23 Oct 2007 - RFL appoints Nigel Wood as new Chief Executive
RFL Executive Chairman Richard Lewis has today announced that he has appointed Nigel Wood as his new Chief Executive.
Wood?s appointment, a promotion from Chief Operating Officer, will see him take full management responsibility of the RFL executive at a time when the sport is going from strength to strength.
In the last five years, the RFL has done what very few sports in the UK has managed to achieve and unify all relevant bodies including top flight engage Super League clubs, who had edged towards a breakaway, and the British Amateur Rugby League Association.
As well as playing a key role in the unification process, during the same period of time the new Chief Executive led the RFL?s financial recovery which has resulted in consecutive years of profitable trading. He also played a key role in determining the strategic direction for Super League Europe and also National League.
Richard Lewis said: ?I?m delighted that Nigel has achieved this promotion as it recognises years of hard work. I made the recommendation to the Board to appoint Nigel as Chief Executive because it strengthens the leadership of the RFL at an exciting time in its development.?
Nigel Wood said: ?I?m thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time for Rugby League in this country. The governing body is in a far healthier state than it was a few years ago and my aim is to build on the recent success and continue the organisation?s reputation for strong governance and innovation.
?We are now one of the ?Big Five? sports in the UK and have an excellent sponsorship portfolio featuring some leading brands. On the horizon we have some big challenges ahead of us, ones that I am very excited about facing.?
According to many pundits the 2007 season has been the sports? best in recent years, with Wood the brainchild behind this year?s Millennium Magic event. This saw 60,000 fans head to Cardiff?s Millennium Stadium for a whole round of engage Super League fixtures played over one weekend.
As well as new events, the sport has seen record crowds in the top two divisions during 2007, with some clubs reporting their biggest crowds since the 1950?s. In August Rugby League returned to Wembley Stadium with nearly 85,000 attending the Carnegie Challenge Cup final. At grassroots level the sport is also growing faster than ever with participation numbers doubling in the last two years and the game being played all over the UK.
Next year promises to another big year for the sport with a new TV deal to be agreed, a World Cup in Australia and also the potential implementation of a new licensing system for engage Super League that will put an end to promotion and relegation to the top flight division.
Wood?s appointment as Chief Executive will also allow RFL Executive Chairman Richard Lewis to dedicate more of his time to developing the game nationally and internationally and maximising key external stakeholder relationships. Lewis is currently Chair of the Rugby League European Federation and Deputy Chair of the Rugby League International Federation as well as Chairman of the CCPR?s Major Spectator Sports Division.
Richard Lewis added: ?Nigel?s appointment not only allows me to continue chairing the various forums within the RFL such as RFL Council, RFL Board and Super League, National League and Community Boards, but also to be even more focussed on developing the RFL?s key external relationships.?
Nigel Wood was appointed to the RFL Board in August 2001. He was previously Chief Executive of Halifax RLFC during their time in Super League, having previously enjoyed a long career playing and administrating in grass roots Rugby league. Prior to this he worked as Deputy Head of Finance for BBC North.
Wood?s appointment, a promotion from Chief Operating Officer, will see him take full management responsibility of the RFL executive at a time when the sport is going from strength to strength.
In the last five years, the RFL has done what very few sports in the UK has managed to achieve and unify all relevant bodies including top flight engage Super League clubs, who had edged towards a breakaway, and the British Amateur Rugby League Association.
As well as playing a key role in the unification process, during the same period of time the new Chief Executive led the RFL?s financial recovery which has resulted in consecutive years of profitable trading. He also played a key role in determining the strategic direction for Super League Europe and also National League.
Richard Lewis said: ?I?m delighted that Nigel has achieved this promotion as it recognises years of hard work. I made the recommendation to the Board to appoint Nigel as Chief Executive because it strengthens the leadership of the RFL at an exciting time in its development.?
Nigel Wood said: ?I?m thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time for Rugby League in this country. The governing body is in a far healthier state than it was a few years ago and my aim is to build on the recent success and continue the organisation?s reputation for strong governance and innovation.
?We are now one of the ?Big Five? sports in the UK and have an excellent sponsorship portfolio featuring some leading brands. On the horizon we have some big challenges ahead of us, ones that I am very excited about facing.?
According to many pundits the 2007 season has been the sports? best in recent years, with Wood the brainchild behind this year?s Millennium Magic event. This saw 60,000 fans head to Cardiff?s Millennium Stadium for a whole round of engage Super League fixtures played over one weekend.
As well as new events, the sport has seen record crowds in the top two divisions during 2007, with some clubs reporting their biggest crowds since the 1950?s. In August Rugby League returned to Wembley Stadium with nearly 85,000 attending the Carnegie Challenge Cup final. At grassroots level the sport is also growing faster than ever with participation numbers doubling in the last two years and the game being played all over the UK.
Next year promises to another big year for the sport with a new TV deal to be agreed, a World Cup in Australia and also the potential implementation of a new licensing system for engage Super League that will put an end to promotion and relegation to the top flight division.
Wood?s appointment as Chief Executive will also allow RFL Executive Chairman Richard Lewis to dedicate more of his time to developing the game nationally and internationally and maximising key external stakeholder relationships. Lewis is currently Chair of the Rugby League European Federation and Deputy Chair of the Rugby League International Federation as well as Chairman of the CCPR?s Major Spectator Sports Division.
Richard Lewis added: ?Nigel?s appointment not only allows me to continue chairing the various forums within the RFL such as RFL Council, RFL Board and Super League, National League and Community Boards, but also to be even more focussed on developing the RFL?s key external relationships.?
Nigel Wood was appointed to the RFL Board in August 2001. He was previously Chief Executive of Halifax RLFC during their time in Super League, having previously enjoyed a long career playing and administrating in grass roots Rugby league. Prior to this he worked as Deputy Head of Finance for BBC North.