Featherstone Rovers release statement on IMG’s proposals for rugby league

Today IMG presented their recommendations to Super League, Championship and League 1 clubs and it certainly has been greeted by an interesting response from fans our great game.

This is largely due to the change regarding promotion and relegation with Super League status set to be determined by the return to licensing which has been absent in rugby league since 2014 after five years of success.

This is set to have a big impact on many clubs but especially those who aspire to play in the top tier like Featherstone who have been striving to feature in the elite league for years.

The Rovers slipped up last week in the Championship semi-finals against underdogs Batley after losing the Million Pound Game against Toulouse in 2021.

Naturally, this news could impact their future more than most effecting their approach to promotion.

Having attended the meeting, both Chairman Mark Campbell and CEO Martin Vickers have issued the following joint statement:

“As a club we welcome the findings of the report by IMG, we believe that the recommendations include sensible and timely initiatives that will strengthen the future of our sport. As a club we believe the work undertaken over the last 10-15 years has stood us in good stead for this revitalisation of the sport. We are a sustainable Club that have invested heavily in our facilities and we are confident that any assessment of our on and off field performance will be positive.

“We also believe the work undertaken by the club in the community and in the Women’s and girls game also put us in a strong position for the future.

“We know we have work to do, we have never rested on our laurels here at Featherstone but after last weekend’s disappointment, we will quickly move on and refocus our objectives to gain promotion to Super League in 2023.”

Featherstone, unsurprisingly, believe the new structures could favour them as a forward thinking and ambitious club.

They are clearly keen to gain promotion next year to stand them in good stead for the arrival of these changes.