Super League (Europe)

Super League (Europe) is the only full-time professional rugby league competition operating in the northern hemisphere. Currently all the teams are based in Great Britain, though there has been French involvement and French club Union Treiziste Catalane, to be known as Les Catalans, will join for the 2006 season. As a result of sponsorship from Engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the Engage Rugby Super League.

Structure

Currently, 12 teams compete in Super League. They play each other twice on a home-and-away basis. An additional six fixtures are then included. A play-off structure is then used to determine the two teams who will meet in the Super League Grand Final to decide the championship. Currently the top six teams enter the play-offs. The structure is designed to reward the teams finishing nearer the top with easier routes to the Grand Final, which is played at Old Trafford.

Related Topics:
Top six teams enter the play-offs - Old Trafford

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In earlier seasons the championship was decided on the basis of the league table alone, with the play-offs leading to a separate Premiership Final. Now a minor prize is given to the team finishing top (the League Leader's Shield); the real prize is to win the Grand Final.

Related Topics:
Premiership Final - League Leader's Shield

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