The Super League is not an English competition; it has never been so from its inception. It began in 1996 as Super League (Europe) with Paris Saint Germain contesting the first season. When they went by the wayside the only teams left in were English. The problem was that there was not a high enough level of Rugby League being played across the rest of the continent for a team to make its way into the highest league available in the northern hemisphere. This was rectified by the introduction of Catalans Dragons in 2006; they were given a three year protection against relegation to make sure that they had time to establish themselves as a top level team. The move was made in order to help the spread of the more flowing code of rugby better into other countries than England and the Antipodes. There is no doubting that the sport needs to grow, the world cup last year was a pitiful showing of how little recognition the sport has across the world. Bringing Catalans into the Super League cemented the growth into southern France, but the growth would have dwindled had the team been relegated in their first season. The main attraction to Catalans has to be that they are playing in the top competition in the Northern Hemisphere (and if the World Club Challenge is anything to go by the best in the world). They started off life in the Super League fielding a large amount of players seeking refuge from down under but their continued presence in the Super League has allowed them to bring through a larger number of native players helping spread the appeal of the sport even more amongst the residents of that part of the world. Had they been relegated straight off there is little chance that the crowds would have remained, this would have lead to a downward spiral that would ultimately lead to the demise of a promising Rugby club.
Salford return to what is probably their home at the top table of League
So we come to 2009 and Super League XIV kicks off with 14 teams in it for the first time. The choice of teams to add was controversial but the main issue was the elimination of relegation and promotion to and from the Super League. The example of Catalans is ideal to show why this is a good idea, the new clubs are being given time to establish themselves into competitive Super League clubs. Crusaders especially need time as they are a young club from a country outside the usual spectrum of League, they have the opportunity to establish the sport in Wales, a country steeped in rugby tradition but still untouched by the other code. If they were relegated now their chance of gaining a foothold would be lost, but it’s not only they who will benefit. Salford, a once great club fallen on hard times, and even Castleford will now be given the opportunity to improve themselves. Being a guaranteed top flight club means they are more likely to be able to attract top class players, as a result the whole league will benefit as the standard of rugby will go up as a result.
Crusaders begin their first ever season at the top Flight in 09
Over in America they have no concept of what promotion or relegation is, looking to American Football, all teams in the NFL play at the highest level of the sport. There is no chance of a small team fighting their way into the top flight and suddenly finding themselves well out of their depth, as Leigh did in the Super League in 2005. The players are all at the top level of their sport and crowd interest is consistently high. For whom has promotion and relegation worked out for in the Super League over the last fourteen years? It’s not those clubs who have slipped out of the top flight that they would once have expected to be in without a doubt, clubs like Widnes. It’s the big clubs, the Rhino’s, Bulls and Saints of this world. They find themselves with easy points every year in a round that might as well not be played, these games have attracted lower crowds due to the knowledge that the level of sport on show would be lower. Without the stigma of being a club who are probably only in the league for a year the teams will no longer be easy targets. Crowds should eventually rise not just in the new areas but at the established clubs as the fans know that they are going to see the best rugby they could find.
Freezing the Super League will provide a better spectacle, better Rugby, more financially viable teams and more fans across new parts of the world. The winner out of this change can only be the sport of Rugby League.
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