Bedford Tigers Bid to Join Rugby League’s League 1 in 2025
The Southern Conference League side Bedford Tigers have announced their plans to join the Rugby Football League’s (RFL) League 1 competition in 2025, following in the footsteps of the Yorkshire Men’s League team Goole Vikings.
Bedford, a club with over 20 years of history, has submitted a formal bid to the RFL, which is currently welcoming expressions of interest to join the division next year. The club boasts fully functioning women’s and wheelchair teams, in addition to their men’s squad, who they hope will make the transition to the professional ranks in 2025.
According to the club’s statement, the move to League 1 will come with significant challenges, and the decision will not be made lightly. Bedford acknowledged the history of “expansion teams” failing in recent years and emphasized the need to ensure their sustainability both on and off the field.
The club has worked tirelessly since the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen its position, including the establishment of a Charitable Foundation in 2023. These efforts, along with the presence of women’s and wheelchair teams, are integral components of Bedford’s bid.
Preliminary Assessments
Preliminary assessments suggest that Bedford’s IMG score, a metric used to evaluate clubs’ readiness for professional rugby league, stands at around 3.5, placing them within touching distance of the bottom-ranked North Wales Crusaders. The club cited the presence of four other well-established community rugby league clubs within a 40-mile radius and numerous rugby union outlets as potential sources of local talent.
The RFL is expected to make a decision on the successful bidder(s) later this summer, allowing the winning club(s) time to prepare for the transition to the professional game in League 1 next year. The inclusion of Bedford Tigers in the competition would provide further opportunities for rugby league growth and development in the region.
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