RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood reveals blueprint for future of game

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood has opened up about their ambitious blueprint for the future of rugby league as they look to take the sport forward.

Sky Sports reporter Fraser Dainton takes us through all the key details.

Big plans are in place for Rugby League. In what’s being seen as a landmark year for the sport, the governing body is not letting the grass grow under their studs, and have unveiled a strategic and operational plan, covering all aspects of the game.

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood explains: "It sets out our objectives and what we want to achieve for the organisation - but more importantly, for the wider sport.”

The targets are ambitious. The first is to make sure the sport is financially viable – increasing overall turnover from the current £118 million to £146 million.

They want to see the number of spectators at games grow from 2.3 million to three million, and for TV audiences to grow from 17 million to 22 million.

They want to see the number of registered participants playing the game increase from just under 47,000 to over 65,000. And they want to do all this by 2021.

Passion

Wood admits it will be hard work, but is undaunted. “We’ve got plenty of strengths as a sport. We have committed and passionate people at all levels – whether employed or voluntary – they care,” he said.

“We have the resources, the stability, and great commercial and broadcast partnerships which set the framework for the next seven years. So we should have every confidence in achieving those targets.”

But one of the most ambitious objectives is to see England win the World Cup in 2017. "It’s a bold and big statement, but if you don’t set out to win it, you have to ask the question, why not? We’ve been there or thereabouts for a number of years, and making good progress.

"I think we have an elite playing base that is very talented and shares those aspirations. It’s overdue for us to win internationally, and I think we should be bold enough to say that’s what we want to do.”

The old argument continues on the international front – while we all want to see the best home-grown talent playing in Super League, there are those who believe playing in Australia’s NRL will benefit them more in major tournaments.

Talent retention is another of the plan’s “guiding principles”, so does that mean we are likely to see changes to the salary cap, or clubs being allowed to make a marquee signing?

Wood says that’s down to the clubs themselves.

“Our objective is to keep the very best talent playing in this competition,” he added.

“If you can’t do that, the next best thing is to see them playing in the NRL – that’s certainly preferable to seeing them play in Rugby Union, for example. The salary cap is constantly under review by the clubs – it’s a club issue – and there’s still an appetite to consider the marquee player initiative.

“I think it’s something that would add to our competition. It would provide those clubs with the capacity and ability to attract world class players, the chance to do so. Those are very legitimate aspirations. It’s been discussed by the clubs recently, and will no doubt be discussed again when the clubs get together in June.”