Toronto Wolfpack announced on Monday that they will leave the British Super League for financial reasons for the rest of the 2020 season.
The Canadian team played for the first time in the top division of the English rugby league after winning the promotion from the championship.
Wolfpack, who has double-code star Sonny Bill Williams in his squad after signing a $ 10 million two-year deal, was scheduled to continue the season against Hull Kingston Rovers on August 2, and their move drew a strong one Joint statement from the Super League and the Rugby Football League.
The league’s only transatlantic club called “overwhelming financial challenges” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic for its decision to temporarily withdraw from the competition.
“Toronto Wolfpack can confirm that the club has informed both the Super League Europe (SLE) and the Rugby Football League (RFL) that the team will not restart the campaign on August 2nd, as planned,” said a statement by the association.
“The Wolfpack will not compete at the end of the Betfred Super League season 2020 or the rest of the Coral Challenge Cup 2020.
“This decision was not made lightly, taking into account a number of factors that are specific to the club as the only transatlantic team in the league.”
The Super League and RFL were disappointed with the change, and the competition was about to restart after the corona virus shutdown.
“Super League Europe and the RFL have regularly spoken to the pack of wolves over the past few weeks and months about the club’s ability to compete, and firm assurances were only given last Thursday, July 16,” they said in an explanation.
“The club’s decision is particularly disappointing given the upcoming restart of the season.”
Despite Williams’ high profile commitment, Toronto had lost the first six games of its debut top season and was about to relegate to the championship.
The club announced last week that the team will be unable to host games at Lamport Stadium in Toronto this season. All of her games have been in England so far.
Toronto’s statement added: “The COVID pandemic has presented the Wolfpack organization with unexpected and overwhelming financial challenges.
“The club plans to deploy a team in the 2021 season and will work with SLE and the RFL to understand this process in the next season.”
The leaders of the rugby league have yet to decide whether the relegation from the Super League will be canceled this year.
.
