Wakefield Trinity is on the brink of a return to the Betfred Super League as the first official grades are set to be released by the sport’s governing body and strategic partner IMG. This announcement, scheduled for Wednesday, will determine the composition of next year’s competition, with Wakefield expected to secure their place back in the top tier.
The grading system, approved by the majority of clubs last April, eliminates automatic promotion and relegation in favour of rankings based on five criteria: fandom, on-field performance, finance, stadium, and community. Clubs have been assigned A, B, or C grades, with those in the A category guaranteed a spot in the Super League, while the remaining slots in the 12-team structure will be filled by the highest-scoring B grade clubs.
Following the Championship Grand Final victory over Toulouse with a convincing 36-0 scoreline, Wakefield has accumulated enough points to secure an automatic return to Super League, displacing London Broncos, who finished at the bottom in 2024. Notable improvements in both sporting performance and off-field developments place Wakefield alongside clubs like Leigh and potentially Castleford in achieving an A grade.
The upcoming season is expected to see an increased number of clubs attaining A grades, including Wakefield, reflecting the league’s push for improvement. Despite concerns over the ease of achieving an A grade, officials point to tangible advancements such as Wakefield’s construction of a new 2,500-capacity stand since their demotion in 2023 and Castleford’s additional seating at The Jungle.
At the lower end of the professional structure, Whitehaven, recently relegated from the Championship to League One, will not feature in the announcement due to missing the deadline for submitting required documents to the Rugby Football League headquarters.
Overall, the release of the official grades and Wakefield Trinity’s anticipated return to the Super League mark significant developments in the restructuring of the rugby league competition, with implications for clubs across the league as they prepare for the upcoming season.