London would forgo central funding if selected, while existing clubs receive about £1.3m each. The clubs are expected to vote on expansion; if they approve it, the Rugby Football League will choose a team.
London Broncos have accepted a condition that would give them no central distribution funding if they enter rugby league’s Super League in 2027, the Guardian said. That agreement does not give London a place: the 14 existing clubs must first decide whether to expand the competition, and, if they approve expansion, the Rugby Football League (RFL) would select the additional club.
London won the 2026 Championship Grand Final but finished 16th in the RFL’s club gradings. In its 8 October rankings, the RFL guaranteed Super League places for 2027 to the top 14 clubs. Its grading measures support, finances, stadiums, community work and results on the field, so winning the Championship did not give London an automatic place.
Central distribution is funding allocated to clubs by the competition. The proposed zero allocation differs from both existing Super League funding and what London was due to receive if it stayed in the Championship.
| Club and situation | Amount per club |
|---|---|
| Existing 14 Super League clubs, currently | About £1.3m |
| York Knights and Toulouse Olympique on joining in 2026 | About £650,000 each |
| London Broncos if selected for Super League in 2027 | £0 |
The 16-year-old was sent off at Fleetwood in his second start of the season, leaving Arsenal short of wing options before Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.
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| London Broncos if they remain in the Championship |
| About £140,000 |
The Guardian said London feared losing leading players if it rejected the condition. In August, owner Grant Wechsel said remaining outside Super League made it harder to recruit prominent Australian players; he expected entry to increase interest in the club in London.
The RFL did not select London for Super League in 2026. In a statement after that decision, Wechsel said the club aimed to win the Championship, improve its grading and be ready to compete in Super League. The club identified rugby league Hall of Famer Darren Lockyer as part of its ownership group and Gary Hetherington as an owner and co-chair. Super League expanded to 14 clubs in 2026; London won the Championship but remained outside the automatic places.
Barrow Raiders ranked 15th, immediately ahead of London. Barrow has said it is not ready for Super League, and the Guardian said its facilities fall short of minimum standards. The Guardian expects the RFL to consider the gradings if a 15th place opens; that process could allow it to approach London.
Analysis
A proposed partnership with Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) had been expected to offer another route for London. The Guardian said the NRL would insist on London’s inclusion when the partnership begins. The deal would give the NRL administrative control of the English game and bring tens of millions of pounds in support. The competitions did not agree a deal in time for an anticipated 2027 start, and the partnership is now not expected to begin until 2028.
The Guardian expects the 14 Super League clubs to vote on expansion shortly. They can decide the league’s size, but cannot choose its new member. If they approve a 15th place, the RFL would run a selection process; London’s zero-funding agreement would apply only if the RFL chooses London.
The appeal tribunal removed an additional suspended spectator ban, but each club must still play its next home Scottish Cup tie without fans and pay the visiting side £100,000.
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Ben Duckett’s career-best 167 and Liam Dawson’s four wickets give England a consolation win in Lahore, with Sri Lanka already through to the final against Pakistan.
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