Three new faces as Super League expands
Newcomers York Knights will kick off the 2026 Super League season by welcoming reigning champions Hull KR.
Thirty years after the inaugural Super League season began with 12 teams, the competition has expanded to 14 sides for 2026. This marks the first time since 2014 that the league has operated with 14 teams, having reduced to 12 from the 2015 season onward.
With Salford dropping out at the end of last season, three clubs will join the league—two of which have previously competed in the top flight. Bradford Bulls and Toulouse Olympique have both featured in Super League before, while newcomers York Knights will make their debut as rugby league continues to grow beyond its traditional heartlands.
York Knights, whose women's team York Valkyrie has achieved considerable success in the Women's Super League, were selected to join the top flight by an independent panel alongside Toulouse, who return after a one-season stint in 2022.
The selection panel evaluated each club's financial performance in 2025, projected financial sustainability from 2026 to 2028, and their ability to field a competitive team in 2026 and beyond.
York have made significant signings, including the high-profile acquisition of Paul Vaughan from Warrington, and have introduced 14 new players as they prepare for their maiden top-flight campaign.
Toulouse have secured Wigan's Tyler Dupree on a season-long loan, aiming to establish themselves alongside Catalans as the league's French representatives.
Super League to expand to 14 teams from 2026
York and Toulouse to play in expanded Super League
Bradford replace Salford in Super League for 2026
Bradford return to the top flight
For many long-time followers, Bradford Bulls and Super League success are closely linked. The club dominated the early Super League era, securing four league titles and two Challenge Cups during their late 1990s and early 2000s peak.
Once a dominant force, Bradford lost their top-flight status in 2015. Since then, clubs like Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos, and St Helens have taken turns dominating as Bradford's momentum waned.
During their 11-year absence, Bradford faced financial difficulties and spent time in the former third-tier League One. However, following last season's grading system, they have earned a return to Super League.
Iconic head coach Brian Noble returned last season and guided the team to third place in the Championship. For the 2026 campaign, the club will be led by highly regarded former Salford coach Kurt Haggerty.
"The work we've done leading to round one has been probably more stressful than what's coming ahead," Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds.
"We've had a lot of stress before we kicked a ball so if I can remain as calm as I have done up to now, I think we'll be ok and I'll be ok.
"There's a lot of good people around me like Brian Noble who I can rely on and get advice from if I need it."
Bradford, Toulouse, and York have all had to assemble their squads for the 2026 season starting from October, resulting in a rapid build-up to contest the campaign.
Asked about his ambitions for the season, Haggerty said: "I think if we come away from this year with a load of respect, I'll be happy with that."
Hull KR beat Wigan to win first Super League title
Goodbye to loop fixtures and Salford
The expansion to 14 teams means the previously unpopular loop fixtures have been eliminated. This format was introduced when the league reduced to 12 teams to ensure each club played 27 games during the regular season.
However, to achieve this, four matches were loop fixtures where some clubs faced each other again based on the previous season’s final league table. This occasionally resulted in uneven campaigns, such as last season when St Helens faced a struggling Salford Red Devils side three times, while other clubs had tougher schedules.
Coaches frequently criticized this structure. Returning to a 14-team format means the regular season will now consist of 13 home games, 13 away games, and one Magic Weekend fixture at a neutral venue, which this year will be held at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.
One club absent from Super League this season is former Grand Finalists Salford. The club endured a difficult 2025 campaign due to financial problems and often fielded youthful teams that suffered heavy defeats.
Salford lost their Super League place following the end-of-season gradings and were placed into liquidation by the High Court in December, casting doubt on their future.
However, former player Mason Caton-Brown led a consortium to take over the club, now operating as Salford RLFC. They quickly assembled a squad to compete in the 2026 Championship season after receiving approval from the Rugby Football League.
Hull KR keeping connection in World Cup year
Hull KR's Mikey Lewis scooped up the Rob Burrow Trophy after last season's Super League Grand Final - can he pick up where he left off in 2026?
Hull KR enter the 2026 season following a campaign in which they secured a clean sweep of the Challenge Cup, League Leaders' Shield, and the Super League Grand Final.
This success has broken new ground, with Willie Peters' side establishing themselves among the northern hemisphere elite, becoming only the fifth club in Super League history to win a Grand Final.
However, their dominance will face challenges. Wigan entered last season after a historic quadruple of trophies but were unable to challenge Hull KR, finishing the season without silverware.
St Helens, Leeds, and Leigh Leopards have strengthened their squads as they aim to dethrone the Robins. Hull KR also face a trip to Las Vegas to play the Rhinos and will compete in next week's World Club Challenge against National Rugby League champions Brisbane Broncos, adding to an early-season busy schedule.
There has been some turnover at Hull KR, with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Micky McIlorum retiring after October’s showpiece, but the club has retained the core group that contributed to recent success.
Talismanic half-back Mikey Lewis signed a significant five-year contract before the end of the 2025 season. Balancing experienced players with new additions is vital for continued success, according to KR forward Dean Hadley.
"You look at any successful team, whatever sport that might be and they always have a core group of players and people, which includes the staff," he told BBC Radio Humberside.
"When you've got a group where the majority have been together, you build relationships and connections and you get used to each other.
"Off the back of that it's important to bring in a few new additions and new energy. The boys that have come in have been really good and added to it but the majority of us have been together now for two or three years and hopefully we can carry on."
The season gains additional intrigue as it is a World Cup year, with England's top players aiming to secure selection for the squad traveling to Australia in October.
Willie Peters has expressed interest in discussions for the England head coach role following Shaun Wane's departure, raising questions about how many Hull KR players will be included in the World Cup squad.
