London Broncos head coach Mike Eccles has announced that the club is drafting a proposal aimed at securing their place in the Super League. Despite their recent promotion from the Championship in late 2023, the club faces potential relegation due to new criteria set by rugby league stakeholders IMG.
The Broncos hastily assembled a team after their promotion, only to find themselves under threat of relegation because they lack sufficient points in IMG’s five-pillar system. This decision has sparked significant debate within the sport, particularly after the Broncos’ recent victory over Hull FC, a Grade A club that is exempt from relegation under the current guidelines regardless of their season performance.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ “The Verdict,” Eccles expressed his dismay over the IMG plan. “It was quite a shock for us,” Eccles admitted. “We’ve kept our players part-time this year, knowing that 2025 would likely see us relegated. This took away the competitive spirit of the season for us, which is really disappointing.”
The challenges for the Broncos have been considerable since their promotion. Eccles detailed the difficulties of building a competitive squad within a limited timeframe and with the understanding that the club might not be able to transition to full-time status. “We had to adopt a hybrid approach to retain some of our best part-time players, given the uncertainties surrounding the 2025 season,” Eccles explained. “It’s been extremely tough, and there’s no one to turn to for advice because no one else has faced this situation.”
To address these challenges, the Broncos are preparing a proposal to present to the governing bodies in hopes of securing their position in the Super League. Eccles is hopeful that this proposal will highlight the club’s potential and provide them with an opportunity to remain in the competition.
The situation underscores the complexities and controversies of the new system implemented by IMG, and the Broncos’ efforts reflect their determination to continue competing at the highest level.
