KEIGHLEY Cougars managing director Kaue Garcia met Labour leader Keir Starmer in Leeds on Friday night at a Labour Party business reception in the Queens Hotel, with the former sharing his displeasure at controversial new plans for Super League.

Former Keighley MP John Grogan helped organise the reception and arranged for the discussion with the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Garcia briefed the Leader of the Opposition on the strong opposition of the Cougars to the changes to the Super League rules, which will mean the virtual end of conventional promotion and relegation between Super League and the Championship from 2024.

It is instead set to be replaced by a licensing system.

IMG, as part of their strategic partnership with the RFL, are planning to get clubs categorised into three bands based on a series of as-yet undetermined on and off-field criteria, with teams in the A band guaranteed to earn their place within the competition's top tier.

Those given category B status would fill the remaining places in a 12-team top flight but face an annual re-assessment in which they must prove themselves worthy of promotion to the safeguarded A standard or run the risk of being replaced.

Of the 37 professional clubs, only Cougars objected, and Mr Grogan commented: "This is all so reminiscent of of the the 1995/1996 season, when Keighley Cougars were due to be promoted into the top division but were denied entry to the new Super League by the big clubs.

"I am gong to do what I can to lobby MPs and Lords of all parties who have an interest in rugby league against these changes."

Former press chief for long-serving Labour Primer Minister Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, who used to live in Keighley, has also tweeted his support for the cause.

He posted: "The plans are similar to those which caused fury re football European Super League re no promotion-relegation. I’m backing @Cougarmania."