AS rugby league enters into its brand-new era of IMG-run competition, there are a number of key dates to bear in mind for the end of the season.
Hired in 2022 to ‘reimagine’ rugby league, IMG set about working out a plan to bring the cream of the crop to Super League.
They did so by creating five ‘pillars’ of fandom, facilities, performance, social media and catchment that all 36 professional clubs would be scored by ahead of the 2025 season.
At the back end of 2023, indicative grades were sent to all clubs with all 36 given ways to improve in order reach the promise land of 15 points – a points total that would see a Grade A being awarded and thus Super League status confirmed.
Here are all the important dates for the calendar, with the deadline for data submission by Super League clubs ending yesterday.
Monday 2 September – Deadline for data submission by League One clubs
Monday 23 September – Deadline for data submission by Super League clubs
Monday 30 September – Deadline for data submission by Championship clubs
October 1-18: Period of work internally by the RFL followed by liaison between clubs and the Governing Body, before the data is presented for external audit. A tender process will take place with assistance from an assurance partner
Saturday and Sunday 19-20 October – Clubs given their official score for the first time
Tuesday 22 October – Clubs informed of all other clubs’ scores for the first time
Wednesday 23 October – 2025 IMG gradings made official for the first time
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