NIGEL WOOD, the chairman of RL Commercial and an executive director of the RFL, is confident that Rugby League can grow stronger in 2026 with the changes that were made to the domestic competitions last year and which will be implemented this year.
Super League will have 14 clubs this year, as opposed to twelve in 2025, while the Championship and League One have merged to form a 21-team competition.
“I think we have every reason to confident about the sport as we enter the New Year,” Wood told League Express.
“The clubs have already made some tremendously exciting changes for the new season. Three new cities with a combined population of 1.4 million will enter the top-flight competition, freshening up the fixture list, while the Magic Weekend at Everton is already the fastest selling we have ever had.
“The Championship as a single division will provide a great competition for the part-time game and the community structure has been refreshed.
“There remains plenty for us still do, particularly in terms of improving club sustainability, and that will be the priority for 2027 when a new commercial cycle will be commenced.
“The world of sports marketing and broadcasting is changing faster than ever before and I believe our sport is perfectly positioned to be both innovative and imaginative as we enter that new cycle.
“The number one priority remains finding ways of making life easier for clubs and ownership groups who currently still have to subsidise our entertainment to an unfair level and we will be relentless in that regard.”
To that end, RL Commercial was able to distribute almost £1 million back to the clubs before Christmas, shared between them, after it exceeded its commercial expectations for the 2025 year.