Super League says no to return of Wolfpack
Canadian rugby league teamthe Toronto Wolfpack have failed in their bid to be re-admitted to Europe’s top division.
Toronto withdrew from their inaugural season in the Super League in July, with their ownership citing financial problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and expressed hope they could return next year undernewownership.
However, a meeting of the Super League board rejected Toronto’s submission by a vote of 8-4, with one abstention.
“We’re naturally disappointed,” said Bob Hunter, Wolfpack’s chairman and chief executive, whoreceived the news via a phone call fromsuper League executive chairman Robert Elstone.
“I thought weput a pretty good submission together. At the end of the day, therewere a few different questions that probably didn’t get answered, so disappointed but understood.”
The clubwas formed in 2016 by Canadian entrepreneur Eric Perez. Itwonpromotion twice in three years to claim a place in the Super League.
Toronto played in front of crowds of9000 in their second-tier Championship season but hopes of capitalising on the $10 million twoyear signing of Sonny Billwilliams for 2020 were scuppered by an inability to play any games in Toronto because of the pandemic. Hunter said Toronto businessman Carlo Livolsi, the club’s prospectivenewowner, had no interest in joining either the third-tier League 1 or the Championship.
“We could certainly entertain a newowner but we’re definitely out of Super League in 2021,” Hunter said. “Whetherwere-apply to the RFL going forward, I can’t really say.” Super League must decide whether to run with 11 clubs in 2021 or find a 12th member.