New Rugby Football League CEO Ian Nolan has called for the sport to showcase the stories of players better, advocating for players and teams to have a ‘bigger stage’.
The stage and platform for rugby league in the UK is seemingly growing at the moment, as evidenced by record attendance figures in Super League this season.
Saturday’s Super League Grand Final will sell more than 70,000 tickets for the first time since 2017 and in turn takes the cumulative attendance for the 2026 season past 2,000,000 fans.
Moreover, other markers are indicating growth, such as digital engagement, whilst there is the possibility of NRL investment in the UK game.
Nolan, who was confirmed as the successor to interim CEO Nigel Wood back in July, is a man with plenty of experience in sport, having formerly served as a senior executive at Manchester United where he led their global network and achieved record reach, engagement and revenue.
In his first week in his new job, which coincides with Saturday’s Grand Final for which he will be in attendance, Nolan has called on rugby league to lean on fans and players to help tell stories to sustainably grow the game.
Super League Grand Final Preview Show and Man of Steel winner debated – Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show!
Ian Nolan outlines Rugby Football League tenure goals
In a statement shared by the RFL, Nolan said: “Rugby League has one of the richest and most unique histories in British sport, and I’m incredibly proud to be given the opportunity to shape its next chapter.”
Stating the ambition should be simple – ‘to leave the game stronger than we found it’ – Nolan explained how that can be achieved.
He said: “That means growing the game sustainably, supporting our clubs, listening to our fans and making sure more people than ever have a chance to watch, play and love the sport.
“Throughout my career I’ve learned that every sport has great stories. Stories can come from our players, from within a club or even from our fans, and rugby league has some of the very best — they just deserve a bigger stage.”
Speaking more on that, he said: “Whatever stream, screen or feed the fan is watching on, or even within the stadium itself, our job is to bring those stories to life.
“If we can inspire more people to fall in love with rugby league, we’ll create a stronger future for everyone connected with the game.”
Nolan concluded: “This is an incredibly exciting time for rugby league. Attendances and online engagement are growing here, the world is taking notice of the sport, and we have every right to be seen as one of the most exciting sports growth stories on the planet.
“It’s a privilege to be part of that, and the best is still to come.”
