The RFL have launched their hunt for a new chair with the governing body advertising a vacancy that incorporates that role alongside two more in a move that could change the future of rugby league in England.
Simon Johnson, the previous chair of the Rugby Football League, was confirmed to be stepping down back in March with Nigel Wood taking on a temporary role at the helm as the sport underwent a period of change.
Wood, who remains the interim chair, is overseeing the sport’s strategic review and part of that has seen Super League expand to 14 teams but the governing body are now seeking a permanent replacement.
Not only are they advertising for the chair of the RFL, the role actually looks set to see RL Commercial and Super League (Europe) amalgamated in as well to form an all-encompassing role.
That would hint at a major restructuring of the sport’s governance with the three big players, the governing body (RFL), the sport’s commercial arm (RL Commercial) and the sport’s top competition in the Northern hemisphere (Super League) all working together in a ‘realignment’.
Rugby League set for new direction as job role advertised
The advertisement, found here, outlined the heritage of rugby league and the three big players before stating: “These organisations are entering an important phase of evolution whereby it will realign the companies under one Group structure. This realignment will enable greater strategic clarity between its participation, performance, regulatory, and commercial functions.
“Against this backdrop, we are seeking to appoint a Chair to lead the Boards and help guide the organisations through its next chapter of strategic and operational development bringing together the Executive structures and businesses to ensure alignment, consistency and drive commercial growth.”
A deep understanding of rugby league, it’s structure and it’s stakeholder group, is required with a number of other assets and responsibilities listed that the RFL are looking for the candidate to fulfill.
How this realigned role impacts rugby league going forward is to be seen but there could be understandable fears that checks and balances would be removed with one person being in charge of all three key elements of the sport. Alternatively, this could be the joined-up thinking that has been missing in the sport for so long.
No deadline for applications is listed.
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Anonymous
December 13, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Hope there are some applications and Wood is not one of them. Him and is mate Beaumont can do one.