David Oxley elected RFL president

David Oxley CBE was today elected as President of the RFL – 21 years after he retired as Chief Executive of Rugby League’s governing body.

Mr Oxley, 76, succeeds Jim Hartley and will hold the honorary position for 12 months, a period he described as “one of the most exciting in our great history” at his election at the RL Council AGM in Warrington.

“This is a very great honour and I am fortunate indeed to hold office in a year which sees the UK host the Rugby League World Cup in October and November and the Festival of World Cups, which have already got underway,” said Oxley.

“I have achieved many things during my lifetime in sport but nothing could surpass the possibility that come November 30 I will be at Old Trafford as RFL President to see England captain Kevin Sinfield lift the Rugby League World Cup.”

David Oxley served as Secretary and latterly Chief Executive of the RFL between 1974 and 1992, when he reached the compulsory retirement age of 55.

Dewsbury Rams RL Council member Andrew Farrow was also elected as RFL vice-President at the meeting, which re-elected Bob Stott as a non-Executive Director of the RFL for another three-year term.

The AGM also received presentations on a number of key issues, including an update on the ongoing Policy Review and competition restructuring, youth development, Festival of World Cups and Rugby League World Cup 2013.

The Policy Review and changes to competition structures from the 2015 season onwards will be discussed by the various members of the RL Council – the Super League clubs, Kingstone Press Championships clubs and Community Board – at a series of scheduled meeting throughout July.