UK Rugby League Seeks Group Chair to Drive Commercial Growth

The governing bodies of Rugby League in the UK (UK Rugby League), the Rugby Football League (RFL), RL Commercial, and Super League (Europe) (SLE), are seeking a new group chair to unify the organisations under a single structure and drive a definitive strategy for commercial growth.

The appointment is key to consolidating power and expertise following the creation of RL Commercial in 2023, a joint venture tasked with integrating and maximising all commercial rights across the sport.

The strategic challenge for the new chair will be to realign the disparate RFL, SLE, and RL Commercial entities into one cohesive Group structure.

This realignment is essential for achieving “greater strategic clarity” across the key functions of participation, performance, regulation, and commercial operations.

The successful candidate must possess “the gravitas and credibility to deliver a compelling commercial vision” that satisfies all stakeholders and delivers stability, as outlined in the recently concluded Club-Led Strategic Review.

The role demands a high-profile leader with extensive board-level experience and strong commercial acumen, capable of navigating a complex and high-interest sport environment.

They will be responsible for overseeing financial discipline, risk frameworks, and, most crucially, guiding the strategic direction for commercial growth.

The urgency is underscored by the recent expansion of the Betfred Super League to 14 clubs for the 2026 season, which requires a robust, commercially successful foundation.

The chair will work closely with the Chief Executive to implement a strategic program focused on maximising value from strategic partnerships, engaging government, clubs, media, and sponsors as the sport’s primary ambassador.

A deep understanding of the sport’s structure and its passionate stakeholder group is considered essential.

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