Everything Rhodri Jones said on potential NRL investment in Super League after ‘positive’ talks held 

Rugby League Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones has shared his verdict on the prospect of NRL investment in Super League after ‘positive’ talks were held with NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

Abdo is in the UK to try and work on a deal that would see the NRL invest in rugby league in the northern hemisphere, helping out Super League but also the sport in England and beyond.

That deal would require club owners to cede some control, something that is viewed as a major hurdle, though Jones confirmed that the talks so far have been positive as he explained how NRL investment could ‘turbo-charge’ the growth of rugby league.

Speaking on Sky Sports after St Helens’ win over Hull FC, Jones explained what RL Commercial’s policy of recapitalisation actually means and why it is happening now.

What Andrew Abdo said after NRL and Super League talks held

He explained: “Recapitalisation has been a word that’s been around for a number of years and why now, why not? We feel we’re in a good spot but we think we can be turbocharged so yeah, we are open-minded to it.

“There is a good conversation, a positive conversation that’s been ongoing with the NRL for the last probably two years since that first Vegas game with Wigan and Warrington being out there.

“Andrew (Abdo) being here today and the meeting we’ve had this afternoon shows, I guess, their commitment to wanting to make this partnership work. We’re very open-minded to it. It’s been a positive afternoon. We’ve talked about a lot of different things.”

One thing that Abdo and Jones did not discuss was numbers and now much the NRL would invest, with Jones confirming: “Not numbers specifically, no. Not even ballpark at this point. There are still some red lines that we need to work through.”

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Rugby League Commercial chief gives honest verdict on chances of NRL investment

As mentioned above, one of those key things to work through is how or if club owners would cede control to allow the NRL and their representatives govern the sport and take it to the next level.

On that Jones said: “I think they would like to have a heavy influence on the appointment of the commission and who sits on that commission. What they perhaps haven’t understood in totality is the make-up of our governance structure in this country.

“We have multiple organisations in our world. We have the RFL, we have the Super League and we have Rugby League Commercial. It can be complex at times and when it’s such a big topic like recapitalisation, it is complicated, without doubt.

“With hard work, better detail, we are confident we can overcome some of those challenges and to get the right result that the sport here wants.”

Jones also explained that the NRL are one of multiple possible investors, though he did admit that they would be the ‘natural fit’, adding: “They’re in the same sport, different hemisphere, and they probably are slightly ahead of the other conversations that we’re having because of that close connection that we have and the collaboration that we’ve had over the last 12 months in particular. That puts them in the driving seat.

“We have to make sure this is the best deal for the sport. The obvious one is the one with the NRL and the conversations ongoing with that but we have other interests as well, which is also something that we have to exhaust.”

It’s previously been said by Australian Rugby League Commission chief Peter V’landys, the man who heads up the commission that ultimately oversees all rugby league down under including the NRL, that a deal would have to be done by summer.

On that time scale, Jones said: “They have a lot of plates spinning. We have a lot of plates spinning, naturally. We’ve got planning to do for the 2027 season and beyond – broadcast contracts, commercial contracts.

“If there is an investor coming into the sport, whoever that may be, it makes sense for them to come in as early as possible to be a part of that planning.”

“Very confident” a deal can be worked out

Pundit Jon Wilkin put it to Jones that if anything were to prevent a deal then what, something that went unanswered as the RL Commercial chief expressed confidence that a deal will ultimately be done.

Jones answered: “I’m very confident that something will happen because I think we will find solutions to those potential red lines that we’re talking about. You can never say it will come off but I’m confident that we will get somewhere over the next couple of years.”

He did however confirmed that a majority of the 14 Super League clubs would need to agree with the RFL also needing to support any investment measure.

Surmising talks, he said: “I think what’s been discussed this afternoon is collaboration, expertise, synergy, and ultimately capital. They’re pretty good ingredients for a successful partnership going forward.

“It’s investment into the sport. Some of that does flow through to the clubs, but it has to come into the centre as well. Absolutely, 100%. That has to be part of the deal. Women’s Super League, Wheelchair Super League, and the community game, like I say.”

On Abdo and where talks could go next, Jones noted: “He’s got an open invitation. I think it’ll be a good couple of weeks. There’s a lot of hard work to go over the next couple of weeks, but I would be confident that we would have Andrew back here in the next month or so, and that’s a potential for a meeting with the clubs.”

As for what Super League could look like five years down the line should NRL investment and partnership come to fruition, Jones echoed Abdo’s earlier comments.

“I think Andrew talked about globalisation of sport. Globalisation of rugby league domestically here in the UK, into Europe, beyond France, but also globally as well. The NRL have led the way with Las Vegas.

“There’s a game in Paris, there could be a game in Dublin next year. What are the other territories that look like potential options for this great game of rugby league.”

Concluding, Jones said: “We’re positive about it, open-minded, but we’re very positive and today’s been another step towards that.”

“There is a positive conversation that’s been ongoing with the NRL” 🙌

Rhodri Jones gives an update on the recapitalisation of Super League and Rugby League as a whole 💭 pic.twitter.com/FLPD5r2K8Y

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) April 16, 2026