Million Pound Game (stylized as£1M Game) was an annualrugby league game that decides whichChampionship teams will be promoted toSuper League, and which Super League teams would be relegated for the following season. Instituted in 2015 and played until 2018, the game was played as the final ofThe Qualifiers replacing the playoffs andChampionship Grand Final.
 | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 2015 |
| Number of teams | 2 |
| Country |  England (RFL) Canada France |
| Most titles | four-way tie(1 title) |
| Broadcast partner | Sky Sports BBC Sport (Highlights) |
In 2019, the Championship Grand Final returned but used the "Million Pound Game" name until 2021.
The name alludes to the higher level of funding Super League clubs receive.[1]
Format
edit2015–2018: The Qualifiers
editStarting for the 2015 season, the bottom 4 teams in theSuper League played the top four teams in theChampionship in a league of eight. The top three teams were awarded a place in Super League whilst teams finishing fourth and fifth play each other for the final Super League place in a game called the Million Pound Game.[2]
2019–2021: Playoffs
editThe 2019 season saw return of the playoffs and theChampionship Grand Final to determine promotion to theSuper League and, with the Super 8s being scrapped, the winners of theRFL Championship.[3][4] The name "Millions Pound Game" was retained for the final due to marketing purposes until 2021, with the 2022 final being called the "Championship Grand Final" again.[5][6]
Results
edit| Year | Winner | Score | Runner up | Venue | Attendance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 |  Wakefield Trinity | 24–16 |  Bradford Bulls | Belle Vue | 7,236 | [7] |
| 2016 |  Salford Red Devils | 19–18 |  Hull Kingston Rovers | Craven Park | 6,562 | [8] |
| 2017 |  Catalans Dragons | 26–10 |  Leigh Centurions | Leigh Sports Village | 6,888 | [9] |
| 2018 |  London Broncos | 4–2 |  Toronto Wolfpack | Lamport Stadium | 9,246 | [10] |
Winners
edit| Club | Wins | Last win | Runners-up | Last final lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wakefield Trinity | 1 | 2015 | 0 | N/A |
| Salford Red Devils | 1 | 2016 | 0 | N/A |
| Catalans Dragons | 1 | 2017 | 0 | N/A |
| London Broncos | 1 | 2018 | 0 | N/A |
| Bradford Bulls | 0 | N/A | 1 | 2015 |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | 0 | N/A | 1 | 2016 |
| Toronto Wolfpack | 0 | N/A | 1 | 2018 |
| Leigh Centurions | 0 | N/A | 1 | 2017 |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^"Expansion 'Pack or capital gain?".BBC Sport. Retrieved2022-11-19.
- ^"Rugby à XIII : La nouvelle organisation de la Super League dévoilée".
- ^"Super League decides to scrap controversial Super 8 format".The Guardian. 12 June 2018.
- ^"2019 Structure". Rugby Football League. 4 September 2018. Retrieved21 September 2019.
- ^"Million Pound Game 2021: Old friends do battle as Featherstone Rovers and Toulouse Olympique clash".Sky Sports. Retrieved2023-11-09.
- ^"Championship Grand Final: Jon Wells on Toulouse or London Broncos aiming to join Super League in 2024".Sky Sports. Retrieved2023-11-09.
- ^"Wakefield Wildcats 24-16 Bradford Bulls".BBC Sport. 2015-10-02. Retrieved2023-11-09.
- ^"Hull KR 18-19 Salford".BBC Sport. 2016-09-29. Retrieved2023-11-09.
- ^"Leigh 10-26 Catalans".BBC Sport. 2017-09-29. Retrieved2023-11-09.
- ^"London Broncos book Super League return".BBC Sport. 2018-10-05. Retrieved2023-11-09.