RFL’S divisional restructure revealed
ROCHDALE Hornets have had confirmation of a managed transition of the competition structure below Super League over the next two seasons, to produce two divisions of 12 clubs from 2026.
Following a detailed six-month review involving all Tier Two and Three clubs alongside the RFL executive, the Betfred Championship will become a 13-team division for one season only in 2025, with League 1 expanding to become at least 10 teams - and applications to be invited for an 11th.
From 2025, a Super Eights style system will be introduced to determine promotion and relegation between the Championship and League 1.
At the other end of the Championship table, increased prize money will be made available for the Grand Final winners, following a Play-off series. ●●THE top six in the Betfred Championship will compete in a play-off series as in previous seasons, with additional prize money on offer for the winners of the Grand Final – which will be played on the weekend of October 19-20.
●●THE team finishing top of Betfred League 1 will secure automatic promotion to the Championship, with the bottom two teams in the Championship relegated to League 1.
●●TEAMS finishing second to sixth in League 1 will then compete in a play-off series, with the winners then facing the 12th-placed team in the final Championship table to determine the 13th position in the 2025 Championship.
●●AN application process will be launched for a new club to join League 1 in 2025 – with the RFL Board to make a decision in September.
●●PLAY-OFFS in the Betfred Championship will determine the champions – the number of teams qualifying for the play-offs from 2025 is still to be finalised.
●●PROMOTION and relegation between the Championship and League One will be determined by a Super Eights style competition involving the top teams in League 1, and the lowest-ranked teams in the Championship.
●●FULL details are still being worked through, but the impact will be to reduce the number of teams in the Championship in 2026 to 12.
●●BETFRED Championship and League 1 will each have 12 clubs.
●●PLAY-OFFS in the Betfred Championship will determine the champions – the number of teams qualifying for the play-offs is still to be finalised.
●●PROMOTION and relegation between the Championship and League 1 will be determined by a Super Eights style competition involving the top teams in League 1, and the lowest-ranked teams in the Championship.