London Junior League Players Meet England Captain and Star Player at Wembley!
Rick Jones • 17 July 2025
Only 100 days to go till England take on the Aussies at Wembley!
It is only 100 Days until England take on Australia at Wembley in the first Ashes Rugby League Test Match in over 20 Years!
As part of the build up, a number of London Rugby League Community Club Junior Players were yesterday lucky enough to meet England Captain George Williams, England Star Player Jack Welsby, England Legend Martin Offiah and RFL President Adam Hills at Wembley Stadium.
With the second and third Tests in Liverpool and Leeds already sold out, the match at Wembley is the only remaining way to watch what should be a fantastic series live. tickets start at only £20 for Adults and £10 for U16s (see booking link below).
If you would like to make a Group Booking of 14 or more, please email Shaun Tennant at the RFL on groups@rlcommercial.co.uk.
IMG GRADING 2026 London Broncos can announce the Club has received a score of 11.65 for the upcoming season which sees us move to 16th in the gradings. Hull KR’s historic on-field success in the 2025 season has lifted them to the top of the Club Grading rankings produced by the RFL and IMG to measure and drive the development of the sport. The Robins, who won their first Betfred Super League title at Old Trafford on Saturday night to follow their Wembley triumph in the Challenge Cup Final in June, become the third different club to lead the way in as many years since indicative gradings were first published in 2023 - with Leeds Rhinos and St Helens, who were top in 2023 and 2024 respectively, now second and third. Hull KR’s total score of 17.85 out of a maximum 20 across the five grading pillars – Fandom, Finance, Stadium, Community and On-Field Performance (*see below for full details) – is the highest achieved by any club over the last three years, boosted by 0.75 points for their Grand Final triumph, and 0.25 for their Challenge Cup win. They were sixth in the original indicative rankings in 2023 with a score of 15.52, climbing to fifth last year with 15.97. Nine of the 12 Betfred Super League clubs have passed the threshold of 15 points required for an A Grade – the same number as in 2024. Wigan Warriors, who finished second in the Super League table and reached their third consecutive Grand Final, are fourth in the rankings, with Leigh Leopards climbing two places to fifth. Warrington Wolves, Catalans Dragons and Wakefield Trinity all retain their A grading in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, and Hull FC regain Grade A status and climb from 10 th to ninth after lifting their overall grading score from 14.51 to 15.06. Bradford Bulls are the highest-ranked of 15 clubs who earn a B Grade, climbing from 16 th in the 2024 table to 10 th by lifting their score from 12.15 to 14.81 – and making them comfortably the highest-ranked club from outside the current Betfred Super League. They are followed by Castleford Tigers (14.66) and Huddersfield Giants (14.65) – with those three B-graded clubs joining the nine Grade As in the 12 who secure automatic places in the 2026 Super League. Following a decision by the existing Super League clubs to prioritise expansion of the competition, a Panel has been considering the possibility of admitting two additional clubs for 2026 – with their decision to be announced on Friday morning. Those clubs who do not secure Super League places will play in an expanded Betfred Championship in 2026, following a recent decision to merge the Championship with Betfred League One. Batley Bulldogs and Whitehaven, the two clubs who were not graded in 2024 because of delays in their submissions, come into the table in 21 st and 29 th respectively – Batley graded B with a score of 8.16, and Whitehaven one of nine clubs who receive a Grade C with a score of 6.23. Keighley Cougars and Newcastle Thunder have not been given a score having failed to meet the deadline for submitting the necessary information, although as in the cases of Batley and Whitehaven last year, the RFL will work with those clubs to assess what their score and ranking would have been should it be relevant in terms of their share of central distributions. Salford Red Devils have slipped from 12 th with a score of 13.97 to 15 th with a score of 12.65, with their Finance score reflecting information submitted for the 2022-24 seasons – and not including the 2025 season. They have had 0.25 points deducted from their score as a result of the deduction of two competition points for breaching operational rules in their team selection for the Round One fixture at St Helens in February. Salford are one of three clubs, with Featherstone Rovers and Halifax Panthers of the Betfred Championship, who are the subject of HMRC petitions, which could affect their Finance score for 2026 should the petitions be confirmed. Full details of the five pillars are published in the 2025 Club Grading Handbook Rugby League Grading Handbook_2025FINAL.pdf Ends…
UPCOMING FAN EVENTS! London Broncos Fan Group invite you to join them on Saturday 18 th October at 7.30pm at Belushi’s Sports bar in London Bridge. The Group have secured a bar within the venue called The Dugout with and live music. The event is completely free of charge and everyone is warmly invited to attend to engage with other London Broncos fans as a social event. Their programme of events for the remainder of the year are as follows: Welcome Party - Saturday 18 th October 7.30pm 2 nd Ashes Test – Saturday 1 st November 2pm 3 rd Ashes Test – Saturday 8 th November 2pm Broncos Christmas Party – Saturday 6 th December 7.30pm Please note Saturday is a FREE event and no tickets are required. #WeAreLondon
Darren & Adam Hills to present the Community Club Awards: BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY!
London Broncos add Tongan international Siliva Havili to 2026 squad The London Broncos are pleased to confirm the signing of Siliva Havili, a versatile forward and seasoned international with Tonga, as preparations continue for the Club’s proposed return to the Betfred Super League in 2026. Havili, who has enjoyed a decorated NRL career with South Sydney Rabbitohs and Canberra Raiders, adds toughness, utility value, and leadership to the Broncos’ roster. Renowned for his uncompromising style of play and his ability to slot seamlessly into both hooker and lock, Havili has represented Tonga at the highest level and played in some of Rugby League’s fiercest contests. The Broncos’ pursuit of Havili reflects a strategic approach to squad building: blending internationally-proven performers with returning members of the current squad to maintain cultural continuity. His signing represents another step forward in the Club’s wider plan to present London with a rugby league team of genuine calibre and ambition. “Siliva is the type of player who makes everyone around him better,” said Director of Rugby, Mike Eccles. “He’s a competitor, a leader, and he’s experienced success at international level. Adding someone of his quality to our environment is a huge statement of intent.” For London fans, the arrival of Havili is not just about one player. It highlights the momentum of a recruitment programme that aims to deliver Super League-quality rugby league to the capital, inspiring a new generation of supporters and re-establishing the Broncos as a destination club. #WeAreLondon
London Broncos secure former Kangaroos international Reagan Campbell-Gillard for 2026 season The London Broncos are excited to announce the signing of Australian international prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, one of the NRL’s most formidable forwards, ahead of a potential return to the Betfred Super League in 2026. Campbell-Gillard, who has starred for the Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, Gold Coast Titans and represented both Australia and New South Wales in State of Origin, brings unmatched pedigree and presence to the Broncos pack. A World Cup winner and multiple-time international, he arrives in London with the experience, resilience, and professionalism required to lead from the front. His addition marks a significant milestone in the Broncos’ journey to assemble a squad that can compete with the very best in the Super League. While the Club awaits the outcome of its licence application, the recruitment of Campbell-Gillard is a clear demonstration of intent and ambition. It underscores the Broncos’ commitment to delivering a high-performance environment capable of inspiring supporters across the capital and competing with rugby league’s strongest clubs. Campbell-Gillard himself expressed his excitement about the challenge ahead: “London is an incredible city and the Broncos are a club with a proud history. The chance to help build something special here, at such an important moment for the game in the UK, was too good to turn down.” For fans, the arrival of a world-class prop signals not only the Club’s determination to succeed but also the broader momentum of rugby league in London. The Broncos are building a squad that blends international quality with home-grown talent, a combination designed to both deliver results on the field and reignite the passion of a diverse supporter base across the capital. #WeAreLondon
Awards to be presented by Adam Hills on 23 Oct - Buy Your Ticket Today!
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Betfred Championship Awards 2025 York Knights will dominate the awards for the 2025 Betfred Championship when they are presented at Rugby League’s Awards Night in Manchester next Tuesday (October 7) – two days after they host Toulouse Olympique in the Grand Final at the LNER Community Stadium. The Knights have already secured the League Leaders’ Shield and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup, their first ever win at Wembley Stadium, in a 20-match winning run stretching back to April. Three of their players – their captain and half-back Liam Harris, the veteran hooker Paul McShane, and non-stop prop Jordan Thompson – form the shortlist for the 2025 Betfred Championship Player of the Year, following a poll of the head coaches of the competition’s 13 clubs. The coaches also voted almost unanimously that Mark Applegarth should be the 2025 Betfred Championship Coach of the Year. Jack Smith, a 20-year-old goalkicking three quarter who joined London Broncos on loan from Leeds Rhinos in May, breaks York’s monopoly with the Young Player of the Year award, again decided by a poll of coaches. The winner of the 2025 Betfred Championship Player of the Year Award will be announced at the Rugby League Awards Night on Tuesday October 7, when Mark Applegarth and Jack Smith will be presented with their awards. #WeAreLondon
Mike Eccles appointed Director of Rugby to lead London Broncos’ football strategy The London Broncos are proud to announce that Mike Eccles has been appointed as Director of Rugby, formalising his leadership role as the Club continues to build towards a potential Super League return in 2026. Eccles is a familiar name to Broncos fans, having originally served as Head of High Performance before stepping into the Head Coach role in 2022, where he guided the team through one of its most remarkable chapters - promotion back to the Super League. His vision, resilience, and leadership during that period cemented his status as one of the most respected figures in the Club’s modern history. In this new position, Eccles will oversee all football operations, player performance, and development pathways, ensuring that the Broncos maintain the highest possible standards both on and off the field. His appointment reflects the Club’s ambition to professionalise its structures, creating a system that nurtures players, fosters excellence, and delivers a sustainable competitive edge. “This role gives me the chance to ensure the Broncos’ football programme is as strong and forward-thinking as possible,” Eccles said. “London deserves a rugby league club that can compete at the top level, and everything we’re putting in place is designed to make that a reality.” For the sport more broadly, Eccles’ elevation underscores the Broncos’ determination to be not just participants, but genuine competitors, capable of reigniting rugby league in the nation’s capital and inspiring the next wave of talent from London and the South. #WeAreLondon
