European Championships 2025 – Groups B C D

While Group A doesn't seem to be operating, the three levels below are. I assume the top side moves up a division and the bottom side goes down although I don't know where the winner of Group B would go (explanation later in the article). 

So how have the matches gone? With some heritage players allowed, it can create upset results depending on the quality and quantity available. 

Group B: I had no idea who would win this. It now comes down to the final game with Serbia hot favourites on form to win the group. The photo above is of the Netherlands v Malta. Photo Source: https://europeanrugbyleague.com/

Group C: I would have picked Ukraine as coming third, yet they have won it convincingly. My expected winner Greece came in second and Italy third.

Group D: I thought it would be between Norway and Germany and so it proved. Germany won the decider 32-18. Czechia was well off the pace but good to see them competing as best they could.

So what is it with Group A? England is far ahead of the others and therefore doesn't support it. England did have a series with Australia this year but they could send a B team but that it rarely does. 

France would be the next ranked side and they had a World Cup decider to concentrate on. Wales and Ireland would be the other two sides and they have just played a friendly international. Group A needs to be an annual event, with England taking it seriously.

SL 2026 = 14

So it will be fourteen teams in Super League for the 2026 season. No loop fixtures, that is, some teams playing repeatedly in order to provide a sufficient number of rounds to satisfy the TV broadcaster. 

The two that made it were Toulouse Olympique and York Knights. The only other club that seemed to have a chance was the London Broncos but they haven't proved that they are ready. Others like Oldham were not going to succeed at this point in time.

The other factor is the scoring system, and on that basis, the decision ultimately wasn't a difficult one. 

For the three that made it, a point of note. Central funding will not increase, so there is the same amount of money with two additional clubs, something had to give. With the Bradford Bulls getting the nod first, it replaces the departed Salford and receives full funding. The other two newly promoted sides get half funding. 

The incumbent clubs will presumably get slightly less funding than before to accommodate the expanded competition. York and Toulouse will have to compete while receiving much less than the others. Promotion is tough enough as it is without that handicap. 

Toulouse will also have to pay travel costs for the UK based teams. Each club could pay for two trips a year to France (including Catalan), but no. They have to pay for all the clubs coming over. With Toulouse already getting half the funding, that's making it doubly hard to try and compete. A French TV deal would help but it wouldn't be much help. They will have to smart in how they spend.

It is now decided. Fourteen clubs. The new teams will surely have some recruited players signed, subject to SL entry. London will be using 2026 to establish themselves as a successful and popular club in the city and they will want ot be there in 2027. Will there be sixteen in 2027? Probably not, but if a TV deal was improved due to that happening, then who knows?

Pictures: York Knights & Bradford Bulls. (I couldn't find one for TO).

The Bulls Are Back!

UK's Super League is moving from 12 to 14 teams in 2026, by all accounts. With the demotion of Salford Red Devils, a third vacancy came up. Toulouse Olympique and York Knights are the obvious teams to gain promotion as they contested the Championship (division 2) grand final. 

So three slots in all up for grabs with no shortage of clubs putting their hands up to be one of those entering the 'promised land' of Super League.

There is a grading system to decide who qualifies and while on field performance is included in that, there are many off field criteria that are also important. 

To the right is a chart showing the top 12 clubs. On that basis, the Bradford Bulls have been granted the replacement slot created by Salford's relegation. This has created a stir among some RL fans that the Bradford Bulls have no business being rated that highly. 

I'm not going into that conspiracy theory. What the club does bring is a strong RL culture in the city, good crowds both home and away plus they are at this point doing well financially.

The downside is their antiquated stadium and for some, their historically poor financial performance. Whatever, they are in.

So what about the other two if indeed the competition goes to 14? To the left, are the next 12 clubs with their rankings. That would mean that Toulouse and York are the clubs joining the Bulls. I hope there are 14 teams and I hope they are the two.

Are there any unlucky sides if the above becomes reality? The London Broncos have new ownership and are determined to go places. Their history isn't good and London is a tough nut to crack. I think a year in the expanded Championship would do them good in the long term. 

So congratulations to the Bradford Bulls. I think you are lucky to get this break so I hope you don't blow it. Good luck to Toulouse and York who IMO deserve to join them. London, if you miss out, use 2026 to establish youself in the capital and prove that there is an appetite for top flight RL down there.