Widnes Vikings has been awarded a licence to compete in the Super League between 2012-14, after its bid to the Rugby Football League (RFL) was adjudged to be the strongest.

The club was one of three to submit an application for inclusion in the competition, with the RFL confirming that Halifax had also met the minimum criteria for membership. Halifax will now go forward to be assessed alongside the existing 14 Super League clubs - part of the next phase of the licensing process due to conclude in July.

However, Barrow Raiders has been informed it will not be awarded a Super League licence as it does not have a 10,000-capacity stadium or a £1m turnover in either 2009 or 2010. The RFL Executive assessed each of the three bids with the help of property consultants Savills and financial experts KPMG, before a report went before the RFL's directors.

Image: VikingJohn