Proposals to expand the Rugby League Super League to 14 clubs have encountered strong resistance from within the competition, with leading teams warning that the sport cannot afford to stretch itself further.
The RFL has been considering expansion for 2026, arguing that adding two more clubs would expand the game’s reach and create more opportunities.
However, several top-flight sides, including Wigan Warriors and Hull FC, are believed to be strongly opposing.
Their concerns centre on both finances and quality, with fears that an expanded league could lower standards and put extra pressure on already thin squads.
Clubs are also cautious about the financial climate.
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The recent broadcast deal with Sky Sports was worth significantly less than the previous one, resulting in reduced central distributions and making teams more reliant on matchday and sponsorship income.
Sky previously said it would not increase the current deal to support an additional two clubs and was reluctant to pay to broadcast an extra game each round.
Some argue that expansion risks further dividing an already shrinking pool of money.
This ongoing debate follows the recent licensing process, which we reported on earlier this week, when clubs including Bradford Bulls and Toulouse Olympique formally submitted bids for a Super League spot.
Expansion would accommodate those hopefuls, but current members insist that the league must first achieve financial stability.
A senior Super League club source told The Guardian: “We all want to see rugby league grow, but you can’t just add clubs without a clear plan.
"Right now, we’re cutting costs and trying to survive - the timing couldn’t be worse.”
The RFL, however, maintains that expansion remains firmly on the table.
A spokesperson said the governing body is “committed to a sustainable and competitive Super League” and that “all options will be considered in the best interests of the sport, its players, and its supporters.”
A decision is expected later this autumn, but the split highlights a familiar dilemma for the sport: how to balance ambition for growth with the financial realities of a competition still searching for stability.
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