BetFred 2022 Summer Bash

2022 SUMER BASH | SATURDAY 30 & SUNDAY 31 JULY 2022 | HEADINGLEY STADIUM
De la Rivière
(pictured
left) also
underlines
the impact
made
through
rugby
league’s
history
by black
players –
not only the
high-profile
Billy Boston,
Clive Sullivan, Ellery Hanley,
Des Drummond, Martin
Offiah and Jason Robinson,
but also on such oftenforgotten
pioneers as Lucius
Banks, Jimmy Peters, Cec
Thompson and Green Vigo.
Here we are at the annual
Summer Bash, a festival
involving the best teams
from outside Super League.
There are stories in the
book involving all the clubs
in action this weekend as
well as many from League
One and several great clubs
who are sadly no longer in
existence like Carlisle Border
Raiders, Mansfield Marksman,
Blackpool Borough and
Runcorn Highfield. There
are also stories about the
women’s game, as well as
student, wheelchair and
amateur rugby league. The
tales from the last two dates
in July concern the St Helens
player’s tooth which became
embedded in the arm of an
opponent and an international
match that took place in the
unlikely setting of Venice.
The Summer Bash, of course,
is a recent innovation. The
book features many key
moments from rugby league’s
past including the switch to
13 aside, the cup final moving
to Wembley, limited tackles,
the ten-metre rule and the
formation of Super League.
DAVE SWANTON
‘Rugby League: On This
Day’ is available on eBay by
searching for the title and at
Philip Howard Books in Leeds
and the St Helens Book Stop.
img provide update
on strategic
partnershp and
focus for the sport
Representatives from IMG
recently provided an update
on the strategic partnership
with Rugby League and their
focus areas and vision for the
sport. The immediate focus
areas include competition
structure, brand, digital
strategy, and preparation for
the next broadcast cycle.
Extensive consultation has
begun with key stakeholder
groups notably clubs, players
– including the Rugby
League Players Association
through the GMB - coaches,
supporters, media and
broadcast representatives, and
international bodies. This is in
addition to IMG’s own internal
knowledge and expertise.
It is expected that
recommendations
encompassing aspects of all
the above will be presented
to clubs this autumn.
Planning is also continuing
in relation to ‘Phase 2’ of
the partnership including
streaming through Endeavor’s
OTT platform Endeavor
Streaming and data
collection, betting product
development and streaming
rights via IMG’s sports data
and betting technology
business IMG ARENA.
The IMG update followed
the completion of the longform
agreements for the
realignment of the governance
of the sport. The Board of the
sport’s new commercial arm
is expected to be in place
by the end of September
2022 and the company fully
operational by 1 January 2023.
The recent meeting of the
Rugby League Council was
also informed that the RFL
have formalised the sport’s
relationship with Nujum
Sports, who have been
appointed Advisors to Rugby
League on Muslim Inclusion.
The Council were also updated
on three projects through which
the RFL will provide further
support to the governance
and business operations of
clubs, in each case supported
by DCMS funding delivered
by Sport England following
successful bids by the RFL.
CLUB BOARD DIVERSITY
Expanding the diversity
of skills and backgrounds
represented on professional
club Boards. As phase one,
10 clubs will be selected to
receive direct support with
recruitment. As a second
phase, a toolkit will be provided
to benefit the whole sport.
CLUB DIGITAL LEARNING HUB
The development of an
online education platform
covering a range of areas of
importance to clubs and the
sport and designed to benefit
all involved in Rugby League.
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
A review of the RFL, all
professional clubs and
a sample of community
game clubs, to be followed
by recommendations for
improvements with a focus
on those that have financial
benefits. The RFL have
engaged BASIS (the British
Association for Sustainable
Sport) as environmental
sustainability consultant
to lead on this project.
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