IMG has made no secret of the fact that the American sports management firm’s plan to revolutionise rugby league and broaden the sport’s horizons involves capturing the imagination of major cities in England, both within and beyond the game’s roots along the M62. If that is truly the case then it is the Championship, just as much as Super League, where the future could lie.
More cities are hosting second-tier rugby league – five – this year than the top flight, where there are four cities represented.
