The new head of English rugby league has thrown his support behind a proposal for £30 million in government funding over five years, aimed at social impact projects in deprived communities.
Ian Nolan, the Rugby Football League's chief executive, has backed former England international Jon Wilkin's plea to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy for the investment. Wilkin argues that a coordinated strategy and government funding could leverage the sport's existing infrastructure to benefit northern England.
Wilkin drew a parallel to Australia's A$250 million commitment over 10 years to the Pacific Rugby League Partnership, an initiative designed to create sporting, educational, and employment opportunities in Pacific nations. He believes Britain should exhibit similar ambition for its own communities.
"The infrastructure already exists, the clubs, the foundations, the school and community relationships are already well established," Wilkin said. "What's missing is a coordinated strategy and meaningful government investment."
Nolan, who joined the RFL on October 1, highlighted that rugby league clubs are already embedded in many of the UK's most deprived towns. He suggested this existing presence could facilitate quicker social benefits compared to new initiatives, as people and families already have established connections to these clubs.
The proposed plan would involve a partnership between the RFL, professional clubs, community foundations, local authorities, and government departments.
This funding plea comes as the RFL consults on the future of the sport under an initiative called "One Game, One England." This review follows disappointing performances by both the men's and women's England teams, who failed to reach the semi-finals of their respective Rugby League World Cups. Wilkin has been critical of the domestic game's structure, citing an overcrowded Super League calendar as a potential factor in the national teams' struggles.
Nolan is exploring ways to improve the quality of fixtures for domestic players, potentially reviving formats like the International Origin series or the War of the Roses fixture between Lancashire and Yorkshire. He expressed a desire to innovate and provide such series the opportunity to grow, similar to Australia's State of Origin.
International rugby league faces scrutiny over its compressed calendar and television coverage. Ryan Hall, a former England international, criticized the recent men's World Cup's reduction to 10 teams, arguing it diminished the event's status as a global festival. The International Rugby League's decision to award broadcast rights to Premier Sports over the BBC for the World Cup also drew criticism, with Wilkin lamenting the lack of free-to-air coverage on a public service broadcaster.