Knights to remain in Super League in 2027!

4 hours ago

2 min read

York Knights will remain in Super League in 2027 after retaining 14th place in the IMG Club Grading rankings.

All 14 clubs who featured in the top 14 last year have retained their places and are now automatically guaranteed a spot in the top flight next season.

York’s score has increased from 13.04 to 13.24 with a classification as a grade B club.

Chief executive, Neil Gulliver said: "We are delighted to be in the men’s Super League for 2027.

"The increase in score shows that York RLFC is a club on the rise that has made a massive contribution not only to the men’s Super League in 2026 but also to the women’s competition as champions, and the wider community game.

"Huge recognition should go to our players, coaches, staff, volunteers, supporters and owner who have all made this possible.

"This score and continued participation in men’s Super League truly shows that everyone in our club and community is ‘All In’."

Wakefield Trinity’s historic on-field success in 2026 has shot them to the top of the rankings.

After winning the Super League Grand Final on Saturday they, scored 17.85 out of a maximum 20 across the grading model.

It was the highest score achieved by any club in 2026 (and joint-highest ever with Hull KR in 2025), coming after they finished eighth in last year's process which is run by the RFL.

Trinity, one of eight clubs to secure a Grade A (15 points plus), also recorded the biggest year-on-year increase of any club at +2.38 points, boosted by 0.75 bonus points for their Grand Final triumph under the Performance pillar.

Grading involves five pillars – Fandom, Finance, Stadium, Community and On-Field Performance.

Leeds (17.03) are second, beaten Grand Finalists Warrington Wolves (16.72) third and League Leaders Shield winners Wigan Warriors (16.46) fourth. Last year's Treble winners Hull KR are fifth (16.45), with Leigh Leopards (16.31), St Helens (15.59) and Castleford Tigers (15.03) completing the eight clubs to achieve Grade A status in 2026.

Castleford regain Grade A in eighth place with a score of 15.03, having been 11th in 2025. Catalans Dragons (14.83) and Hull FC (14.72) have dropped from Grade A to Grade B after slipping from seventh and ninth respectively to ninth and tenth.

Bradford Bulls (13.93), Huddersfield Giants (13.50), Toulouse Olympique (13.44) and York Knights (13.24) complete the 14 and are all classed as Grade B.

From 2026, completion of the Grading process was not mandatory. The final ranking therefore reflects the clubs who chose to take part in grading, rather than a ranking of every club across Super League and the Championship.

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