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https://www.lindependant.fr/2026/03...ood-le-patron-de-la-super-league-13270882.php
Nigel Wood interview for a french newspaper, online translation below
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Super League, Nigel Wood, Chairman and CEO of the British Rugby League Federation, discusses the challenges of the European Rugby League. Future of French clubs, renegotiation of TV rights, possible investment by the NRL and expansion of the championship, the boss of the competition responded exclusively to questions from the Independent
This year marks 30 years of the Super League. Is this a particularly important season for its history and its future?
This is an extremely important celebration for our sport in the Northern Hemisphere. The competition has come a long way since its debut in Paris on March 29, 1996 with PSG – Sheffield (17,873 spectators) and continues to get stronger year after year. In 2026, more people will be watching Super League than ever before. And the fact that Hull KR were recently crowned club world champions underlines the quality of our championship.
France is both a historic rival and a partner of England
What is your view on the 2026 season, with two French clubs among the 14 teams, while some questioned the presence of a single club in 2025?
The 2026 season has started very well. All the promoted clubs bring something to the competition. York, Toulouse and Bradford are major cities in their own right, and their presence brings around 1.5 million people closer to the Super League. There is also real sympathy in the United Kingdom for French rugby union. France is both a historic rival and a partner of England. The evolution of international rugby union was driven by our two countries, notably with the creation of the International Federation and the first World Cup organized in 1954 – 33 years before that of rugby union. We therefore share a common history, but also common opportunities.
You closely followed the birth of the Catalan Dragons. What do you remember from these twenty years?
Yes, I remember it very well. The club was then called UTC and I met the president at Chorley in 2022 after a Cup match and you were there. Since then, Bernard Guasch and his teams have built a great club which is the pride of an entire region. He deserves to be congratulated. Nothing was easy, as is often the case in rugby league. This success is the result of hard work and significant investments. The club has come a long way, but there is still work to be done.
British Rugby League has contributed over £30 million to support professional rugby in France
How do you see the future of French clubs in the Super League?
That’s the $60 million question. It’s not just about the Super League, but about the future of French rugby union. How can we help France regain its place in the Top 4 in the world, where its history and economic weight should place it? Over the past twenty years, British Rugby League has contributed over £30 million to support professional rugby in France. But this level of support is not sustainable. This is why French participation in a British competition is regularly debated, mainly for economic reasons. The solution is simple. A greater share of funding must come from revenues generated in Europe. This would be both fair and logical. Many people are working on this subject in order to make French participation more sustainable and therefore less controversial in the future.
The Catalan Dragons and Toulouse cover the travel costs of the English clubs. Could this obligation disappear?
This is a question which is part of the overall reflection on the financing of the championship and French participation.
Is the renegotiation of TV rights in 2026 the major issue of the season?
Broadcast rights represent the largest source of revenue for our sport, so it is obviously an important element. But there are also other ongoing discussions that are just as exciting.
The NRL plans to invest in the competition. How could this be positive?
There are only two professional rugby league leagues in the world. It would be strange if they did not work together to develop the right competitions and business opportunities. Historically, the RFL took care of the Northern Hemisphere while the ARL did the same in the Southern Hemisphere. But over the past decade, revenues have declined in the North, putting increasing pressure on a few enthusiasts who financially support our sport. Conversely, the NRL has continued to strengthen in Australia. We must welcome the fact that the NRL now wishes to contribute to strengthening and developing rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere. The United Kingdom and France are two G7 countries, permanent members of the UN Security Council, with a combined population of 150 million. However, our sport remains marginal in our own countries. We must aim higher.
Could the promotion and relegation system return to the Super League?
The difficulty with a simple promotion-relegation system is that it is complicated to integrate a club that played in a semi-professional championship into a full-time professional league. In addition, the Super League is also a television product: clubs must meet certain infrastructure standards to meet broadcasting and commercial requirements.
How do you imagine the Super League in 2036?
Our recent strategic review believes that there should be no limit to the number of professional clubs, provided they are financially sustainable. Personally, I would like to see an expanded competition, with a wider geographical footprint: London, Cardiff, perhaps Dublin and Paris, as well as other regions of the United Kingdom. But clubs must play in front of at least 10,000 spectators, in modern facilities, and generate more than £7 million in revenue per year to be self-sustaining. And we shouldn't just think at the professional level: we need a clear plan for the Super League, but also for the semi-professional and amateur championships in the UK, France and elsewhere in Europe, as well as a truly international programme.
Why is the match between the Catalans Dragons and Wigan in Paris on June 6 important for the competition?
As in the United Kingdom, rugby union still lacks visibility in the French capital. Organizing a major event in Paris, where the political, economic and media decision-makers are located, is necessarily beneficial. There is also an increasingly important phenomenon which is sports tourism. Many people now choose their vacations around sporting events. Examples like the Magic weekend or certain events organized in Las Vegas show the opportunities that exist. I am convinced that the Catalan Dragons will benefit from strong support for this great Super League celebration.
Nigel Wood interview for a french newspaper, online translation below
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Super League, Nigel Wood, Chairman and CEO of the British Rugby League Federation, discusses the challenges of the European Rugby League. Future of French clubs, renegotiation of TV rights, possible investment by the NRL and expansion of the championship, the boss of the competition responded exclusively to questions from the Independent
This year marks 30 years of the Super League. Is this a particularly important season for its history and its future?
This is an extremely important celebration for our sport in the Northern Hemisphere. The competition has come a long way since its debut in Paris on March 29, 1996 with PSG – Sheffield (17,873 spectators) and continues to get stronger year after year. In 2026, more people will be watching Super League than ever before. And the fact that Hull KR were recently crowned club world champions underlines the quality of our championship.
France is both a historic rival and a partner of England
What is your view on the 2026 season, with two French clubs among the 14 teams, while some questioned the presence of a single club in 2025?
The 2026 season has started very well. All the promoted clubs bring something to the competition. York, Toulouse and Bradford are major cities in their own right, and their presence brings around 1.5 million people closer to the Super League. There is also real sympathy in the United Kingdom for French rugby union. France is both a historic rival and a partner of England. The evolution of international rugby union was driven by our two countries, notably with the creation of the International Federation and the first World Cup organized in 1954 – 33 years before that of rugby union. We therefore share a common history, but also common opportunities.
You closely followed the birth of the Catalan Dragons. What do you remember from these twenty years?
Yes, I remember it very well. The club was then called UTC and I met the president at Chorley in 2022 after a Cup match and you were there. Since then, Bernard Guasch and his teams have built a great club which is the pride of an entire region. He deserves to be congratulated. Nothing was easy, as is often the case in rugby league. This success is the result of hard work and significant investments. The club has come a long way, but there is still work to be done.
British Rugby League has contributed over £30 million to support professional rugby in France
How do you see the future of French clubs in the Super League?
That’s the $60 million question. It’s not just about the Super League, but about the future of French rugby union. How can we help France regain its place in the Top 4 in the world, where its history and economic weight should place it? Over the past twenty years, British Rugby League has contributed over £30 million to support professional rugby in France. But this level of support is not sustainable. This is why French participation in a British competition is regularly debated, mainly for economic reasons. The solution is simple. A greater share of funding must come from revenues generated in Europe. This would be both fair and logical. Many people are working on this subject in order to make French participation more sustainable and therefore less controversial in the future.
The Catalan Dragons and Toulouse cover the travel costs of the English clubs. Could this obligation disappear?
This is a question which is part of the overall reflection on the financing of the championship and French participation.
Is the renegotiation of TV rights in 2026 the major issue of the season?
Broadcast rights represent the largest source of revenue for our sport, so it is obviously an important element. But there are also other ongoing discussions that are just as exciting.
The NRL plans to invest in the competition. How could this be positive?
There are only two professional rugby league leagues in the world. It would be strange if they did not work together to develop the right competitions and business opportunities. Historically, the RFL took care of the Northern Hemisphere while the ARL did the same in the Southern Hemisphere. But over the past decade, revenues have declined in the North, putting increasing pressure on a few enthusiasts who financially support our sport. Conversely, the NRL has continued to strengthen in Australia. We must welcome the fact that the NRL now wishes to contribute to strengthening and developing rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere. The United Kingdom and France are two G7 countries, permanent members of the UN Security Council, with a combined population of 150 million. However, our sport remains marginal in our own countries. We must aim higher.
Could the promotion and relegation system return to the Super League?
The difficulty with a simple promotion-relegation system is that it is complicated to integrate a club that played in a semi-professional championship into a full-time professional league. In addition, the Super League is also a television product: clubs must meet certain infrastructure standards to meet broadcasting and commercial requirements.
How do you imagine the Super League in 2036?
Our recent strategic review believes that there should be no limit to the number of professional clubs, provided they are financially sustainable. Personally, I would like to see an expanded competition, with a wider geographical footprint: London, Cardiff, perhaps Dublin and Paris, as well as other regions of the United Kingdom. But clubs must play in front of at least 10,000 spectators, in modern facilities, and generate more than £7 million in revenue per year to be self-sustaining. And we shouldn't just think at the professional level: we need a clear plan for the Super League, but also for the semi-professional and amateur championships in the UK, France and elsewhere in Europe, as well as a truly international programme.
Why is the match between the Catalans Dragons and Wigan in Paris on June 6 important for the competition?
As in the United Kingdom, rugby union still lacks visibility in the French capital. Organizing a major event in Paris, where the political, economic and media decision-makers are located, is necessarily beneficial. There is also an increasingly important phenomenon which is sports tourism. Many people now choose their vacations around sporting events. Examples like the Magic weekend or certain events organized in Las Vegas show the opportunities that exist. I am convinced that the Catalan Dragons will benefit from strong support for this great Super League celebration.
