[Jemmo]

New Structure Finalised : Thu Jul 24, 2014 2:21 pm  

The new structure has been officially finalised and described here: http://www.superleague.co.uk/2015_a_new_era It's pretty much as we all knew, with a few of the buzz words thrown in. For example the divisions will be called: First Utility Super League Kingstone Press Championship Kingstone Press League 1. The split referred to as the "Super 8s" will be called Super League, Qualifiers and the Championship Sheilf. The Championship "Magic weekend" will be called "The Summer Bash" and the final decider between 5th and 6th in the qualifiers will be called "The Million Pound Game". (cringe) --- The main, and maybe not so well known change to the set up is with the challenge cup The 14 League 1 teams will enter at the third round stage, joining the 10 survivors from the 40 clubs invited to participate from the first round (12 ties) The 12 Championship clubs will then enter in Round 4, joining the 12 third round winners (12 ties). The bottom four Super League teams enter in Round 5, joining the 12 fourth round winners (eight ties). The top eight Super League teams enter in Round 6, joining the eight fifth round winners (eight ties) So essentially, we will enter in the 4th round, some SL clubs enter in the 5th and the rest in the 6th

The new structure has been officially finalised and described here: http://www.superleague.co.uk/2015_a_new_era It's pretty much as we all knew, with a few of the buzz words thrown in. For example the divisions will be called: First Utility Super League Kingstone Press Championship Kingstone Press League 1. The split referred to as the "Super 8s" will be called Super League, Qualifiers and the Championship Sheilf. The Championship "Magic weekend" will be called "The Summer Bash" and the final decider between 5th and 6th in the qualifiers will be called "The Million Pound Game". (cringe) --- The main, and maybe not so well known change to the set up is with the challenge cup The 14 League 1 teams will enter at the third round stage, joining the 10 survivors from the 40 clubs invited to participate from the first round (12 ties) The 12 Championship clubs will then enter in Round 4, joining the 12 third round winners (12 ties). The bottom four Super League teams enter in Round 5, joining the 12 fourth round winners (eight ties). The top eight Super League teams enter in Round 6, joining the eight fifth round winners (eight ties) So essentially, we will enter in the 4th round, some SL clubs enter in the 5th and the rest in the 6th

Re: New Structure Finalised : Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:00 pm  

A few more interesting points to add:

1) The only proposed tv coverage for the Championship will be at the Summer Bash weekend. There will be no live coverage of normal weekly rounds of matches.

2) Once we split into three groups of eight, one match per week from the middle group of eight will be televised.

3) Dual Reg: A working party is going to be set up to see how Dual Reg should work with the new set up. In principle the RFL are in favour of it continuing in some form.

4) Bonus Points: Another working party is going to be set up to determine whether the bonus point system should apply across all leagues or none. This decision is expected by the end of the year. All leagues, including Super League, will definitely be using the same points system in 2015.

5) There will be no parachute payments for any Super League team relegated from Super League from the 2015 season onwards.

6) The salary cap for Super League in 2015 will remain the same. The salary cap for the Championship will be £1 million.

At the moment Super League teams are allowed up to five overseas players. Championship clubs are allowed one. There is no mention in press releases at the moment as to whether this will change but when the middle eight come together, surely there must be identical rules in place for the competition to be fair?

My thoughts:

I'm disappointed there won't be regular tv coverage of the Championship.

Dual Reg needs to be sorted. I don't see how it can work if the Dual Reg arrangement leads to both teams finding themselves in the middle eight.

I'm in favour of no parachute payments for future relegated Super League clubs.

Disappointed about the Challenge Cup changes. I'd have preferred it to have stayed as it is.

Overall the changes look positive. If this system was in place at the moment and the regular season had ended, we would be in the middle eight with Leigh, Featherstone, Halifax, Salford, Hull, Hull KR, and Wakefield. I've had to ignore Bradford and London, of course, but the thought of playing seven matches against those teams would be quite appetising.

Re: New Structure Finalised : Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:26 pm  

As for the overseas players the clubs must already know what the plans are. Im sure London have signed 3 aussies already for next year.