Super League I
| Super League I | |
|---|---|
| League | Super League |
| Duration | 22 Rounds |
| Teams | 12 |
| Highest attendance | 20,429 Wigan vs St. Helens (21 June) |
| Lowest attendance | 1,400 Workington Town vs London Broncos (23 June) |
| Attendance | 867,372 (average 6,571) |
| Broadcast partners |
 Sky Sports
|
| 1996 Season | |
| Champions |
 St. Helens1st Super League title 8th English title |
| Premiership winners |
 Wigan
|
| Man of Steel |
Andrew Farrell
|
| Top point-scorer(s) |
Bobbie Goulding (257) |
| Top try-scorer(s) |
Paul Newlove (28) |
| Promotion and relegation | |
| Promoted from First Division |
 Salford Reds
|
| Relegated to First Division |
 Workington Town
|
The year 1996's Stones Bitter Super League I was the official name for the 102nd season of top-level rugby league football, and the first year of Europe's new championship: Super League. It is also the first season of rugby league to be played in summer. The competition featured all eleven teams from the 1995–96 Rugby Football League season plus one expansion club, Paris Saint-Germain.
Twelve teams were selected to play in the inaugural Super League season.
Player numbering:
Rules to ensure the sustainability of Super League clubs were introduced:
To protect global Super League interests:
Four new rules were introduced for the inaugural Super League season:
In an attempt to "clean up" the ruck:
On 29 March 1996, Super League kicked off in Paris before 17,873 people at the Charlety Stadium when new team Paris Saint Germain overcame Sheffield Eagles 30-24.Jacques Fouroux, the PSG president, described that night, "Ninety eight per cent of them [the crowd] were new to the game, but they understood it right away. They saw tries, lots of commitment and lots of movement. They saw beauty. They attended a great party."
The reigning champions Wigan were hoping to maintain their hold on the championship in the newly formed Super League. However, at the end of the season St. Helens were crowned inaugural Super League champions after a win over Warrington Wolves at Knowsley Road, finishing in first position on the league ladder. During the year a secondary title, known as the Premiership was also played, with the final being contested between Wigan and the championship winners St. Helens with Wigan coming out victorious and Andy Farrell winning the Harry Sunderland Trophy.
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