NRL Europe

[Le Tiger]

Been a bit of chatter the last couple of days on socials (FB, X, Reddit) that NRL will either be purchasing Super League to create its own comp or simply creating its own comp with Super League sides defecting to NRL Europe.

All rumours but will sum up what I've seen below:

- Could be 8 or 10 teams (super league is currently 12)

- Will be bundled with NRL (NRL Pacific lol) to sell games to a streamer (Amazon or Netflix)

- Could move the comp back to winter in UK, so would be played over our off season

- St Helens, Leeds, Wigan, Warrington, Catalans and London seem to be in every list of teams showing up in the rumours + at least one Hull side

- York, Wakefield, Toulouse and having both Hull teams also rumoured clubs

- Removing relegation and promotion

- Starting in 2027

Anyone heard anything else? Thoughts?

 

[Milky]

Haven’t heard it but would be sick

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Could boil down to Ukraine. The preferences atm over there seems to be foot soldiers over foot ballers. On paper anyway.

 

[princessofnigeria]

Interesting! I’ve been hearing similar chatter about the NRL looking to shake things up in Europe. The idea of an 8–10 team comp, bundled with NRL rights for streaming, could definitely attract new fans — especially if it’s played over the UK winter. Also, removing promotion/relegation would make it feel more like a franchise model, which might appeal to investors and broadcasters. Could even open the door for more rugby league betting markets if the schedule aligns with the off-season in Australia. And if it really is set for 2027, there’s still time for plenty of changes — but it’s looking like a major shift is coming.

 

[Camel2281]

Been a bit of chatter the last couple of days on socials (FB, X, Reddit) that NRL will either be purchasing Super League to create its own comp or simply creating its own comp with Super League sides defecting to NRL Europe.

All rumours but will sum up what I've seen below:

- Could be 8 or 10 teams (super league is currently 12)

- Will be bundled with NRL (NRL Pacific lol) to sell games to a streamer (Amazon or Netflix)

- Could move the comp back to winter in UK, so would be played over our off season

- St Helens, Leeds, Wigan, Warrington, Catalans and London seem to be in every list of teams showing up in the rumours + at least one Hull side

- York, Wakefield, Toulouse and having both Hull teams also rumoured clubs

- Removing relegation and promotion

- Starting in 2027

Anyone heard anything else? Thoughts?

London would struggle. Always have in that market. The game basically doesn't exist there.

 

[jstigers]

That's interesting, could be a good option, especially outside of the UK.

 

[weststigers]

They are a basket case over there. English football...and rugby league club models do not have the same leagues club backed model that helped our game survive for so many years...probably the pokie revenue helps us more than anything.

They need to back the club with business to be sustainable otherwise it's private ownership that carries the losses for the majority of teams.

 

[jirskyr]

Interesting part to note, via a Richo interview a few months earlier, is that in Australia the NRL owns the club licences, but in the UK the clubs own them.

Seems like it needs to be done, Super League has been lurching from one crisis to another for decades and the club financial are too thin.