RFL share update on Super League and NRL talks with Brian McDermott meeting also held

After Nigel Wood’s and Rhodri Jones’ much-reported trip to Australia, the Rugby Football League (RFL) have provided an update on discussions held about the future chances of collaboration between Super League and the NRL.

Wood, the RFL Chief Executive, and Jones, the Managing Director of RL Commercial, were among those who traveled to Australia to hold meetings with NRL officials during the Australian competition’s Magic Round, a concept that was the brainchild of Wood.

It’s long been reported that Super League and the NRL are in discussions about a partnership to help progress the sport further forward, with a particular goal being to strengthen relationships but also have the cash-rich NRL provide some much-needed funding to the English game.

That second motive has seen many refer to the deal as a takeover, something that both sides have denied, and now an update on this past week’s talks has been shared by the RFL with it confirmed that the meeting was to discuss the ‘next steps of prospective investment’.

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Super League and NRL meetings ‘positive and constructive’

The RFL have now confirmed the talks to be ‘positive’ with further work to be done in the coming weeks so the process can move to the next stage, which would presumably be an actual deal on the table.

A statement from the governing body read: “The meetings were positive and constructive with discussions around governance, broadcast rights, investment models, pathways and strategic vision. The two parties are aligned on a prospective partnership to make the global game of Rugby League as strong as possible.

“The two organisations will now work collaboratively over the coming weeks to establish a strategic vision, supporting the advancement of the process to its next phase.”

Another motive behind the trip was for officials to meet with the newly-appointed England head coach Brian McDermott, who is currently the assistant coach at the Gold Coast Titans, to discuss World Cup plans.

Moreover, officials were able to experience the NRL’s Magic Round and ‘bring any learnings back to the UK’ for future planning, with the Super League Magic Weekend set to take place in early July.