The Rugby Football League (RFL) has been warned that it will not receive the next instalment of a £16 million government funding package unless it addresses urgent governance concerns. The payment, due next month, is at risk following questions raised over the recent appointment of Nigel Wood as interim chair.
Government sports authorities believe that the decision to install Wood may not have complied with the Code for Sports Governance, which requires appointments to be made through an open and transparent process. Compliance with this code is a mandatory condition for any governing body seeking government and National Lottery funding.
The concerns stem from the circumstances of Wood’s return earlier this year, following the resignation of the RFL chair and three other directors. Wood, who previously served as RFL chief executive for more than a decade, was also chair of Bradford before stepping down from that role. However, he retains a significant minority stake in the club, raising questions about his independence.
In addition to governance issues, his influence on the sport’s direction is under scrutiny. Wood has been instrumental in driving through the controversial decision to expand Super League from 12 to 14 clubs next season. The move was backed by nine clubs but rejected by Hull FC, Hull KR, and Wigan Warriors. Bradford, Wood’s former club, is among the candidates pushing for promotion as part of this expansion, fuelling concerns about conflicts of interest.
The financial picture for rugby league adds to the pressure. The sport has been hit hard by the collapse in broadcast revenues, with Sky Sports paying less than half of its previous deal. Sky has yet to endorse the expansion plan and has stated it will not provide additional funding to cover the cost of televising extra fixtures, estimated at £500,000 for next season.
Meanwhile, some Championship clubs have indicated they are prepared to enter Super League without central funding, raising doubts about competitiveness. This comes at a time when Salford’s crisis has highlighted the fragility of the league. The club faces a winding-up order over an unpaid £700,000 tax bill and was forced to cancel a recent fixture due to safety concerns about fielding inexperienced players.
The outcome of upcoming discussions will be decisive. Without resolving governance concerns and securing continued government funding, rugby league risks further instability both at the elite and grassroots levels.
