RFL boss Nigel Wood has confirmed NRL investment into Super League remains an option \u2018on the table\u2019, with claims of a strained relationship between the game\u2019s two leading governing bodies strongly dismissed.<\/p>\n
Supremo Peter V\u2019landys, the Chair of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), recently flew over to London alongside NRL<\/a> CEO Andrew Abdo.<\/p>\n The pair held talks with senior Super League<\/a> and RFL officials to discuss possible investment into the European competition, a topic which has made the headlines for well over 12 months now.<\/p>\n V\u2019landys insisted there needs to be \u2018structural corporate governance change\u2019 in the British game before any investment takes place, and even went as far as saying that Super League was heading for a \u2018train crash\u2019<\/a> as it expands to 14 teams, unless additional revenue can be found from a broadcast deal.<\/p>\n But Wood<\/a> \u2013 who was appointed as the RFL\u2019s Senior Executive Director in Spring \u2013 has played down the belief that relations with the ARLC are torn in a feature length interview with BBC Sport.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s rugby league versus the rest of sport, really\u2019<\/p>\n Nothing concrete has emerged on the back of last month\u2019s talks with V\u2019landys and Abdo, which took place on the eve of the first Rugby League Ashes Series in 22 years between England and Australia.<\/p>\n Speaking to the BBC<\/a>, Wood \u2013 who is also the Chair of RL Commercial \u2013 insisted \u2018it\u2019s important that the two leagues collaborate as fully as possible\u2019.<\/p>\n The RFL boss insisted: \u201cThere\u2019s no real issue between the RFL and the NRL.<\/p>\n \u201cWe both want what\u2019s best for rugby league, and obtaining a greater understanding of the collaboration that\u2019s available is vital to all parties.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the RFL versus the NRL, it\u2019s rugby league versus the rest of sport, really.\u201d<\/p>\n He later added that any possible investment would need \u2018a lot of careful thought\u2019, but felt there were still advantages of working alongside the NRL, which continues to grow both in status in the wider sporting world as well as revenues.<\/p>\n \u201cIt needs a lot of careful thought,\u201d said Wood, before going on to make a bold claim about the current state of the British game.<\/p>\n \u201cRugby league in this country is not on its knees. It\u2019s got the strongest ownership group that I can ever remember.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the advantage of a relationship with the NRL is that everybody should be coming to the table trying to get the same outcome, which is for rugby league to be in the strongest possible position in a crowded global sports marketplace.<\/p>\n \u201cThe challenge with private equity is that there\u2019s a more hard-nosed commercial imperative. So instinctively you would think a \u2018sweetheart arrangement\u2019 with (the NRL) should offer more opportunities than a more third-party remote investment.\u201d<\/p>\n WEDNESDAY\u2019S READS ON LRL<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb The RFL\u2019s Shaun Wane comments underline how major change is needed for England to succeed<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Revisiting our laughable 2025 Super League predictions as Hull KR humiliate us<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\ud83c\udffb Ranking Super League\u2019s 10 oldest players in 2026 including Leeds and St Helens legends<\/a><\/p>\n