By Canadian Press

Leigh Centurions chosen to replace the Toronto Wolfpack in Super League

Dec 14, 2020 | 6:57 AM

The Leigh Centurions have been chosen to replace the Toronto Wolfpack in Super League.

Leigh was the unanimous choice among the six teams applying from the second-tier Betfred Championship to take the spot vacated by the financially troubled transatlantic rugby league side.

Leigh has played in Super League twice before, in 2005 and 2017.

“The club has a number of top-class players with Super League experience, a great stadium and a passionate and committed fan base, all of which will add to the 2021 competition,” Super League executive chairman Robert Elstone said in a statement.

The Bradford Bulls, Featherstone Rovers, London Broncos, France’s Toulouse Olympique and York City Knights also applied to become the 12th team in the top tier of English rugby league.

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The decision on who should replace Toronto was made by an independent panel led by Lord Jonathan Caine, a Conservative peer who is vice-chair of rugby league’s all-party parliamentary group.

“All of the applications were of high quality and I would like to pay tribute to the clubs for the energy and effort they have put into this exercise in what was of necessity a very short time period,” said Caine.

Toronto stood down July 20, saying it could not afford to play out the remainder of the pandemic-affected season. The team’s subsequent bid for reinstatement under new ownership in 2021 was rejected Nov. 2.

The Wolfpack remain mired in a sea of red ink with players and staff unpaid since June 10. Majority owner David Argyle, unable to fund the franchise, has stepped away. The Toronto-based Australian entrepreneur has said his ownership group poured $30 million into the franchise — with more bills waiting.

“The late and unexpected withdrawal of Toronto Wolfpack presented Super League with many challenges, in a uniquely difficult season,” said Eltone. “We have dealt with them expediently, comprehensively and objectively and I am pleased we can now look forward to another exciting Super League in 2021.”

Toulouse (5-0-0), Leigh (4-0-0), Featherstone (4-0-0) and London (4-1-0) occupied the top four of the Championship standings when play was suspended. Bradford (2-2-0) was seventh and York (0-4-0) 13th.

The Newcastle Thunder have already benefitted from Toronto’s demise. The League 1 club has earned promotion to the Championship to replace Leigh.

Toronto, which began life in the third tier of English rugby league in 2017, was 0-6-0 in its debut Super League campaign when the pandemic hit.

Toronto and Leigh have ties. Paul Rowley, the Wolfpack’s first coach, played and coached at Leigh and brought in many ex-Centurions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2020

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press