WARRINGTON WOLVES ARE ONE OF SEVEN CLUBS AWARDED GRADE A STATUS IN THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE NEW CLUB GRADING PROCESS BEING INTRODUCTED AS PART OF RUGBY LEAGUE COMMERCIAL AND IMG’S ‘REIMAGINING RUGBY LEAGUE’ STRATEGY.
The Wire received 15.75 out of a possible 20 points after analyzing each club’s performance across five pillars: On-Field Performance, Fandom, Finances, Stadium, and Community.
The other Betfred Super League clubs with provisional Grade A status are Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Catalans Dragons, Hull KR, and Hull FC.
Toulouse Olympique are the best-performing club outside of the Betfred Super League, with a score of 12.97 placing them tenth in the preliminary rankings and third among the 17 B-graded clubs.
The complete grading list is available below.
Castleford Tigers submitted information after the data submission deadline, which the RFL will review and consider, especially given the tight scoring margins around the 12th position in the rankings.
The top 12 teams in the 2024 rankings, which will be announced at the end of the 2024 season, will determine membership in the Betfred Super League in 2025.
The primary goal of the indicative grading process in 2023 is to provide clubs with a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the areas in which they need to improve in order to improve their score in 2024.
“Rugby League embarked on a bold journey with the launch of the strategic partnership with IMG in May 2022, and 18 months into that journey, the publication of these indicative club gradings is a highly significant step,” said Tony Sutton, Chief Executive of the Rugby Football League.
“The sport has had to examine itself more closely than ever before, at all levels, whether in terms of our central governance or for our clubs in evaluating all aspects of their off-field performance.”
“The results are encouraging, as seven of our clubs have already achieved the A Grade by exceeding the score IMG set as the benchmark, and which we believe should be the level clubs need to achieve in order to confirm their place in our elite competition – and another 17 have earned a B Grade and now know exactly what they need to do to advance.”
“Congratulations to the A Grade clubs, though I know they will not rest on their laurels because the grading process is dynamic and requires clubs to maintain standards.”
“All clubs also deserve recognition for the positive way in which they have engaged in this process, all with the aim of raising the standards of Rugby League – and of reimagining the sport.”
Grading was one of seven recommendations presented to Rugby League in the autumn of 2022 as part of IMG’s Reimagining of the sport, and was widely supported by clubs at all levels.
Grading was created to incentivize clubs to grow their fanbase and top-line non-centralized revenue, better engage with fans, run in a best-in-class manner, invest in their club and the sport in a sustainable manner, and ensure strong governance.
Full grading criteria details were published in early 2023 – IMG & Rugby League Grading Criteria 2023.pdf (rugby-league.com) – with clubs receiving the grading criteria handbook later in the spring, which was also published given the emphasis on transparency throughout the process. Updated Rugby League Grading Handbook.pdf (rugby-league.com)
