London Broncos Miss Out on Super League Return
Friday 17 October 2025 10:03 am | Updated: Friday 17 October 2025 10:04 am
London Broncos have missed out on a return to the Super League despite their new NRL-associated ownership.
The London rugby league team were acquired by a consortium fronted by NRL legend and Brisbane Broncos board member Darren Lockyer this autumn and had hoped to get promoted back to the top flight of English rugby league.
But an expanded Super League will instead welcome York and Toulouse as its 13th and 14th teams, having confirmed Bradford Bulls’ return earlier this week in place of the financially troubled Salford Red Devils.
The omission will come as a surprise for those in the club, with officials previously saying they were somewhat confident of being returned to the Super League.
It means the club will need to spend a second season in the Championship, with Lockyer previously telling City AM that the ownership would back the club through another year in the second tier if it meant a shot at promotion next season. They had planned to target the six-team play-offs in their first season back in the Super League.
London Broncos Miss Out
On the decision, Lockyer said: “This is an exciting period for the club.
“The Broncos are building with purpose and clarity, and there is real belief in what can be achieved.
“Our coach and many of our significant player signings are committed and we will work hard together to achieve the goal of winning the Championship in 2026.”
The decision as to who gets to play a part in Super Rugby partly comes down to gradings issued by global sports giant IMG, which marks clubs on sectors such as stadium, attendance and community activity, as well as on-field performance.
The gradings are controversial among some in Super League but they placed London Broncos 16th when they were issued at the end of the 2025 season.
But there has been criticism of rugby league this week, with the sport choosing to dish out promotion and relegation news when some say the focus should be on a first Ashes series against Australia in 20 years, which begins next Saturday.
Reaction from Club Owners
“The future of the London Broncos is bright,” said club owner and co-chair Gary Hetherington.
“We know where we’re going, and we believe in the path we are on. London will be back at the top in no time.”
The club’s owners are confident that the team will bounce back from this setback and are committed to supporting the team through another year in the Championship.
Their goal is to win the Championship in 2026 and gain promotion to the Super League.
What’s Next for London Broncos?
The team will now focus on the upcoming season in the Championship, with the aim of winning the league and gaining promotion to the Super League.
They will face tough competition from other teams, but with their new ownership and coaching staff, they are confident of achieving their goal.
The team’s fans will be eagerly awaiting the start of the new season, hoping that their team can bounce back from this setback and achieve success.
Criticism of Rugby League
The sport has faced criticism this week for choosing to announce promotion and relegation news during a time when the focus should be on the upcoming Ashes series against Australia.
Many fans and pundits feel that the timing of the announcement was poorly planned and has taken attention away from the upcoming series.
However, the sport’s governing body has defended its decision, saying that the announcement was necessary to give teams time to prepare for the upcoming season.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the London Broncos have missed out on a return to the Super League, despite their new NRL-associated ownership.
The team will now focus on the upcoming season in the Championship, with the aim of winning the league and gaining promotion to the Super League.
While the news may be disappointing for the team’s fans, the club’s owners are confident that the team will bounce back from this setback and achieve success in the future.
FAQs
Q: What happened to the London Broncos?
A: The London Broncos missed out on a return to the Super League despite their new NRL-associated ownership.
Q: Who will be joining the Super League instead?
A: York and Toulouse will be joining the Super League as its 13th and 14th teams.
Q: What is the goal of the London Broncos for the upcoming season?
A: The goal of the London Broncos is to win the Championship in 2026 and gain promotion to the Super League.
Q: What has been the reaction to the news from the club’s owners?
A: The club’s owners are confident that the team will bounce back from this setback and achieve success in the future.
