RFL reveals profit - and more players

Figures presented to Wednesday’s annual meeting, held by video link, showed a profit of £75,000, following significant losses in each of the previous two years, including a shortfall of £327,000 in 2018.

That was despite a major drop in match and broadcast income totalling more than £1m compared to 2018, as the result of the absence of a home Test series.

Forecasts for the next two years, though, will be revised because of the impact of coronavirus and cancellation of this year’s Ashes Tests.

The RFL’s 2019 end of year report to Sport England revealed the number of people regularly participating in rugby league has increased from 102,304 to 109,501.

Marc Lovering, the RFL’s director of participation and development, said: “This represents a third successive year of growth in this funding cycle, slightly above the Sport England target of five per cent growth – and the RFL continues to make good progress against other contractual targets on which the Sport England public funding is based. “

He added: “In terms of regular participation, we have achieved growth across our core areas of primary, junior, youth and open age for the first time this cycle.

“We have seen strong growth in the schools setting. We are continuing to see rapid growth in the women’s and girls’ game and we are focused on ensuring that we maintain this momentum despite the challenges of the current situation.”

Television presenter Clare Balding has succeeded former Arsenal footballer Tony Adams as the RFL’s 30th president for a two-year period until July, 2022.

Former Leeds player Carl Hall, now chief executive of Doncaster, will remain as vice-president for an extra six months until December, 2020 when he will be succeeded by Hull KR’s Mike Smith of Hull KR for an 18-month term running to July, 2022.

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