BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Exclusive: Nigel Wood is set to continue in his role as senior executive director at the RFL beyond July, in a move that has dismayed staffers at the governing body.
Wood controversially rejoined the RFL in March as interim chair after the majority of Super League clubs forced chairman Simon Johnson and non-executive Sandy Lindsay out in a bloody coup, which was followed by mass resignations by other members of the RFL board, as they wanted Wood to lead a review of the sport.
The plotters, led by Derek Beaumont, Gary Hetherington and Eamon McManus, aimed to appoint Wood to take over as chairman of the RFL on an interim basis until July but were unable to because of his ties as a part-owner of the Bradford Bulls. Under Sport England’s code for sports governance, no one who has been involved with a club for the previous 12 months can be chair.
Wood was expected to leave the governing body in July after delivering his review, with the position temporary.
However, rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads understands this is now no longer the case with the former RFL chief executive expected to continue running the sport for potentially at least another year, if not longer.
It is believed a special resolution will be put to the clubs at an RFL Council meeting in July for Wood to stay on, and the motion is expected to pass easily.
The club review led by Wood is not expected to be ready to be shared with clubs next month, as was originally announced, with it to be continued through to December and presented at the end of this year.
The news has shocked employees at the RFL.
One insider told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads: “It’s so wrong. I don’t see any of the clubs having the guts to oppose Nigel staying on.
“Nothing will stop it. It feels like the sport is going in the wrong direction. It’s a revolting spectacle.”
Another involved party said those inside the RFL were “gutted” with the development.
“I’m sure some staff will leave,” the source said.
Wood and the RFL have been approached for comment but at the time of writing had not responded.
The return of Wood at the top of British rugby league has been widely condemned by fans and media figures across the sport, and by figures at the International Rugby League (IRL) and in the NRL.
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson described it as “a farce” and told this website in March: “The governance of the game in England is poor at its best. It is a continuing rotation of the same people making the same mistakes. Vested interests rule.
“Why you would need a so called ‘new review’ when we have done the same thing over and over? I don’t understand. Or perhaps we all do.
“Why don’t they be honest with our supporters , they are not stupid or gullible. Just announce a 14 team comp with Bradford and London in. Save the money and embarrassment of another so-called review. Just get the one out of your bottom drawer.”
IRL chair Troy Grant also made a public barb about the exit of Johnson and the second coming of Wood.
“Simon has been a wonderful contributor to the rebuilding of International Rugby League as part of the new board who inherited an organisation that suffered a telling period of selfish amateur administration, lack of vision and strategy and poor governance,” Grant said.
Former referee James Child lasted on the RFL board for just a week but had to stand down because it was not compliant.
On the upheaveal at the RFL, Child Forty20 LIVE podcast: “It feels like the game is in a mess, if I’m honest. In abeyance is probably a better way of putting it.”
Wood has become a more promiment figure at rugby league events in recent months and handed the Challenge Cup trophy to Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella at Wembley earlier this month.
Speculation continues to grow that Super League will expand to 14 teams in 2026.
Wood and the RFL were both approached for comment.
An RFL spokesperson said yesterday: “The Strategic Review Committee, which was formed in the spring at the request of clubs, will update RL Council members on progress and proposals at its July meeting. The RFL is a democratic organisation which will continue to respond to the wishes of the clubs and Council members.”