2022 RFL League 1

The RFL approved three rules changes for 2022. On 20 January 2022, The RFL confirmed that scrums will return to all competitions, having been suspended as part of the game's COVID-19 response in 2020 and 2021.[1] Scrums are only being reintroduced for errors (knock-on, forward pass or accidental offside) in the first four tackles of a set. Other cases, where previously a scrum would have been awarded, for example - ball into touch on the full, ball kicked or passed into touch, incorrect play the ball; will result in a handover.[2]

The ball steal law will revert to the 2020 rule where the ball can only be stolen in a one-on-one tackle and not during a multi-person tackle where the additional tacklers have peeled off the tackle before the steal. Finally, injured players will be required to leave the pitch for treatment, if possible, following complaints that stoppages for injury spoil the speed and flow of the game.[3]

2022 was due to see the second professional rugby league team in Canada, Ottawa Aces, join League 1 and increase the number of teams in the division to 11. However, in October 2021 the company behind the Ottawa club announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club would relocate to the United Kingdom.[4] The following month, the club's new home and name were announced with the team to be called Cornwall RLFC and be based in Penryn, Cornwall.[5]

Also in October 2021, Coventry Bears was rebranded as Midlands Hurricanes and would for 2022 be leaving Butts Park Arena in Coventry to play at Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C.'s Portway ground south of Birmingham.[6]

Oldham, who were relegated from the Championship, relocated to the Vestacare Stadium for 2022.[7]

Stadiums and locations

Cornwall

Doncaster

Hunslet

Keighley

London

Midlands

North Wales

Oldham

Rochdale

Swinton

West Wales

Locations of the 2021 RFL League 1 teams

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity
Cornwall RLFC	Penryn, Cornwall	The Memorial Ground	4,000
Doncaster	Doncaster	Keepmoat Stadium	15,231
Hunslet	Leeds	South Leeds Stadium	4,000
Keighley Cougars	Keighley	Cougar Park	7,800
London Skolars	Haringey, London	New River Stadium	2,000
Midlands Hurricanes	Birmingham	Portway Stadium	2,000
North Wales Crusaders	Colwyn Bay	Stadiwm Zip World	5,500
Oldham	Oldham	Vestacare Stadium	1,500
Rochdale Hornets	Rochdale	Crown Oil Arena	10,249
Swinton Lions	Sale, Greater Manchester	Heywood Road	3,387
West Wales Raiders	Llanelli	Stebonheath Park	3,700

The season will comprise 22 rounds with each of the 11 teams playing each other home and away. The fixture list was released on 13 November 2021.[8] Promotion was confirmed with two clubs to be promoted to the 2023 Championship but play-off details are still to be announced.[9]

The round 5 fixture between West Wales and Doncaster was forfeited by West Wales when the Welsh club failed to arrange the necessary medical cover. Under RFL operational rules the match was awarded to Doncaster as a 48–0 win.[10]