Sports fans were celebrating today after it was announced that York Knights have been promoted to the Super League.
The club will play in the top tier from 2026 and were described as a “worthy and deserving addition” to the Betfred Super League.
The Knights and French club Toulouse Olympique were selected for promotion from nine applicants as the league expands to 14 teams.
Three of the other applicants – Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants and Hull FC – have already secured their places in next season’s Super League after finishing in the top 12 of the club gradings table published yesterday.
It’s the first time in the Knights’ 23-year history that they’ve played in the top tier.
Lord Caine, the Rugby Football League non-executive board member who chaired the panel, said: “After a thorough and robust process, we were pleased to be able to decide that Toulouse Olympique and York Knights will be worthy and deserving additions to the Betfred Super League next season.
“They were 13th and 14th on the club gradings, with a significant lead on any of the other applicants from the Betfred Championship.
“As was set out on August 19, it was always the Panel’s intention to use those gradings as one of the criteria in our deliberations, along with enhanced financial scrutiny and an assessment of competitiveness.
“The panel’s deliberations were conducted on the basis of fairness, impartiality, independence and confidentiality. The panel was unanimous in its final decision to choose Toulouse Olympique and York Knights.
“We thank and congratulate all the clubs who engaged in the process for the quality of their applications – and we look forward to seeing elite Rugby League played in the historic cities of Toulouse and York in 2026.”
York’s journey
York Knights were founded as a phoenix club in 2002-3, ensuring the continuation of professional Rugby League in the Minster City – which stretched back to 1901, when the original club joined the Northern Union.
The Panel’s decision means top tier Rugby League will return to York for the first time since the 1985-86 winter season, a decade before the launch of Super League.
The Knights have enjoyed an outstanding season in 2025, securing their first ever win at Wembley Stadium in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup in June, and finishing top of the Betfred Championship table only to suffer that Grand Final defeat against Toulouse.
The Panel’s decision follows confirmation on Thursday of the Club Grading scores for 2025, with the top 12 clubs in the rankings securing automatic Super League membership – Hull KR, Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Wigan Warriors, Leigh Leopards, Warrington Wolves, Catalans Dragons, Wakefield Trinity, Hull FC, Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers and Huddersfield Giants.
