Sport Rugby league | Broadcast partner Sky Sports | |
Country England
Wales
France (RFL) Holders Huddersfield Giants (4th Title) Most titles Huddersfield Giants (4 titles) | ||
The Super League Wooden Spoon was an awarded given to the team finishing bottom of Super League at the end if the rugby league season. The spoon is awarded if there is no automatic promotion and relegation between Super League and the Championship.
Contents
History
In the first two seasons of Super League there was automation promotion between Super League and the RFL Second Division. In 1998 however promotion and relegation between the two leagues was scrapped and Super League became a closed off competition, which meant the team finishing bottom would be awarded the Wooden Spoon. This lasted for three seasons and Huddersfield Giants finished bottom each year and were relegated when relegation was reintroduced in 2001.
In 2008 automatic promotion to Super League was scrapped again in favour of licensing. This meant that Super League clubs would have to apply for a license every four years if they wanted to compete in Super League and Championship teams were also allowed to apply to be promoted. This lasted for six years and saw five teams claim the Wooden Spoon.
In 2014 the Super League announced it was to be reduced from 14 to 12 teams. This meant two teams were to be automatically relegated in 2014.
In 2015 automatic promotion and relegation was replaced with The Qualifiers. After 23 rounds of Super League the 12th placed team was awarded the Wooden Spoon however the bottom four Super League teams would go on to play the top four Championship teams in The Qualifiers to earn a place in the next seasons Super League.