Celtic Crusaders and Salford City Reds have been chosen to compete in the Super League from the 2009 season to join the 12 teams already competing in the league. RFL In-House Lawyer, Rod Findlay talks about this historic announcement and what this means for the future of the sport.
Why have licenses been introduced and what does this now entail for the 14 clubs in Super League next year?
Licensing will provide clubs with a three year stability so that they can invest in off field issues such as facilities- making sure there is a safe and friendly environment for the spectators and ensuring they have strong financial management as well as having good player production.
The game will now expand throughout Britain going into Scotland and Wales; Do you think you can now compete with national sports such as football?
We think we have a place at the top of UK sport and rugby league fans will continue watching and maybe others will be converted into watching out sport.
By introducing the licenses, have you now set a precedent for other sports in the UK?
Some of the issues concerned with are unique to rugby league but a lot of the issues are common to all sports. You need to produce athletes for tomorrow and that is for football, cricket or rugby league. I’m sure other sports will look and learn from this and it is a new step for UK sport, removing promotion and relegation, which has been a bedrock for sports in the UK.
Hopefully, standards will now be improving, but do you think the Super League can now match the quality of the NRL in Australia, which sets the benchmark for the sport?
I hope so. We aim to be the strongest rugby league competition in the world. Today is a step in that process but it is not the end of the process. We still need to ensure that the clubs that been successful deliver on their promises; improving their facilities that they have talked about, produce the junior players and we would like to say that the sport in improving all the time.
Is the announcement good for the grassroots level in rugby league?
I think it is because we are talking about junior player production and clubs who have been successful with the applications as well as the teams in the National League need to work in junior development with amateur clubs and local schools to produce players able to play in the Super League in 10-20 years time.
Where does this now leave the National League clubs who know won’t progress into the Super League for at least another three years?
I think immediately, the ones who have missed out, will obviously be disappointed which is human nature but they are still in a strong, vibrant competition which is worth being in and winning for those clubs. Crucially, the trapdoor is not shut as clubs can still have ambitions to apply for a license in three years time and we will happily work with them to ensure they are in a strong position to apply next time round.
Shamoon Hafez
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