<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 . Canadian and Welsh clubs that also compete in the Rugby Football League can also qualify . Colloquially known in the UK as the Super League it is referred to internationally as the European Super League (ESL). </P> <P> Super League began in 1996, replacing the RFL Championship and switching from a winter to a summer season . Each team plays 23 games between February and July: 11 home games, 11 away games and a Magic Weekend game at a neutral venue . After 23 games, teams enter a Super 8 stage, the top eight play each other once more . The top four then enter the play - off series leading to the Grand Final (formerly the Championship Final) which determines the champions . The bottom four teams go on to play the top four Championship teams in The Qualifiers to determine who will play in Super League the following season . </P> <P> Leeds Rhinos are the most successful club in the Super League era, having won 8 titles . However, Wigan Warriors are the most successful club overall, having won 21 British Championships . </P>

When does rugby league season start and finish