These are fascinating times for rugby league. On the field, there is the prospect of a World Cup in England this autumn, and domestically, Super League has been buoyed up by a strong start to the new season and its new broadcast arrangement with Channel 4. There is as much intrigue off the field, with the game about to embark on a realignment of governance that could have far-reaching implications for everyone connected with the game. But what exactly does “realignment” mean?
Last week, the Rugby Football League and Super League announced they had agreed heads of terms on a deal which would unite the two major entities and, in their opinion, bulletproof the sport long-term. The major change? The creation of a joint-venture company called Rugby League Commercial, which will handle broadcast, marketing and events rights for the sport, enabling it to deliver a clear and unified game-wide vision to prospective new partners.
