Congrats guys, I am so chuffed for you! Now get that ground sorted and I will see you at the DW next year

congratulations wakefield from a wigan warrior fan

Thirteen Super League licences awarded for 2012 to 2014

The RFL has today announced that the following clubs have been awarded three-year Super League licences for the seasons 2012 to 2014:

Bradford Bulls

Castleford Tigers

Catalan Dragons

Harlequins RL

Huddersfield Giants

Hull FC

Hull Kingston Rovers

Leeds Rhinos

St Helens

Salford City Reds

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Warrington Wolves

Wigan Warriors

The 13 clubs will join Widnes Vikings, who were awarded a licence in March as the successful Co-operative Championship club, in Super League from next season.

Licences were not issued to Crusaders, who withdrew their application, or to Championship club Halifax RLFC, whose application was assessed alongside those of the existing Engage Super League clubs.

The licences were announced at Old Trafford, Manchester, today, when RFL Chairman Richard Lewis revealed increases in the number of clubs receiving A Grade and B Grade licences.

“I am delighted to confirm that four clubs (Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors) have been awarded A Grade licences, one more than in 2008, and that five clubs (Bradford Bulls, Catalan Dragons, Huddersfield Giants, Hull Kingston Rovers and St Helens) have been awarded B grade licences, two more than in the last round of licensing,” said Lewis.

“As welcome as the improvements in grades are, it is just one element of proof that licensing is meeting its objectives of driving up standards.

“Other evidence includes the prolific talent development within Super League, in which 118 young British players have made their first team debuts, and the investment in facilities we are seeing at clubs like St Helens, Hull Kingston Rovers and Salford City Reds.”

Lewis said there will be no relaxation in the desire to drive up standards and has warned the clubs which have been awarded a C Grade licence that they cannot rest on their laurels.

“The RFL’s independent Board of Directors reserves the right to revoke any licence awarded for the period 2012 to 2014 if it feels a club is failing, or not fulfilling, its obligations to help the competition meet the objectives of investment and growth,” he said.

“This is not a new provision, but the RFL will be subjecting those clubs whose applications are largely predicated upon future undertakings or with variable performance against past promises, to more rigorous assessment during the next licence period. Membership of the Super League demands high standards.”

Lewis explained that the rigorous assessment process to which the licence application of every club is subjected had prompted the decision by Crusaders to withdraw their application.

“As part of the on-going scrutiny applied by the thoroughness of the licensing process Crusaders decided to withdraw their Licence application,” he said. “The RFL will now enter into discussions with Crusaders regarding their possible participation in the Co-operative Championship.

“Halifax have been unsuccessful in their Super League licence application and will continue to play in the Co-operative Championship in 2012 and I wish them every success.”

The final decision on the awarding of licences was made by the RFL’s independent Board of Directors following a detailed assessment process by the RFL Executive, who received valuable support from property consultants Savills, finance company KPMG and governance and business management experts at Leeds Metropolitan University.

The licence grades awarded for 2012 to 2014 are as follows (current licence grading in brackets):

B - Bradford Bulls (B)

C - Castleford Tigers (C)

B - Catalan Dragons (C)

C - Harlequins RL (C)

B - Huddersfield Giants (C)

A - Hull FC (A)

B - Hull Kingston Rovers (C)

A - Leeds Rhinos (A)

B - St Helens (B)

C - Salford City Reds (C)

A - Warrington Wolves (A)

C - Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (C)

C - Widnes Vikings (-)

A - Wigan Warriors (B)

Great news for the club! Absolutely fantastic day!

Not that i'm cynical or anything but does any one else think Crusaders were asked to withdraw their application to save the RFL any embarrassment?

Bloody chuffed guys

Many did though, and posted some utter crap over the last few weeks and months. You know who they are.



Time now to take stock and rebuild straight away. The improvements to Belle Vue MUST start now. I'd try sign Gareth Thomas as well.

Congratulations Wakey. Would have liked to see you lot at the LSV but I'm over the moon for you. Down side for us is that we will have another team coming to our place bringing little or no support.

Anyone heard the rumour Harry Houdini's son is on the Wakefield board?

Absolutely brilliant lets now become a SL force an not be in this position again,hopefully now a lot of the good young uns will stay.

Interesting to know if Crusaders did pull out or RFL pulled the plug but wanted to save face and not admit they were wrong in 1st place.

Either way we are still in so onwards and upwards.

What did the morons like me ngb4c sc Nd fergus say?

From a Cas fan, congrats on this news. It's no secret that when it appeared a 2 horse race, both sets of fans were hoping it would be the other team to go down for their own sake. To see both Cas and Wakey stay in the top flight is fantastic and it is the right decision IMO.



Hopefully we'll both push forward in this licence period and neither of us will have to feel nervous next time.



All the best.