RFL boss says “standing still not an option” as game aims to move forward

Correspondent

Rugby Football League chief executive Ralph Rimmer is ready to “roll the dice” after admitting the game cannot afford to stand still as he prepares to lead a strategic working party examining ways to take it forward.

The working party has been established with a remit to examine the game’s calendar and competition structures and to identify a strategic partner to support the delivery of its recommendations.

Rimmer is joined on the panel by the RFL’s chief regulatory officer Karen Moorhouse and high-ranking Super League officials Gary Hetherington (Leeds), Paul Lakin (Hull KR), Eamonn McManus (St Helens) and Stuart Middleton (Warrington).

In a media briefing, Rimmer defended the make-up of the group, which contains no representatives from either the Championship or League One or any personnel from outside the game.

Rimmer, who says the club representatives were put forward by Super League, is confident the RFL will look after the interests of the non-Super League clubs and says coaches and players will be included as part of a wide-ranging consultation process.

“Our discussions on strategy have extended to the GMB and the England performance unit and they’ve been to the coaches’ forum as well,” said Rimmer, who says the recommendations will be open to external scrutiny.

“That strategy touches everybody and there will be more input before we get to the right place.

“The restructure has to be right. Everybody is trying to grab that space. You look at women’s sport and the way it’s grabbing space at the moment and you have to be part of that movement.

“There are only so many hours of TV people can put out and will pay for so standing still is not an option, it absolutely isn’t.

“I do think this is a big roll of the dice and what I want, that extra validation on whatever it might be.”

Super League Ralph Rimmer