As Rugby League faces a pivotal second in its trendy historical past, Nigel Wooden has returned to the highlight to guide a strategic evaluate geared toward reshaping the game’s future.
Wooden, who stepped down as chief government of the Rugby Soccer League in 2018 after 10 years on the helm, is again on the scene to guide the sport via a interval of uncertainty – and alternative.
The evaluate, commissioned in 2025, is tasked with assessing the game’s present state with the target of constructing the Rugby League product nearly as good as attainable and a extra engaging proposition for personal funding.
“We’ve been asked to look at a kind of top-to-bottom, root and branch assessment of where the sport is in 2025,” Wooden informed The Bench with Jenna and Jon.
“What the challenges are, what we have to do to make it the very best competitors it may be and make it essentially the most investable proposition it may be.
“There’s an appetite from the owners to say there’s probably a better way of doing this. They want to make sure that whatever they take to market is the best possible version of itself.”
Wooden confirmed growth can be on the desk, with discussions round rising the Betfred Tremendous League from 12 to 14 groups, however pressured warning was wanted.
“We should be following and pursuing an expansion strategy – but not recklessly,” he defined.
The evaluate may even revisit the controversial grading system launched below IMG’s partnership with the game.
Whereas Wooden helps the precept of elevating requirements, he questions whether or not the present mannequin has develop into too complicated and distracting.
“There is room for minimum standards,” he stated. “But whether it should be as all-encompassing as it is, is a different matter.”
Wooden is obvious that the evaluate’s success will not be fast, describing it as “an evolution” fairly than a fast repair.
With some adjustments anticipated by subsequent season and others tied to the following broadcast cycle in 2027, the method is designed for long-term impression.
“If we’ve got more people watching, more revenue, more people playing, and we’re more successful internationally – that’ll be a pretty good barometer of success,” he stated.
France’s future in Rugby League
Probably the most contentious elements of the evaluate is the way forward for French golf equipment in a predominantly British league system.
Wooden, who performed a key position in bringing Catalans Dragons into Tremendous League within the early 2000s, stays a agency supporter of their inclusion – however believes the phrases must be re-examined.
“The issue is not whether they’re in – it’s on what terms they’re in,” he says.
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Jon Wilkin and former Catalans Dragons coach Steve McNamara give their ideas on what the way forward for French rugby is within the Tremendous League
The unique rationale for together with French golf equipment was threefold: to strengthen the French nationwide group, generate broadcast income from France, and provide followers a singular journey vacation spot.
“Twenty years on, only the last of those three has been achieved,” Wooden admits.
He factors to the financial impression of British followers travelling to France – citing a latest instance the place 4,000 Leigh supporters spent an estimated £4million on a visit to Catalans – however notes the imbalance in reciprocal help.
“The reverse doesn’t happen,” he says. “We have to find a way to work to the benefit of both the British game and the French game.”
Regardless of the challenges, Wooden is unequivocal about ongoing French illustration in Tremendous League.
“Very confident,” he says. “And happy with that.”
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