Promotion ruled out as RFL set out their proposals

THE RUGBY Football League has ruled there will be no relegation from the 11-team Super League this season – and the Championship and League 1 competitions will not resume in 2020.

The RFL Board met last night to make decisions on the aforementioned matters.

It also discussed the withdrawal of Toronto Wolfpack from the Betfred Super League for the rearranged 2020 season after that revelation was made earlier in the day.

Although the governing body will meet with Super League at a late date to discuss the troubling Toronto issue, it did make some decisions last night to finally bring an end to so much uncertainty across the sport.

“The Betfred Championship and League 1 seasons will not resume in 2020,” said an RFL statement. “This follows the Government announcement identifying October as the earliest opportunity for the return of crowds to sport, and the finding of a survey of Championship and League 1 clubs that a majority in each competition would not support playing behind closed doors.

“Again, the issue of protecting the solvency of clubs informed this decision.

“The Betfred Championship and League 1 clubs will be invited to play in a competition this autumn, with a theme of celebrating the sport’s 125th anniversary – and with a prize pot of £250,000, thanks in part to financial support from the Betfred Super League clubs.

“Further details of this competition will follow – it will be voluntary, and there will be a detailed application process requiring clubs to prove their ability to meet the necessary protocols and medical standards.

“There will be no automatic promotion to Super League from this competition.”