<Tr> <Th> Relegation to </Th> <Td> Championship </Td> </Tr> <P> Super League (currently known as the Betfred Super League for sponsorship reasons) is the top - level professional rugby league club competition in the Northern hemisphere . The league has twelve teams: eleven from England and one from France . </P> <P> Super League began in 1996, replacing the Rugby Football League Championship and switching from a winter to a summer season . Each team plays 29 games between February and September: 11 home games, 11 away games, Magic Weekend and an additional 6' loop fixtures' decided by league positions . The top five then enter the play - off series leading to the Grand Final which determines the champions . The bottom team is relegated to the Championship . </P> <P> The Super League champions play the National Rugby League champions from Australasia in the World Club Challenge at the start of the season . </P>

When does the rugby super league season end