Widnes were celebrating a return to the Super League on Thursday after rugby league chiefs granted them a three-year licence starting in 2012.

Widnes, one of the powerhouses of rugby league during the 1980s and early 1990s with stars such as Martin Offiah and Jonathan Davies, gained entry to the league after missing out in 2008.

Their approval was announced following a meeting of the Rugby Football League's board of directors.

"Today is the culmination of a lot of work over the last three years but the job is not done, it only starts now," said Widnes chairman Steve O'Connor.

Widnes will now be able to look forward to resuming their fierce local rivalries with St Helens, Warrington and Wigan.

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