Championship season will not be completed
THE Betfred Championship and League 1 seasons have been voided and will not resume this year, despite the fact Super League will return to action in less than two weeks.
As a result, there will be no promotion to or relegation from the top flight, with an RFL statement citing ‘reasons of integrity, player welfare and also to protect the solvency of clubs.’
The latest government guidance suggests that October will be the earliest opportunity for crowds to return to the sport and without that guaranteed matchday income, a survey of clubs in the two divisions below Super League revealed a lack of appetite to resume behind closed doors.
Instead, teams from the Championship and League 1 have been invited to take part in a voluntary competition this autumn, designed to celebrate the 125th anniversary of rugby league.
According to the RFL, there will be a £250,000 prize pot, with this money partially funded by Super League clubs.
It has not yet been disclosed how this competition will work and many teams are awaiting further details from the governing body before deciding whether or not to participate.
The decision to void the seasons has already proven unpopular in certain quarters, with Featherstone
Rovers releasing a statement hitting out at the decision – and volunteering to take up the spot in Super League vacated by Toronto Wolfpack.
Featherstone and Leigh Centurions were leading calls to resume the Championship, having invested in squads they believe to be capable of earning promotion to Super League.
“Rovers’ goal during these unprecedented times has always been to explore every avenue in trying to resume the season along with Leigh Centurions, who were also extremely vocal in resuming the season in the safest and most beneficial way possible,” said a Featherstone spokesperson.
“The RFL have misled clubs with an unsupported cost figure for testing of £5,000 per week. To this day, club officials still haven’t had any documentation or evidence to support this figure for weekly testing.”
According to the statement, officials at Featherstone had secured an arrangement with a local hub to provide the required testing free of charge and believed this could be replicated for other clubs.
Super League teams have returned to training this week after testing arrangements were put in place and wage cuts agreed with playing squads.
However, Toronto’s withdrawal on Monday has shocked the sport and it remains unclear how the top flight will continue as an 11-team competition and if previous results against Toronto – which include a victory for Salford Red Devils back in February – will be expunged.
Championship and League 1 teams have been invited to take part in a voluntary competition this autumn