The Rugby Football League (RFL) have confirmed Barrow Raiders will not be promoted to the Championship. This follows, as the Raiders applied for promotion to the second-tier following the expulsion of Toronto Wolfpack from the Super League. Instead, Newcastle Thunder were chosen by the RFL’s five-strong panel to play in next season’s Championship. This means that the Raiders will remain in League One for the upcoming 2021 season, which is set to begin in March. Air Commodore Dean Andrew OBE, the former RFL President who chaired the panel, explained: “Newcastle Thunder was the unanimous choice of the panel, for an outstanding application. “The club’s coaching set-up and facilities are superb; its community outreach is well-established and growing.” The North East club will fill the void left by the Championship club who will replace Toronto Wolfpack in the Super League.