BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Exclusive: Sport England has confirmed that it has made its funding payment to the Rugby Football League (RFL), which was due last month, following extensive conversations between the two organisations.
Sport England’s funding to the had been in doubt after concerns were raised that the return of Nigel Wood to the top of the RFL in March may have breached the Code for Sports Governance. The government body held meetings with the RFL in August, during which the RFL was asked to produce a Governance Action Plan outlining the steps it will take to become compliant with the Code, including a timeline for appointing replacements to its interim Board.
For now, Sport England is satisfied with the progress the RFL has made.
A Sport England spokesperson told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads: “Following extensive conversations between Sport England and the RFL, funding for the period April – September 2025 will now be paid.
“It has been made clear to the RFL that all future payment claims will be contingent on continued progress against agreed governance reforms.”
Sport England is to provide £15,713,617 million in funding to the RFL over a five-year period from 2022 to 2027.
The RFL declined to comment when approached by rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
Jo Drapier, the Head of Partner Support at Sport England, is an observer on the RFL Board.
The RFL Board is set to change in the coming weeks with the departure of CEO Tony Sutton, who is a director.