The Rugby Football League (RFL) is failing a crucial transparency test over its Super League expansion plans, as it has been unable to convince a growing number of clubs of the move’s merits due to a glaring lack of shared information. This failure has led to a crisis of confidence that now threatens the entire project.
At every stage, the RFL’s process has been criticised for its opacity. The initial vote in July was reportedly conducted without the provision of written financial analysis, meaning clubs could not independently verify the RFL’s claims. This was the first failure of the transparency test.
Since then, the RFL has continued to struggle. Requests from several clubs for the detailed financial modelling that should underpin the expansion have allegedly gone unanswered. Furthermore, the official minutes from the July meeting have not been circulated, preventing a clear and transparent record of the decision-making process.
This lack of transparency has forced clubs to draw their own conclusions, and those conclusions are largely negative. They see a broadcaster, Sky Sports, that is against the plan and a static pot of money, and without any counter-narrative from the RFL backed by hard data, they assume the worst-case financial scenario.
The RFL’s claim of an “overwhelming” vote is no longer a sufficient answer. The clubs are now demanding that the governing body retake the transparency test. They want to see the numbers, read the minutes, and understand the strategy. Until the RFL can pass this test by providing open and honest information, its expansion plan will be viewed with suspicion and met with resistance.
