructure: Phase One
There will be two divisions with 12 teams in each division.
Super League
12 teams that play each other twice.
Championship
12 teams that play each other twice.
After home and away fixtures have been completed, the top of the Championship will be bolted on to the bottom of Super League. This will give you 24 teams.
Explaining The Super League/Championship Restructure: Phase Two
These 24 teams will then be broken into groups of three.
The top 8 Super League Clubs which will keep all of their points from the first phase of the competition.
The bottom 4 Super League clubs and the top 4 Championship clubs which will have their points returned back to zero.
The bottom 8 Championship clubs which will keep all of their points from the first phase of the competition.
That will then give you three different divisions.
The teams in each of those three divisions will then play each team in their own division once.
Explaining The Super League/Championship Restructure: Champions/Relegation
Now I will try to explain the “playoffs” in the various competition.
The “Super League Champions” will come out of a playoff between the top 8 Super League clubs. After playing each opponent in their division once, the top four teams will then go into semi finals. The winners of those two games will go into the Super League Grand Final.
The middle 8 clubs will compete in what is called the “Super League Qualifying Playoffs”. After playing each opponent in their division once, the top 3 teams in this division will automatically earn admition into Super League “Phase One” the following season. However, teams ranked 4th and 5th will play a one off game to determine the last team that gets promoted into Super League “Phase One” the following season.
The bottom 8 clubs will being playing off for the “Championship Shield”. After playing each opponent in their division once, the top four teams will then go into semi finals. The winners of those two games will then go into the Championship Final.
Explaining The Super League/Championship Restructure: Salary Cap, Club Grants, Season Tickets
None of this has been explained by the Rugby Football League. They will no doubt make an announcement in the near future.
If you are confused by anything you have read here, its OK. It just means that you are sane.
