Super League to lose two teams

Super League will go down to 12 teams at the end of next season, the clubs have confirmed.

Reorganisation of the domestic game took another step forward when the 14 Super League clubs finally ruled out a proposal to go down to 10 at their annual meeting in Bradford.

It is thought only four clubs were in favour of keeping the option alive, with Huddersfield the only one to push strongly for it.

The clubs agreed last month to cut their number from 14 and ditch the current licensing system in favour of a restoration of regular promotion and relegation.

Now just two proposals remain up for debate.

One is for two divisions of 12 with a straightforward system of promotion and relegation between the two.

The alternative is the option being pushed by the Rugby Football League which involves both Super League and a 12-team Championship being split after 23 rounds into three qualifying play-off groups of eight clubs.

The clubs have asked the RFL executive to produce more detail about the latter option, which was initially rejected overwhelmingly by the players but since amended. The league reorganisation is designed to halt falling venue and declining crowds and address growing concern over the number of meaningless matches.

Wednesday's decision means that two clubs will be relegated at the end of next season and the RFL have confirmed that outpost clubs London Broncos and Catalan Dragons will no longer be exempt.

The next step is for the Championship clubs to discuss the options at their meeting next Wednesday before the Super League clubs reconvene, while an extraordinary general meeting is expected to be called in August to make a final decision.