Super League to Have 15 Teams in 2027 Season

The 14 clubs in Super League voted to back a proposal for 15 teams to take part in the league in the 2027 season. According to the league's statement, the decision has been passed on to the Rugby Football League Board of Directors.

The RFL Board will set up a panel to set criteria for the 15th team and evaluate applications. Clubs are understood to be invited to apply for this process. London Broncos, who won the Championship treble in 2026, are reportedly expected to apply. After the club dropped into the Championship, it was taken over by an ownership group that includes NRL and Brisbane Broncos legend Darren Lockyer. It is not yet known whether other clubs will take part in the process.

Clubs also approved two changes to the salary cap regulations. Under the first, if a player is injured and misses more than eight matches that affect the salary cap, the club will be able to sign a replacement for that period. If a player who has received an exemption is injured again later in the season, the club will not be able to request a new exemption. For that to happen, the player would have to miss eight more salary cap-affecting matches.

The other change concerns young players. Players aged 23 and under who have not previously played in a salary cap match will be able to take the field for two matches without increasing the club's salary cap spend. If the player features in three to five matches, 50 percent of his salary will be added to the cap. A player who plays more than five matches will have his full salary counted toward the cap.