IMG has made no secret of the fact that the American sports management firm’s plan to revolutionise rugby league and broaden the sport’s horizons involves capturing the imagination of major cities in England, both within and beyond the game’s roots along the M62. If that is truly the case then it is the Championship, just as much as Super League, where the future could lie.
More cities are hosting second-tier rugby league – five – this year than the top flight, where there are four cities represented.
A grading system appears increasingly likely to replace conventional promotion and relegation from next year after IMG revealed the 20-point plan on which clubs will be assessed from 2024. Catchment area and population play a significant part in the grading and for some clubs, this new system provides the biggest opportunity yet to reach the promised land.
“The great thing is that it reassured a lot of the hopes that myself and a lot of other clubs shared,” the York Knights owner, Clint Goodchild, says. “It’s built on sustainable growth and getting the beautiful product into new markets but doing it in a way where you don’t lose the old ones. That’s the balance and they’ve given a decent standing to do that.”
York, Newcastle, Bradford, Sheffield and London all boast Championship teams this year. They are all expected to approve IMG’s proposals when clubs vote on them next month. With teams such as York and Newcastle making no secret of their desire to get into Super League, there is a belief traditional town-based top-flight sides such as Wakefield are more at threat than ever before, with facilities also coming under IMG’s microscope.
That is something Newcastle Thunder, who share Kingston Park with the rugby union side Newcastle Falcons, hope could be another key aspect for their chances. “We’re fully supportive of these plans,” Thunder’s general manager, Jordan Robinson, says. “There’s now a framework for every club to get to the promised land, and everyone can achieve something.
“It’s not the be-all and end-all where you are geographically but it’s great your location is on there from our perspective. But the core things that matter are things like on-field performance and getting people through the turnstiles and that’s right. The finances are important, and it’ll all be backed up by minimum standards. Clubs can’t just have a free hit now so we fully back what IMG want to do.”
The first set of grades will be awarded this summer and revised for 2024 based on any improvements clubs make both on and off the field throughout this year. With 15 points out of a total 20 required for the highest band – an A licence – the early expectation is only the heavyweights of the sport such as St Helens, Leeds and Wigan will secure the top ranking in the initial stage.
The remainder of the places in Super League for 2025 will be made up of the highest-ranking B licence clubs and the most aspirational of the Championship’s big-city teams remain quietly confident they can be in that bracket and shake up the status quo at the highest level.
“I don’t think we can get an A grade for 2025 but this is a long-term vision for the game and a long-term vision for us as a club,” Robinson says. “We’re trying to build a sustainable club with local talent from the north-east, we need to offer something new to the game and there’s a longer-term approach built into what we’re doing. We think IMG recognise that if clubs are offering something, they’ll be given a chance to shine via the gradings.”
