Super League table to be decided on win points percentage - and minimum loan period halved from four weeks to two

Win Points Percentage is calculated by a club’s league points divided by the number of matches played, multiplied by 50.

Clubs will need to complete 70 per cent of their scheduled fixtures to qualify for the top-six play-offs, unless they have already earned enough league points to guarantee a place.

If four or more clubs don’t complete 18 of their scheduled fixtures, the RFL board will have the discretion to determine an alternative minimum figure.

Clubs will be allowed to withdraw from a fixture if they have seven or more of their top 25 players unavailable because of a positive Covid-19 test or following test and trace analysis, or if they are prevented from playing or travelling to play as a result of governmental restrictions.

The fixture will only be rearranged if both clubs have the same free date available.

The RFL have confirmed dual registration will not be permitted at this stage, but the minimum length of a loan period between clubs has been halved from four weeks to two.

The deadline for clubs to tell players in the last year of their contract if they will be offered a new deal has been put back from April 30 to May 31, to reflect the later start of the season.

Players in their final year will be able to speak to other clubs from May 1.

If a club is unable to fulfil a tie in the first two rounds of the Betfred Challenge Cup, it will be awarded to their opponents, because of limited time between the rounds.

Ties in the third or fourth rounds will be rearranged, taking precedence over league fixtures.

A decision on the Cup semi-finals and final and Super League play-offs will be made nearer the time.