UK's Qualifying 8's : 2015-17

This is the most exciting part of UK RL. The bottom four from the elite Super League, taking on the top four from the second division Championship. The top two qualifiers from each division get four home games, the others three home games in a seven round competition.

The top three are automatically entering Super league the following year, the bottom three are likewise consigned to the Championship. That leaves 4th and 5th to play what they call the Million Pound game. The 4th placed team has home advantage. The winner into SL, the loser goes to the Championship.

The negative is that SL clubs in general don't like the scope of the jeopardy. The feeling is exposing four top clubs to possible relegation is too much. One team promoted and one relegated is less disruptive. Is the concern valid? So far, the answer is no. Of course, with the Qualifying 8's there is the possibility that four could swap places but even more possible no team will.

The brief history of this system indicates the worry is ill-founded. In the first year (2015), the was no change, with all SL clubs retaining their status. The following two seasons, one team has been promoted. In 2018, already it looks like there will be no wholesale demotion of SL clubs.

The reasons are simply that SL teams have larger budgets and play in a tougher league. That gives them an advantage that few Championship sides can overcome. In 2018, Halifax isn't even a full time club so inevitably is just making up the numbers. So the current system is exciting without being too disruptive.

Below is brief history of the current Qualifying 8's. The blue background is for SL clubs, yellow Championship and the (M) shows the winner of the million pound game. 2018 is still in progress so not included. You will notice for the three completed years, Championship sides took the three lowest places. Also, it has taken a minimum of ten points to qualify for SL without going the Million Pound game route.

	2015				2016				2017
	1	Hull KR	14		1	Leeds	12		1	Warrington	14
	2	Widnes	10		2	Leigh	12		2	Widnes	10
	3	Salford	10		3	Huddersfield	10		3	Hull KR	10
	4	Wakefield (M)	6		4	Hull KR	8		4	Leigh	8
	5	Bradford	6		5	Salford (M)	6		5	Catalans (M)	8
	6	Halifax	4		6	London	6		6	London	3
	7	Sheffield	4		7	Batley	2		7	Featherstone	3
	8	Leigh	2		8	Featherstone	0		8	Halifax	0