London Broncos to forfeit about £1.3m in central funding if promoted to Super League in 2027
London Broncos have agreed to forfeit approximately £1.3m in central distribution funding if they join Super League in 2027, and the Rugby Football League is expected to ratify their elevation imminently. The condition was imposed by the existing 14 Super League clubs as part of the terms for London’s inclusion.
A planned partnership between Super League and the NRL, which would see the Australian governing body take administrative control of the English game and inject tens of millions of pounds, is now not expected to begin until 2028. That delay, together with the agreement that the NRL will help ensure four Super League games per week are shown on DAZN next year, has nonetheless coincided with progress towards expanding Super League to 15 teams. London won the Championship this year, but the postponed partnership had initially appeared likely to leave them in the second tier for another season. Many incumbent top-flight clubs had anticipated the NRL would insist on London’s inclusion once any partnership started.
Under the terms offered by the Super League clubs, London would enter the top flight with zero central distribution while the other 14 clubs currently receive around £1.3m each. London would have been due about £140,000 in distribution had they remained in the Championship, and the club accepted the zero-distribution condition amid concern that declining the offer could cost them their best playing talent.
This season’s expansion to 14 teams saw York Knights and Toulouse Olympique join Super League receiving roughly half the central distribution of the other clubs, about £650,000 each. The competition is now set to grow again with London provisionally designated as the 15th team, and Super League clubs are expected to vote on expansion shortly.
Super League clubs can only decide the size of the league, not select entrants; any decision to expand is then passed to the RFL, which would launch a process to choose the 15th team. The RFL would likely use the IMG gradings system as a metric for elevation; in this year’s gradings London finished 16th, while the team placed 15th, Barrow Raiders, have said they are not ready and their facilities do not meet minimum standards.
Because Barrow are understood to be unavailable and their facilities fall short of requirements, the RFL can approach London as the next club in line and invite them into Super League. The immediate next step is the expected vote by Super League clubs on expansion, which would trigger the RFL’s formal selection process.
