Robert Elstone explains why Toronto Wolfpack were refused re-entry into Super League

The Canadian franchise – which pulled out of their debut top-flight season in July citing financial issues brought on by Covid – yesterday failed in their bid to persuade their rivals they deserved a reprieve.

They lost by eight votes to four with one abstention; Leeds Rhinos, St Helens, Catalans Dragons and the RFL are those who are believed to have backed their bid by new owner Carlo LiVolsi.

LiVolsi had said he would be willing to underwrite their losses and pay players and staff who had gone unpaid for seven months under previous owner David Argyle.

However, it is understood those clubs who voted against the bid were worried by a lack of proof of funds to do so.

Super League will meet again today to decide what to do in 2021 – stick with 11 clubs as has been the case since Toronto’s withdrawal or work out a way of adding a 12th club back into the competition.

Before the meeting, Elstone had commissioned an ‘independent’ report into investigating LiVolsi’s business plan but also into whether professional rugby league in Canada would bring revenue for Super League.

On the back of those findings he urged clubs – who bizarrely somehow get such a big say in the future of a fellow club – to vote against allowing them back in.

The majority have agreed to do so and Elstone said: “The Board accepts that the decision to reject Toronto Wolfpack’s application will divide the game’s fans.

“But on the evidence presented to us, it would not be right for the development of the competition for Super League to accommodate a team in Canada in 2021. Every opportunity has been given to Toronto Wolfpack to provide the assurances our clubs need. However, our review of the club’s recent submission identified areas of concern particularly regarding aggressive revenue targets on which financial forecasts are based.

“As part of our comprehensive investigation into this whole subject, Super League appointed an independent committee of sports industry experts, with representation from the RFL, to examine commercial opportunities for rugby league in Canada.

“Its findings were unanimous – that operating a team in a fiercely competitive North American sports market was non-strategic and added no material incremental revenue to Super League in the short or medium term.

“Separately, it was also apparent that no assessment of the scale and accessibility of the commercial growth that might accrue to the sport from entering the Canadian market was ever completed prior to the club’s first entry into the sport.”

That last comment is a thinly-veiled swipe at the RFL who accepted Toronto in at League 1 level in 2017 before they moved up the divisions, earning promotion to Super League by beating Featherstone Rovers last autumn.

It was hoped, with the capture of big-name signings such as Sonny Bill Williams, they would revitalise the sport, help it expand and find new markets but it looks like that dream is over before it ever truly began.

Wolfpack felt they had satisfied those aforementioned requests and shown “improved clarity on what benefits the Wolfpack bring to the League as a whole, as well as detailed plans for the growth of Rugby League in Canada.

“The club shares the obvious disappointment of our players, staff, sponsor and partners, as well as incredible fans, at today’s decision,” said a statement. “The Wolfpack will now take some time to consider our position and consult further with the current ownership group, led by David Argyle.”

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