League structure unveiled

THE NEW league structure in 2015 for rugby league’s professional and semi-professional competitions have been outlined.

From next season, First Utility Super League and Kingstone Press Championship will both feature 12 clubs, while Kingstone Press Championship One — Oldham’s current division —will be renamed as Kingstone Press League 1 and comprise 14 clubs.

Super League and Championship clubs will each play 23 matches in the regular season and at its conclusion, Super League and the Championship will split into the Super 8s — three groups of eight clubs based on league positions called Super League, The Qualifiers and Championship Shield.

In Super League, all eight clubs are guaranteed top flight status for the following year while the top four will contest a play-off series.

In The Qualifiers, the top three clubs after seven matches will play in Super League the following season with the final place determined by the Million Pound Game, a play-off between the clubs finishing 4th and 5th. In the Championship Shield, the bottom two teams will be relegated to League 1.

The 14 League 1 clubs will each play 22 games and at the end of the regular season, first will play second with the winner promoted.

The loser of that match will join the teams that finished third, fourth and fifth in a play-off to determine the second promotion spot.

The 14 League 1 clubs will also be joined by the 2014 National Conference League Grand Final winners and the 2014 RFL Conference Challenge Cup winners in a new knock-out competition.