Rugby League club throw ‘full support’ behind Nigel Wood in “sport’s hour of need”

One of the most ambitious clubs in rugby league have released a statement backing Nigel Wood to “deliver in the sport’s hour of need”.

Wood has returned as the interim chair of the Rugby Football League (RFL) after the resignation of Simon Johnson amid a club-led call for a Strategic Review of the sport.

That review will be headed up by Wood with details of the board also revealed recently after the major changes earlier in the month that saw the announcement of Wood’s new role.

As such, Wood has stepped away from his role with Bradford Bulls to lead the sport amidst concerns from a number of club owners about the direction of the sport.

Heading up the statement confirming Wood’s return were Leeds Rhinos’ Gary Hetherington and Leigh Leopards’ Derek Beaumont, however, one of the Championship’s leading clubs bhave now also released a statement featuring comments from their owner.

Championship Rugby League club throw ‘full support’ behind Nigel Wood

Oldham RLFC, who earned promotion to the Championship in 2024 and have been touted as ‘dark horses’ for success in 2025, are the latest club to release a statement following the changes in rugby league.

The Roughyeds were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Hull KR recently but they have fared well on their return to the Championship, sitting fifth with two wins, two losses and one draw after five matches.

They will travel to face Sheffield Eagles on Sunday but have confirmed that they recently welcomed Nigel Wood to Boundary Park for their huge 50-6 win over London Broncos, with the club sharing a wholly positive view on Wood after their discussions.

Sharing a club statement, they confirmed that they were “one of the majority of clubs that supported the recent resolutions to remove members of the RFL Board and implement a club-led strategic review”.

They added: “The Board want to make it clear that we fully support Nigel Wood and his working group to deliver in the sport’s hour of need.”

Why have Oldham supported Nigel Wood?

Club Statement

— Oldham RLFC (@Roughyeds) March 28, 2025

The remainder of their statement, which was supported by quotes from chairman Bill Quinn, explained the reasons for their support with high praise handed out for the individuals involved in the upcoming review.

That statement continued: “We made this decision as it believed this was the best way to bring about long-needed change to the sport to safeguard its long-term financial sustainability and make sure it remained an investable product.”

On hosting Wood against London, they said: “To have him in attendance and for him to listen to our thoughts in those discussions it was abundantly clear that Nigel was the right man to steer the review as his knowledge, passion and desire to make the sport great again were clear for all to see.”

An upcoming meeting of the club’s will see the early progress discussed, whilst Oldham spoke on those in the working group compiled to lead the Strategic Review.

They said: “The members of the working group are people of high calibre, with the skills and expertise needed to shape progress. Their abilities and experience will ensure that the work produced is right for the long-term sustainability of the sport that we all care so passionately about. We are grateful that they have given up their time without remuneration to deliver for the sport at this time.”

Chairman Bill Quinn added: “We wish Nigel and his working group all the success in the world to deliver for the sport at this critical time.

Change, in my opinion and that of others, is what the sport has been seriously lacking and if we continue to carry out the same practices why would we expect a different outcome?

I was also very pleased that in the open discussions we were given the opportunity to nominate candidates other than Nigel, but we and many others felt Nigel – for all the right reasons – was the correct man to lead this review. We are confident that the individuals involved in the process will bring the correct changes with a view to bringing in many other investors like myself into the sport.

It is now more important than ever that the whole of the game comes together to produce a long-term strategy that ensures rugby league has the best possible future. I and the Board of Oldham RLFC will be totally committed to delivering this.”